Associate Professor Yasuhara from the Biomimetic and Technomimetic Molecular Science Laboratory Receives the 2024 Japan Chemical Society Colloid and Interface Chemistry Division’s Young Scientist Award
Summary
On September 18, 2024, Associate Professor Kazuma Yasuhara from the Biomimetic and Technomimetic Molecular Science Laboratory received the 2024 Young Scientist Award from the Division of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Japan Chemical Society. This award recognizes young researchers who have made outstanding contributions both domestically and internationally in the field of colloid and interface chemistry, and aims to encourage the further development of pioneering research. The award ceremony and commemorative lecture were held at the 75th Colloid and Interface Science Symposium, which took place from September 17 to 20, 2024, at the Kawauchi North Campus of Tohoku University.
Research detail
This research focuses on understanding the behavior of natural functional amphiphilic molecules in lipid membranes, which serve as a platform for advanced cellular functions, from the perspective of colloid and interface chemistry. Based on this understanding, the research seeks to apply this knowledge to the design of artificial amphiphilic polymers to create biomimetic polymers that interact with and function on membranes. Key achievements in this series of studies include the design and elucidation of the action mechanisms of bioactive polymers that interact with cell membranes, the development of lipid nanodisc technology as a minimal cell membrane model, and the development of techniques for forming lipid molecular assemblies with organic-inorganic hybrid structures. It is expected that the insights gained from this research will lead to the discovery of design principles for functional polymers that not only mimic but surpass the mechanisms found in nature.
Comment
I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 Young Scientist Award from the Colloid and Interface Chemistry Division of the Japan Chemical Society. The results of this research were mainly achieved through the efforts in the former Biomimetic Science Laboratory and the current Biomimetic and Technomimetic Molecular Science Laboratory. I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the professors, students, and technical assistants who contributed to this research. With this opportunity, I am more determined than ever to further deepen my research.