Dan earned both a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University and a BS in Chemistry from Butler in 2014. He is a PhD student in the Zauscher Lab.
Contact Information
- Email Address: daniel.french@duke.edu
Research Interests
Triblock Co-polypeptide Syntactomers for Functional Surface Coatings
Lubricin—a mucinous glycoprotein found in synovial fluid—imparts biological surfaces with lubricious and non-fouling properties and is further thought to be directly responsible for the durability of articular cartilage. With aims to harness these properties, I have designed a bottle-brush lubricin mimic comprised of an elastin-like polypeptide backbone with synthetically attached bristles. By leveraging genetic control over the backbone construct, I will be able to incorporate binding domains for arbitrary surfaces while independently tailoring the bristles to the desired property. The modularity of this approach will allow exploration into diverse fields including orthopedics, urology, diagnostics, and drug-delivery.
AW ARDS/HONORS/FELLOW SHIPS:
Pratt-Gardner Fellow
MRSEC Member
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention