Dr K. H. Aaron Lau

Senior Lecturer

Pure and Applied Chemistry

Personal statement

Lau Laboratory for Bioinspired Molecular Interfaces and Nanomaterials

My research aims to establish the design rules for creating synthetic polymers and nanostructures that mimic the structure and function of natural biomolecules. At the same time, since my biomimetic structures would be governed by the same biophysical principles acting on their natural counterparts, I aim to use these structures as physical models to test hypotheses on the functional mechanisms of the natural systems. This fundamental research into the biophysical and materials chemistry of biomimetic molecules will, in the long-term, expand the possibilities of controlling biological interactions and enable improvements in human health and our ability to fashion material functionality at will.

Proteins and their self-assembled structures, which constitute the molecular machinery performing many of life’s chemical processes, are of particular interest. To reduce the level of complexity and enable chemical routes of investigation, I develop synthetic peptidomimetic polymers called “peptoids” which closely mimics the chemical structure and properties of peptides, the biomolecules from which proteins are formed. To mimic larger protein structures, I also employ already available synthetic nanostructures, e.g. nanoparticles and nanoporous membranes, as scaffolds on which biofunctional molecules such as peptoids and others can be attached. This research requires development of new nano-characterization techniques, such as the nanoporous waveguide spectroscopy that I am developing, as well as chemical methods of integrating synthetic materials with biomolecules (i.e. biofunctionalization). I am therefore also developing reactive polyphenols coatingsformed from plant tannins, that can be used to functionalize a diverse range of materials with proteins, peptoids, and other (bio)molecules.

Overall, my research is highly interdisciplinary and exemplifies the rapidly emerging fields of “bioinspired materials” and “biointerfaces”. The research brings together the experimental synthesis of biomimetic molecules and nanostructures, self-assembly and biofunctionalization, as well as biophysical characterization. This expertise may also enable nearer-term applications in biomaterials, sensing (e.g. environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics) and the processing of biomolecules (e.g. purification, biocatalysis).

Expertise

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Area of Expertise

General Areas of Expertise

Biointerfaces, Cell-Surface and Protein-Surface Interactions
Nanopores: Transport/Diffusion of Macromolecules
Polymer Brushes and Hydrogels
Surface Modification
Protein and Enzyme Assays, Peptide Characterization

Material Systems under Investigation

Peptoids: Poly(N-Substituted Glycines)
Nanoporous Alumina
Polymer Surface Grafting and Polymerisation
Polyphenolic/Polycatecholic Coatings

Technical Expertise

Solid Phase Synthesis
HPLC, LC-MS, MALDI-MS
Macromolecular Self-Assembly
Anodisation
Radical Polymerisation
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Ellipsometry, and Related Surface Optical Measurements
AFM, XPS, SEM

Prize And Awards

Strathclyde Medal: Team Award: Recipient; 11/10/2022
HFSP Young Investigator Grant: Recipient; 18/3/2016
Delegate to Scottish Crucible 2015: Recipient; 23/4/2015
Researcher Mobility Fellowship: Recipient; 8/2014

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Specific and non-specific interactions of fibronectin with zwitterionic peptoid brushes studied by molecular dynamics simulation: Cheung David, Messersmith Phillip B, Lau K H Aaron; Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Vol 27, pp. 25116-25126 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1039/D5CP02324F
Using supramolecular gels : general discussion: Adams Dave J, Ardona Herdeline Ann M, Conticello Vincent P, Edkins Katharina, Edler Karen J, Edwards Alison A, Giuri Demetra, Gunnlaugsson Thorfinnur, Kotova Oxana, Krishnan Retheesh, Lau King Hang Aaron, Laverty Garry, Lloyd Gareth O, Maguire Oliver, Marchesan Silvia, Marshall Libby, Miller Aline F, Nilsson Bradley L, Özel Mertcan, Pochan Darrin J, Ravoo Bart Jan, Reches Meital, Schneider Joel P, Squires Adam M, Thomson Andrew R, Tuttle Tell, Wang Huaimin, Yan Xuehai; Faraday Discussions Vol 260, pp. 235-251 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fd90030a
Characterising supramolecular gels : general discussion: Adams Dave J, Ardoña Herdeline Ann M, Bianco Simona, Conticello Vincent P, Draper Emily R, Edkins Katharina, Edler Karen J, Edwards Alison A, Egelman Edward H, Giuri Demetra, Katrantzi Dimitra, Kotova Oxana, Krishnan Retheesh, Lau King Hang Aaron, Laverty Garry, Lloyd Gareth O, Maguire Oliver, Marchesan Silvia, Marshall Libby, Nilsson Bradley L, Özel Mertcan, Piskorz Tomasz K, Pochan Darrin J, Ravoo Bart Jan, Reches Meital, Schneider Joel P, Squires Adam M, Stephen Andrei, Thomson Andrew R, Tuttle Tell, Wang Huaimin, Yan Xuehai; Faraday Discussions Vol 260, pp. 145-178 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fd90029h
A polyphenol-based hydrogel for enabling enhanced metal ion sorption, antimicrobial activity, and water remediation: Jawed Aquib, Rizvi Aiman, Çitoğlu Senem, Azeem Iqra, Maclean Michelle, Golder Animes K, Pandey Lalit M, Duran Hatice, Davidson Christine M, Lau King Hang Aaron; ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Vol 13, pp. 7212-7222 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c01824
2D Interfacial crystallization stabilized by short-chain aliphatic interfaces: Swanson Hamish W A, Barriales Kenny, Sherman Emmet A, Li Tai-De, Kennedy Alan R, Tuttle Tell, Ulijn Rein V, Lau King Hang Aaron; Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids Vol 41, pp. 7376-7385 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04718
Martinoid : the peptoid martini force field: Swanson Hamish W A, van Teijlingen Alexander, Lau King Hang Aaron, Tuttle Tell; Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Vol 26, pp. 4939-4953 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CP05907C