Galia Maayan

.

Galia Maayan

Assistant Professor

Post doc: New York University and University of Florida, USA 2007-2011

Ph.D: Weizmann Institute of Science, 2006

Room Number: 415a
Phone: +972-4-8293947
Fax: +972-4-8295703
gm92@tx.technion.ac.il

Group/Personal Website

+972-4-8293947, +972-4-8293947

Email: 

gm92@tx.technion.ac.il

links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/galia-maayan-b974344

  
  

  PhD: Chemistry Faculty, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2006.

  MSc: Chemistry Faculty, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2000.

  BSc: Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University (MAGNA CUM LAUDE), 1998.

  

  Nano Main Field:

  I am interested in the interactions between biomimetic oligomers and metal nanoparticles towards the generation of chiral nanoparticles and biomimetic nanoparticles assemblies for asymmetric catalysis and sensors materials.

  

Research Interests

Biomimetic Chemistry, metal nanoparticles, chirality, cooperative catalysis, catalysis, molecular sensors, green chemistry and renewable energy.

Research Abstract

Figure 1: (A) The structure of a polypeptide and a peptoid
foldamer. (B) Peptoid octamer folded into a helical configuration.

Foldamers are bio-inspired oligomers that can fold upon non-covalent interactions to form well defined three-dimensional structures stable in solution. During the last several years, various types of foldamer architectures that emulate protein secondary and tertiary structures were established. Further advancement of foldamers requires design strategies that will enable their use as superior materials with unique functions. Thus, we are developing new strategies to assemble biomimetic materials based on the interactions between foldamers and metal species with functionalities arising from both their organic and inorganic properties. The new biomimetic materials will be applied as selective catalysts and sensors.

Figure 2: Spherical assemblies of Ag(0)
nanoparticles mediated by peptoid oligomers.
Ag(0) nanoparticles (A) before and (B) after
peptoid functionalization.²

We are studying peptidomimetic foldamers called  “peptoids”, which are N-substituted glycine oligomers (Figure 1A).  Peptoids are easily synthesized on solid support by the “submonomer” method – a repetitive two-step protocol in ambient conditions that typically requires short reaction times and no protection groups. Peptoids are also able to fold into helical structures in solution (Figure 1B). 

We are currently interested mainly in two topics:

1. Interactions of Peptidomimetics with metal ions: We synthesize peptoids incorporating metal binding ligands and investigate their interactions with metal ions by spectroscopy and electrochemistry for applications in chiral sensing as well as asymmetric catalysis.¹

2. Aggregation of metal nanoparticles mediated by biomimetic oligomers: We generate ensembles containing peptoids and metal nanoparticles and develop approaches for controlled aggregation, targeting homogeneous nanoparticles assemblies with various sizes and shapes. These unique assemblies will be characterized by advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and will be utilized for chemical and/or biological sensing. Their chiroptical properties will be also evaluated towards applications in asymmetric catalysis.

Selected Publications

1. Galia Maayan, Kent Kirshenbaum and Michael D. Ward, “Metallopeptoids.” Chemical Communications, 2009, 56-58.
2. Galia Maayan* and Li-Kai Liu, “Silver Nanoparticles Assemblies Mediated by Functionalized Biomimetic Oligomers”, Pept. Sci.,2011, 96 (5), 679-687.

Welcome!

To The Fascinating World of Functional Foldamers in The Research Lab of

  Prof. Galia Maayan

Galia Maayan, PhD

Assistant Professor

Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, room # 415A

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Technion City, Haifa 32000, Israel.

Telephones: 972-4-8293947 (office), 8292569 (lab), 8293678 (students office)

email: gm92@tx.technion.ac.il 

Foldamers are synthetic oligomers that fold into three dimensional architectures in solution upon non-covalent interactions, created in order to mimic the structure and function of natural biopolymers.                                                                               

We are making functional foldamers for the following applications:

              Catalysis                    Metal-binding              Chiral Spectroscopy                  Nanomaterials

                                                          

http://www.peptoids.org/peptoids_website_additional_files/9PS_photo_gallery/

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