Metalloenzyme design and smart hydrogels for arthritis and remediation
Official title: Metalloproteins: evolution, catalysis and material design
Funded at Baylor University · NIH-11396392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Baylor University team is using metal-focused proteins and smart hydrogels to create better catalysts and materials that could help with chemical remediation and osteoarthritis treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waco, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $347,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM155013-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with osteoarthritis or those needing advanced biomaterials for joint repair could be eligible for related studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit may be limited in early-stage basic research, with greater potential as the technology translates to therapies or materials.
What this research studies
This grant supports research to design and evolve metalloproteins that catalyze useful chemical reactions and to develop responsive, self-healing hydrogels for osteoarthritis treatment. The work combines advanced NMR-guided directed evolution with other protein-dynamics methods to create smaller, efficient protein catalysts that are safer and cheaper to handle. It also aims to advance our understanding of how metalloproteins work and how to control their function, with potential practical uses in remediation, DNA processing, and phenol oxidation. In parallel, the project explores smart hydrogel materials that respond to stimuli to aid tissue repair and antimicrobial action, potentially improving patient outcomes in joint disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new, biocompatible catalysts for environmental cleanup and novel materials for safer, more effective osteoarthritis treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that combining dynamics with directed evolution can yield highly active metalloproteins, supporting the potential for impact here.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor University
Waco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makhlynets, Olga — Baylor University
- Study coordinator: Makhlynets, Olga
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.