Design spin cluster for NMR signal amplification and quantum resonance sensing
To reveal “invisible” NMR signal of surfaces, active sites, and functional species in catalysis, molecular recognition and quantum materials using out of the box tools.
Spying on Molecular Action with Spins
The Han lab uses advanced magnetic resonance manipulation and control over coupled electron and nuclear spin probes located on biomolecular and soft materials surfaces to uncover their structure, the design rules for molecular recognition, and the surface structuring and dynamics of hydration water.
The development effort requires multiple research tools in the realm of physical chemistry broadly speaking. They include instrument development to achieve hyperpolarization and quantum resonance sensing, the design of precisely tuned electron and nuclear spin clusters, spin physic theory and simulations, and the dynamics and thermodynamics of solvation science to control biomolecular activity and directed assembly.
The Han lab is pushing the frontier of electron and nuclear spin magnetic resonance instrumentation and concepts in dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) amplified nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). We are motivated by the power of “Seeing is Believing”. Visualizing molecular interactions and materials interfaces, previously “invisible”, can fundamentally transform our ability to discover solutions, and almost as importantly, ask new questions.
Areas Of Research
Research in the Han Lab builds and employs state-of-the-art tools in magnetic resonance spectroscopy to advance our understanding in different subject areas, ranging from quantum sensing, solvation science, biophysics to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Shape-controlled molecular assembly and dynamic structural biology
To understand, control and engineer protein aggregation pathways, protein surface activity to protein liquid-liquid phase separation.
Design of active surfaces by tuning the structure of hydration water
To reveal long-standing questions on the structure and dynamics of water on proteins, membranes to catalyst support surfaces.
Publications
+ VIEW ALLComputation of Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization processes reveals fundamental correlation between water dynamics, structure, and solvent restructuring entropy
D. C. Robinson Brown, T. R. Webber, T. M. Casey, J. M. Franck, M. S. Shell and S. Han, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024,
DOI:10.1039/D4CP00030G
Bridging the Gap in Cryopreservation Mechanism: Unraveling the Interplay between Structure, Dynamics, and Thermodynamics in Cryoprotectant Aqueous Solutions
Das Mahanta, Debasish; Robinson Brown, Dennis; Webber, Thomas; Pezzotti, Simone; Schwaab, Gerhard; Han, Songi; Shell, M. Scott; Havenith, Martina. Bridging the Gap in Cryopreservation Mechanism: Unraveling the Interplay between Structure, Dynamics, and Thermodynamics in Cryoprotectant Aqueous Solutions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry 2024
Spectroscopically Orthogonal Spin Labels in Structural Biology at Physiological Temperatures
M. Teucher, S. Kucher, M. Hadi Timachi, C. Blake Wilson, Dariusz Śmiłowicz, R. Stoll, Nils Metzler-Nolte, M. S. Sherwin, S. Han, Enrica Bordignon. Spectroscopically Orthogonal Spin Labels in Structural Biology at Physiological Temperatures. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2023, 127 (30), 6668–6674.
Recent News
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Exciting News!! Our lab has returned to full operation!
January 16, 2024
Interested in joining the Han research group? Reach us at songi.han@northwestern.edu
Follow us at @songihanlab