Angela Belcher

Last updated
Angela M. Belcher
Citizenship United States
Education University of California, Santa Barbara (B.S. 1991, Ph.D. 1997)
Known forViral assembly of nanotechnology
Awards MacArthur Fellowship (2004)
Beckman Young Investigators Award (2000) [1]
National Medal of Science (2024)
Scientific career
FieldsBiological engineering
materials science
InstitutionsMIT
Thesis Spatial and temporal resolution of interfaces, phase transitions and isolation of three families of proteins in calcium carbonate based biocomposite materials  (1997)
Doctoral advisor Galen D. Stucky

Angela M. Belcher is a materials scientist, biological engineer, and the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. [2] She is director of the Biomolecular Materials Group at MIT, a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and a 2004 MacArthur Fellow. In 2019, she was named head of the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT. [3] She was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Belcher grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received her bachelor's degree from the College of Creative Studies in 1991 and her Ph.D. in chemistry in 1997. [5]

Career

After studying abalone shells, she worked with several colleagues at MIT and engineered a virus, known as the M13 bacteriophage whose target is usually Escherichia coli . M13 can be made to latch onto and coat itself with inorganic materials including gold and cobalt oxide. The long tubular virus (coated in cobalt oxide) now acts as a minuscule length of wire called a nanowire. [6] Belcher's group coaxed many of these nanowires together and found that they resemble the basic components of a potentially very powerful and compact battery. [7] [8] In 2002 she founded Cambrios with Evelyn L. Hu of (at the time) University of California, Santa Barbara. [9] Their vision relied upon the use of nanostructured inorganic materials, fabricated and shaped by biological molecules to create novel materials and processes for a variety of industries. She also founded and serves on the Advisory Committee of Siluria Technologies, which develops catalytic methods for converting natural gas into products such as ethylene, gasoline, and diesel fuel. [10]

In 2009 Belcher and her team demonstrated the feasibility of using genetically modified viruses to build both anode and cathode of a lithium-ion battery. These new batteries have the same energy capacity and power as cutting-edge rechargeable batteries earmarked for use in hybrid cars, as well as powering a range of electronic devices. The batteries could be manufactured using a cheap and environmentally friendly process, as the synthesis can be done near room temperature, using no harmful solvents or toxic materials. [11] [12] In October 2009, President Barack Obama visited Belcher's lab at MIT. [13]

In 2014 Belcher and her group demonstrated the potential for M13 phages to detect cancer. They developed a nanoprobe that uses M13 virus-stabilized SWNTs (single walled carbon nanotubes) to visualize deep, disseminated tumors in vivo. Using this process, they were able to identify submillimeter tumors. [14]

A Time article [15] featured her work on viral batteries and Scientific American named her research leader of the year in 2006 for her current project. [16] In 2002, she was named to the MIT Technology Review TR100 as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35. [17] In 2013, Belcher was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize. [18]

She has been elected to the Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. Belcher was also elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2018 for the development of novel genetic evolution methods for the generation of new materials and devices. [19] [20] [21] In 2022, Belcher was appointed to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. [22]

In 2024, Belcher was awarded the National Medal of Science. [23] [24]

Related Research Articles

The Lemelson–MIT Program awards several prizes yearly to inventors in the United States. The largest is the Lemelson–MIT Prize which was endowed in 1994 by Jerome H. Lemelson, funded by the Lemelson Foundation, and is administered through the School of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The winner receives $500,000, making it the largest cash prize for invention in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John B. Goodenough</span> American materials scientist (1922–2023)

John Bannister Goodenough was an American materials scientist, a solid-state physicist, and a Nobel laureate in chemistry. From 1986 he was a professor of Materials Science, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, at the University of Texas at Austin. He is credited with identifying the Goodenough–Kanamori rules of the sign of the magnetic superexchange in materials, with developing materials for computer random-access memory and with inventing cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M13 bacteriophage</span> Species of virus

M13 is one of the Ff phages, a member of the family filamentous bacteriophage (inovirus). Ff phages are composed of circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which in the case of the m13 phage is 6407 nucleotides long and is encapsulated in approximately 2700 copies of the major coat protein p8, and capped with about 5 copies each of four different minor coat proteins. The minor coat protein p3 attaches to the receptor at the tip of the F pilus of the host Escherichia coli. The life cycle is relatively short, with the early phage progeny exiting the cell ten minutes after infection. Ff phages are chronic phage, releasing their progeny without killing the host cells. The infection causes turbid plaques in E. coli lawns, of intermediate opacity in comparison to regular lysis plaques. However, a decrease in the rate of cell growth is seen in the infected cells. The replicative form of M13 is circular double-stranded DNA similar to plasmids that are used for many recombinant DNA processes, and the virus has also been used for phage display, directed evolution, nanostructures and nanotechnology applications.

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A nanowire battery uses nanowires to increase the surface area of one or both of its electrodes, which improves the capacity of the battery. Some designs, variations of the lithium-ion battery have been announced, although none are commercially available. All of the concepts replace the traditional graphite anode and could improve battery performance. Each type of nanowire battery has specific advantages and disadvantages, but a challenge common to all of them is their fragility.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified virus</span> Species of virus

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ff phages</span> Group of viruses

Ff phages is a group of almost identical filamentous phage including phages f1, fd, M13 and ZJ/2, which infect bacteria bearing the F fertility factor. The virion is a flexible filament measuring about 6 by 900 nm, comprising a cylindrical protein tube protecting a single-stranded circular DNA molecule at its core. The phage codes for only 11 gene products, and is one of the simplest viruses known. It has been widely used to study fundamental aspects of molecular biology. George Smith and Greg Winter used f1 and fd for their work on phage display for which they were awarded a share of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Early experiments on Ff phages used M13 to identify gene functions, and M13 was also developed as a cloning vehicle, so the name M13 is sometimes used as an informal synonym for the whole group of Ff phages.

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References

  1. ↑ "Angela M. Belcher". Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. ↑ DMSE - Faculty - Angela Belcher. Archived November 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  3. ↑ "Angela Belcher named head of the Department of Biological Engineering". MIT News. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  4. ↑ "2022 NAS Election".
  5. ↑ Belcher, Angela (June 2003). "The College of Creative Studies - Distinguished Alumni - Angela Belcher, Ph.D. (From her commencement speech, June 2003)". University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 2008-02-26.
  6. ↑ Belcher, Angela M.; Iverson, Brent; Georgiou, George; Hayhurst, Andrew; Sweeney, Rozamond Y.; Kottmann, Stephen T.; Reiss, Brian D.; Solis, Daniel J.; Mao, Chuanbin (2004-01-09). "Virus-Based Toolkit for the Directed Synthesis of Magnetic and Semiconducting Nanowires". Science. 303 (5655): 213–217. Bibcode:2004Sci...303..213M. doi:10.1126/science.1092740. ISSN   1095-9203. PMID   14716009. S2CID   39176392.
  7. ↑ Belcher, Angela M.; Chiang, Yet-Ming; Hammond, Paula T.; Meethong, Nonglak; Chiang, Chung-Yi; Yoo, Pil J.; Kim, Dong-Wan; Nam, Ki Tae (2006-05-12). "Virus-Enabled Synthesis and Assembly of Nanowires for Lithium Ion Battery Electrodes". Science. 312 (5775): 885–888. Bibcode:2006Sci...312..885N. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.395.4344 . doi:10.1126/science.1122716. ISSN   1095-9203. PMID   16601154. S2CID   5105315.
  8. ↑ Lee, Yun Jung; Yi, Hyunjung; Kim, Woo-Jae; Kang, Kisuk; Yun, Dong Soo; Strano, Michael S.; Ceder, Gerbrand; Belcher, Angela M. (2009-05-22). "Fabricating genetically engineered high-power lithium-ion batteries using multiple virus genes". Science. 324 (5930): 1051–1055. Bibcode:2009Sci...324.1051L. doi: 10.1126/science.1171541 . ISSN   1095-9203. PMID   19342549. S2CID   32017913.
  9. ↑ and sits on its Board About Cambrios. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Cambrios Technologies Corp.
  10. ↑ Siluria Technologies Inc. "Siluria Technologies | Building with Natural Gas | Abundant fuels and chemicals without a single drop of oil". www.siluria.com. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  11. ↑ "Virus-Built Battery Could Power Cars, Electronic Devices". Science Daily . April 3, 2009.
  12. ↑ Lee, Y. J.; Yi, H.; Kim, W.-J.; Kang, K.; Yun, D. S.; Strano, M. S.; Ceder, G.; Belcher, A. M. (April 2, 2009). "Fabricating Genetically Engineered High-Power Lithium Ion Batteries Using Multiple Virus Genes". Science. 324 (5930): 1051–1055. Bibcode:2009Sci...324.1051L. doi: 10.1126/science.1171541 . PMID   19342549. S2CID   32017913.
  13. ↑ "A President's Urgent Call–from MIT". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  14. ↑ Ghosh, D.; Bagley, AF.; Na, YJ.; Birrer, MJ.; Bhatia, SN.; Belcher, AM. (September 11, 2014). "Deep, noninvasive imaging and surgical guidance of submillimeter tumors using targeted M13-stabilized single-walled carbon nanotubes". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111 (38): 13948–13953. Bibcode:2014PNAS..11113948G. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1400821111 . PMC   4183329 . PMID   25214538.
  15. ↑ Lemonick, Michael D. (April 6, 2007). "Angela Belcher". Time . 295 (6): 50. Bibcode:2006SciAm.295f..50M. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1206-50a. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007.
  16. ↑ Minkel, J.R. (November 12, 2006). "Scientific American 50: Research Leader of the Year". Scientific American.
  17. ↑ "2002 Young Innovators Under 35". Technology Review. 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Dr. Angela Belcher | Lemelson-MIT Program". lemelson.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  19. ↑ "Four MIT faculty named 2015 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors". MIT News. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  20. ↑ "American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2012 Fellows" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-31.
  21. ↑ "National Academy of Engineering Elects 83 Members and 16 Foreign Members". NAE Website. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  22. ↑ "Armed Services Committees Leadership Announces Chair and Vice Chair Selections for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services". www.armed-services.senate.gov. 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  23. ↑ "MIT affiliates awarded 2024 National Medals of Science, Technology". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2025-01-04. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  24. ↑ "National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Commissioner Receives National Medal of Science". Biotech. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
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