Bio

LaBean earned his BS in biochemistry from the Honors College at Michigan State University, and his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. He studied protein design as a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University. He then ran his own group as research professor with appointments in the departments of Computer Science, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at Duke. LaBean joined MSE@NCSU in 2011.  Throughout his career, LaBean has studied the structure, evolution, and engineering of biopolymers (biomacromolecules and materials assembled from them). Current research projects involve the design, construction, and testing of self-assembling DNA nanostructures for applications in nanomedicine, molecular materials, and biomimetic fabrication of nanoelectronics.

Area(s) of Expertise

Dr. LaBean's research interests include biomolecular engineering, molecular materials, bionano science, molecular recognition and self-assembly.

Publications

• A Functional RNA-Origami as Direct Thrombin Inhibitor with Fast-acting and Specific Single-Molecule Reversal Agents in vivo model , Molecular Therapy (2024)
• Utilizing multiscale engineered biomaterials to examine TGF‐β‐mediated myofibroblastic differentiation , Wound Repair and Regeneration (2024)
• DNA aerogels and DNA-wrapped CNT aerogels for neuromorphic applications , Materials Today Bio (2022)
• Modeling and characterization of stochastic resistive switching in single Ag2S nanowires , Scientific Reports (2022)
• Resistive switching of two-dimensional Ag2S nanowire networks for neuromorphic applications , Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B Nanotechnology and Microelectronics Materials Processing Measurement and Phenomena (2022)
• Mechanical and Electrical Properties of DNA Hydrogel-Based Composites Containing Self-Assembled Three-Dimensional Nanocircuits , Applied Sciences (2021)
• Multivalent Aptamer‐Functionalized Single‐Strand RNA Origami as Effective, Target‐Specific Anticoagulants with Corresponding Reversal Agents , Advanced Healthcare Materials (2021)
• Self-Assembling Nucleic Acid Nanostructures Functionalized with Aptamers , Chemical Reviews (2021)
• Genetically Encoded, Functional Single‐Strand RNA Origami: Anticoagulant , Advanced Materials (2019)
• Engineered Diblock Polypeptides Improve DNA and Gold Solubility during Molecular Assembly , ACS Nano (2017)

View all publications