skip to content

Polymer Program Title

Yao Lin

 

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

 

Education

Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
M.S. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
B.S. Fudan University, Shanghai

 

Contact Information

Phone: (860) 486-8969
Email: ylin@ims.uconn.edu
Website: under construction

 

 

Research Interests

Our research interests are to establish polymer- or nanoparticles-based platforms that will incorporate characteristics that are commonly found in biological systems but remain rare in purely synthetic systems (e.g. hierarchical self-assembly, dynamically regulated activities, multivalent and cooperative interactions). Specifically, we have been working on:
 
(1) Self assembly and directed assembly of nanoparticles, virus, proteins, polymers into nanostructured materials. Nanostructures with different morphologies and sizes can be readily generated by the self assembly methodologies developed by us and coworkers and can be further functionalized by various methods.
 
(2) Rational design of synthetic polypeptides (functionalized homopolymers, block/random copolymers, hyper-branched complex polymers), and supramolecular polymerization of these polymers  into giant nanostructures. The research will exploit the synthetic design principles, physical chemistry and materials applications of complex macromolecules with intrinsic secondary structural components. Recently, we have polymerized polypeptide-grafted brush polymers into giant superhelical structures. We are now pursuing the general, rational design of polypeptide-based polymers that can be used as macromolecular monomers for supramolecular polymerization into functional nanomaterials.
 
(3) Polymer/protein hybrid nanomaterials that are capable of multivalent and cooperative interactions. We have been working on using polymers as nanoscaffolds to incorporate multiple proteins (e.g. enzymes or binding domains) into well-defined complexed structures. The notions are to mimick and enhance the cooperative, multivalent interactions found in many protein complexes and enzyme complexes, for the advances in biomass conversions and in multivalent drugs.
 
(4) Polymer/protein hybrid nanomaterials that are capable of artificial allosteric regulations. We are working on the development of hybrid polymer/protein systems that will allow for the sophisticated, allosteric regulation mechanisms found ubiquitous in nature. 
 

Recent Publications

  1. H. Lu, J. Wang, Y. Lin, & J. Cheng, "One-pot synthesis of brush-like polymers via integrated ring-opening metathesis polymerization and polymerization of amino acids N-carboxyanhydrides," J. Am. Chem.Soc., DOI: 10.1021/ja903425x(2009) [Highlighted in C&EN, Sep. 14, 2009]
  2. W. P. Hall, J. N. Anker, Y. Lin, J. Modica, M. Mrksich & R. P. Van Duyne, “A calcium-modulated plasmonic switch,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 5836–5837 (2008).
  3. Y. Lin, A. Böker, J. He, K. Sill, H. Xiang, C. Abetz, X. Li, J. Wang, T. Emrick, S. Long, Q. Wang, A. Balazs & T.P. Russell, “Self-directed assembly of nanoparticles/copolymer mixtures,” Nature 434, 55-59(2005).
  4. Y. Lin, A. Böker, H. Skaff, D. Cookson, A.D. Dinsmore, T. Emrick & T.P. Russell, “Structure and dynamics of nanoparticle assembly at liquid-liquid interfaces,” Langmuir 21, 191-194 (2005).
  5. J.T. Russell, Y. Lin (equal contribution), A. Böker, L. Su, P. Carl, H. Zettl, J. He, K. Sill, R. Tangirala, T. Emrick, K. Littrell, P. Thiyagarajan, D. Cookson, A. Fery, Q. Wang & T.P. Russell, “Self-assembly and cross-linking of bionanoparticles at liquid-liquid interfaces,” Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit 44, 2420-2426 (2005) [cover article].
  6. H. Skaff, Y. Lin, R. Tangirala, K. Breitenkamp, A. Böker, T.P. Russell & T. Emrick, “Crosslinked Capsules of Quantum Dots by Interfacial Assembly and Ligand Crosslinking,” Advanced Materials, 17, 2082-2086 (2005).
  7. H. Xiang, Y. Lin & T. P. Russell, “Electrically induced patterning in block copolymer films,” Macromolecules 37, 5358-5363 (2004).
  8. A. Böker, Y. Lin, K. Chiapperini, R. Horowitz, M. Thompson, V. Carreon, T. Xu, C. Abetz, H. Skaff, A.D. Dinsmore, T. Emrick & T.P. Russell, “Hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies formed by decorating breath figures,” Nature Materials 3, 302-306 (2004).
  9. Y. Lin, H. Skaff, T. Emrick, A. D. Dinsmore & T. P. Russell, “Nanoparticle assembly and transport at liquid-liquid interfaces,” Science 299, 226-229 (2003).
  10. Y. Lin, H. Skaff, A. Böker, T. Emrick, A. D. Dinsmore & T. P. Russell, “Ultrathin crosslinked nanoparticle membranes,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 12690-12691 (2003).
  11. L. Ding, F. E. Karasz, Y. Lin, Y. Pang & L. Liao “Photoluminescence and electroluminescence study of violet-blue and green emitting polymers and their blend,” Macromolecules 36, 7301-7307 (2003).
  12. A. Meyer, N. Jones, Y. Lin & D. Kranbuehl, “Characterizing and modeling the hydrolysis of polyamide-11 in a pH 7 water environment,” Macromolecules 35, 2784-2798 (2002).


Polymer Program: 860.486.3582: polymer@ims.uconn.edu