Our research focus is self-assembled structures within the nervous system, which includes the Myelin sheaths, Myelin basic protein, and neuronal intermediate filaments. In those systems alteration in subunit compositions (proteins and/or lipids) has devastative effects commonly expressed in neurodegenerative diseases. A common denominator between those scientific efforts is non-specific interactions and forces that drive order and disorder. In particular, the proteins involve in those supramolecular complexation have large intrinsically disordered domains that lack secondary structure, thus, behaving as a multifaceted polymer.
We couple theoretical and experimental efforts inspired from soft-condensed matter and polymer physics in order to gain physical insights into those complexes where oder and disorder play a key role. This research holds huge potential both for fundamental understating of biological functionality as well as in future biomimetic applications.