Research
The Nucci Lab is highly interdisciplinary. We combine techniques in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computational modeling to tackle a wide range of contemporary problems that interest us. Our work includes both basic and applied research projects, most of which involve the development and/or application of reverse micelle technology. Most of our basic research projects are in the realm of molecular biophysics. A main thrust of this work is exploring fundamental aspects of how thermodynamics drives protein structural stability and function. We are especially interested in how the immediate solvating environment surrounding proteins impacts their stability, catalysis, and affinity for binding partners. Our expertise in reverse micelle encapsulation of proteins also facilitates site-resolved measurement of protein hydration dynamics and NMR-based structural studies of biomedically important proteins that are too large to be studied using traditional NMR methods.
The Nucci Lab is highly interdisciplinary. We combine techniques in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computational modeling to tackle a wide range of contemporary problems that interest us. Our work includes both basic and applied research projects, most of which involve the development and/or application of reverse micelle technology. Most of our basic research projects are in the realm of molecular biophysics. A main thrust of this work is exploring fundamental aspects of how thermodynamics drives protein structural stability and function. We are especially interested in how the immediate solvating environment surrounding proteins impacts their stability, catalysis, and affinity for binding partners. Our expertise in reverse micelle encapsulation of proteins also facilitates site-resolved measurement of protein hydration dynamics and NMR-based structural studies of biomedically important proteins that are too large to be studied using traditional NMR methods.
While molecular biophysics is our primary research area, we are also working to develop novel nanotechnology methods that employ reverse micelles. Two current projects in the lab aim to adapt reverse micelle systems that have proven versatile for protein encapsulation toward the storage and/or delivery of therapeutic proteins and toward the synthesis of biomedically useful nanoparticles such as quantum dots.
While molecular biophysics is our primary research area, we are also working to develop novel nanotechnology methods that employ reverse micelles. Two current projects in the lab aim to adapt reverse micelle systems that have proven versatile for protein encapsulation toward the storage and/or delivery of therapeutic proteins and toward the synthesis of biomedically useful nanoparticles such as quantum dots.
