George Gokel, Professor of Chemistry at University of Missouri–St Louis, was interviewed by KWMU science reporter Véronique LaCapra today. Gokel, recently named Director of UMSL’s Center for Nanoscience, described some of the research being done at the Center: Eric Mazjoub, physicist and Associate Director of CFN, is focusing on development of small, light, high-capacity batteries for electric cars. Thomas George, professor of chemistry and Chancellor of UMSL, works on “nanobombs”, which are targeted to tumors and destroy them without adversely affecting surrounding tissue. Gokel also got to talk a little about nanosensors for environmental pollutants, and about the theoretical risks that are particular to nanomaterials, and the challenges involved in regulating them. What he didn’t get a chance to mention is his own research in synthetic ion channels and nanotubes as drug delivery vehicles, so we’re mentioning it here.
You can read a transcript of the interview or link to the audio file here.
“Computers and the physics of complex biological systems”
