After over a decade of cross-disciplinary training in chemical and biomolecular engineering and physical chemistry, I am prepared to lead a group in several innovative lines of inquiry.
(1) Redox polymerization for low cost, high throughput detection of biomarkers, epigenetic states of genes, and rare cell types
(2) Exploring coupling of domains in redox enzymes using directed evolution combined with spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques
(3) Redox enzymes for tunable, controlled delivery of reactive oxygen species to undesirable cell types
(4) Multi-enzyme assemblies via genetically encoded, self-assembled scaffolds
Publications:
Polymerization-based signal amplification for molecular diagnostics:
H.D. Sikes, R.R. Hansen, L.M. Johnson, R. Jenison, J.W. Birks, K.L. Rowlen, and C.N. Bowman. “Using polymeric materials to generate an amplified response to molecular recognition events” Nature Materials 2008 7, 52. (Highlighted in Science 2007 318:5852, 888, in C&EN 2007 85:46, 45)
R.R. Hansen, H.D. Sikes, C.N. Bowman. “Sub-attomole detection of labeled oligonucleotides using visible light photopolymerization for signal amplification on glass microarray surfaces” Biomacromolecules 2008 9 (1), 355.
Electron transfer:
H.D. Sikes, J.F. Smalley, S.P. Dudek, A.R. Cook, M.D. Newton, C.E.D. Chidsey, S.W. Feldberg. “Rapid electron tunneling through oligophenylenevinylene bridges” Science 2001 291,1519.
S.P. Dudek, H.D. Sikes, C.E.D. Chidsey. “Synthesis of ferrocenethiols containing oligo(phenylenevinylene) bridges and their characterization on gold electrodes” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001 123, 8033.
H.D. Sikes, Y. Sun, S.P. Dudek, C.E.D. Chidsey, and P. Pianetta. “Photoelectron spectroscopy to probe the mechanism of electron transfer through oligophenylenevinylene bridges” J. Phys. Chem. B 2003 107:5, 1170.
J. F. Smalley, S. B.Sachs, C.E.D. Chidsey, S. P. Dudek, H. D. Sikes, S. E. Creager, C. J. Yu, S. W. Feldberg, M.D. Newton. “Interfacial electron-transfer kinetics of ferrocene through oligophenyleneethynylene bridges attached to gold electrodes as constituents of self-assembled monolayers: Observation of a nonmonotonic distance dependence” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004 126:5, 14620.
Phase transitions in self-assembled systems:
H.D. Sikes, J.T. Woodward, D.K. Schwartz. “Pattern formation in a substrate-induced phase transition during Langmuir-Blodgett transfer” J. Phys. Chem. 1996 100:21, 9093.
H.D. Sikes, D.K. Schwartz. “Two-dimensional melting of an anisotropic crystal observed at the molecular level” Science 1997 278, 1604.
H.D. Sikes, D.K. Schwartz. “A temperature-dependent two-dimensional condensation transition during Langmuir-Blodgett deposition” Langmuir 1997 13, 4704.
J.T. Woodward, I. Doudevski, H.D. Sikes, D.K. Schwartz. “Kinetics of self-assembled monolayer growth explored via submonolayer coverage of incomplete films” J. Phys. Chem. B 1997 101:38, 7535.