Proteins perform ingenious functions and support the essence of life processes. We are advancing research to develop unique biomaterials that cannot be found in nature by artificially creating, linking, and stacking proteins. These materials hold great potential for benefiting human health and medicine, as well as contributing to the fields of environment and energy.
We are developing smart biomaterials by hierarchically combining and organizing proteins, syntehtic polymers, and metal complexes. Precisely designed hemoglobin formulations have opened new breakthroughs in the research of "artificial blood" and are expected to have various applications in advanced medicical field. There is also significant interest in "artificial blood for animals". Furthermore, "tubular micromotors" which are self-propelled hollow polymer-cylinders can be used as a new capturing/separating agents, self-stirring catalysts, and diagnostic tools. We are also making progress in the development of "protein-based anticancer agents" and "artificial virus particles".
MovieIntroduction of Komatsu Lab（YouTube）(in Japanese)
