Professor Cyrus R. Safinya

Phone: 805-893 8635 (office)
(805) 893 4859 (laboratory)
(805) 893 5366 (Administrative Assistant)
FAX: (805) 893 7221

E-mail: safinya@mrl.ucsb.edu

Structures of Lipid-DNA Complexes.
Supramolecular Assembly of Cell Cytoskeletal Proteins.
Development of Lipid-Based Vectors for Gene and Drug Delivery Applications.

Cyrus R. Safinya received a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Bates College in 1975. He received his Ph.D. degree in Physics in 1981 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his work on "X-ray Scattering Study of the Critical Behavior of Binary Liquid Crystal Mixtures" under the supervision of Professor Robert J. Birgeneau (current President of the University of Toronto). In 1981, he joined the Exxon Research and Engineering Company in New Jersey and conducted research on the structure of complex fluids and biological membranes. He joined the faculty of the University of California at Santa Barbara as a Professor of Materials and Physics in 1992. His group's research is focused on elucidating structures and interactions of supramolecular assemblies of biological molecules. This includes, understaning structures of DNA condensed by oppositely charged lipids and multivalent counter-ions in vitro and the relationship with condensed DNA in vivo, and developing a fundamental understanding of interactions between cell cytoskeletal proteins and their associated molecules which leads to their distinct structures (related to their specific functions in cells) on the nanometer to the many micrometer scales. A major project in the group has a goal of developing lipid and polymer based non-viral vectors (carriers) of DNA, peptides, and proteins for gene and drug delivery applications. Structures are solved by combining reciprocal space and real space data resulting from x-ray diffraction and scattering, light-microscopy differential-interference-contrast and three-dimensional confocal imaging, and electron microscopy experiments.

Selected Appointments, Honors

  • Professor of Materials & Physics, UC-Santa Barbara 1992-
  • Professor of Biomolecular Science & Engineering, UC-Santa Barbara 1994-
  • Member of Technical Staff, Exxon Research & Engineering Co. 1981-1992
  • Editorial Board (2000-) Publishing program, Molecular & Chemical Sciences, Gordon & Breach
  • Editorial Board (2000-2003), Molecular Therapy (American Society of Gene Therapy)
  • Panel Member, National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Committee on Developing a Federal Materials Facilities Strategy (1999).
  • Section Editor (1995-1997), Biomaterials, Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science (Current Chemistry)
  • Frontiers in Materials Lecturer, Penn State (2001)
  • Plenary Lecture, 9th International Conference on Organized Molecular Films, Potsdam, Germany (2000)
  • Keynote Speaker, 74th Colloid & Surface Science Symposium, ACS, Lehigh University (2000)
  • Plenary Lecture, 27th International Liquid Crystal Conference, Strasbourg, France (1998)
  • Fellow, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (elected 1997)
  • University of Wyoming Chemistry Department's Endowed Summer Lectures (1997)
  • Fellow, The American Physical Society (elected 1994)
  • Rothschild Fellow, Henri De Rothschild Foundation, Curie Institute, Paris, 1994
  • Chair, The first Gordon Research Conference on Complex Fluids (1990).
  • Chair, The first MRS Symposium on Complex Fluids (1989).

    Selected Recent Publications:

    1. "Three-Dimensional Imaging of Lipid Gene Carriers: Membrane Charge Density Controls Universal Transfection Behavior in Lamellar Cationic Liposome-DNA Complexes", A. Lin, N. Slack, A. Ahmad, C. George, C. Samuel, C. R. Safinya, Biophysical Journal 84 (5) p.*** (2003).

    2. "Efficient Synthesis & Cell Transfection Properties of a New Multivalent Cationic Lipid for Non-Viral Gene Delivery", K. Ewert, A. Ahmad, H. Evans, H Schmidt, C. R. Safinya, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 45 5023-5029 (2002).

    3. "Structures of Lipid-DNA Complexes: Supramolecular Assembly and Gene Delivery", C. R. Safinya, Current Opinion in Structural Biology 11 (4) 440-448 (2001).

    4. "Controlled Modification of Microstructured Silicon Surfaces for Confinement of Biological Macromolecules and Liquid Crystals", T. Pfohl, J. H. Kim, M. Yasa, H. P. Miller, G. C. L. Wong, F. Bringezu, Z. Wen, L. Wilson, Y. Li, M. W. Kim, and C. R. Safinya, Langmuir 17, 5343-5351 (2001).

    5. "DNA Condensation in Two-Dimensions", I. Koltover, Kathrin Wagner, and C. R. Safinya Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 97 (26) 14046-14052, (2000). (Track II)

    6. "Hierarchical Self-Assembly of F-Actin and Cationic Lipid Complexes: Stacked Three-Layer Tubule Networks", G. C. L. Wong, Jay Tang, Alison Lin, Youli Li, P. A. Janmey, C. R. Safinya Science, 288 2035-2039 (2000).

    7. "Structure of Complexes of Cationic Lipids and Poly(Glutamic Acid) Polypeptides: A Pinched Lamellar Phase", G. Subramanian, R. P. Hjelm, T. J. Deming, G. S. Smith , Y. Li, and C. R. Safinya, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 122 (1) 26-34 (2000).

    8. "An Inverted Hexagonal Phase of DNA-Cationic Liposome Complexes Related to DNA Release", I. Koltover, T. Salditt, J. Raedler, C. R. Safinya, Science 281, 78-81 (1998).

    9. "Structure of DNA-Cationic Liposome Complexes: DNA Intercalation in Multi-Lamellar Membranes in Distinct Interhelical Packing Regimes", J. O. Raedler, I. Koltover, T. Salditt, C. R. Safinya Science 275, 810 (1997).

    10. "Two Dimensional Smectic Ordering of Linear DNA Chains in Self-Assembled DNA-Cationic Liposome Mixtures", T. Salditt, I. Koltover, J.O. Raedler, C. R. Safinya, Physical Review Letters 79, 2582 (1997).

    11. "Biomaterials", C. R. Safinya and L. Addadi, Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science 1, 387-391 (1996); bid,2, 325-329 (1997).

    12. "Lamellar biogels: Fluid-Membrane Based hydrogels containing Polymer-Lipids," H. E. Warriner, S. Idziak, N. L. Slack, P. Davidson, and C. R. Safinya, Science 271, 969 (1996).

    13. "Lipid Tubule Self-Assembly: A Chain-Freezing Induced Spherical to Cylindrical Multilamellar-Vesicle Shape Transition", B. N. Thomas, C. R. Safinya, R. J. Plano and N. A. Clark, Science 267, 1635 (1995).

    14. "Stabilization of the Membrane-Protein Bacteriorhodopsin to 140 °C in 2-Dimensional Films", Yi Shen, C. R. Safinya, K. Liang, A. Ruppert, and K. Rothschild, Nature 366, 48 (1993).

    15. "A New Phase of Entangled Giant Tubular Vesicles", S. Chiruvolu, H. E. Warriner, E. Naranjo, K. Kraiser, S. H. J. Idziak, J. Radler, R. J. Plano, J. A. Zasadzinski, C. R. Safinya, Science 266, 1222-1225 (1994).

    16. "Structure of Membrane Surfactant & Liquid Crystalline Smectic Lamellae Phases under Flow", C. R. Safinya, E. B. Sirota, R. F. Bruinsma, C. Jeppesen, R. Plano, and L. Wenzel, Science 261, 588-591 (1993).

    Selected Research Reviews by Science Magazines:

    1. "Breaching the Membrane", in Science, News Focus on Drug Delivery, by J. Alper, 296, 838-839 (2002).

    2. "Self-Assembly of Phase-Segregated Liquid Crystal Structures", in Science, Viewpoints on Supramolecular Chemistry and Self-Assembly, by T. Kato, 295, 2414-2418 (2002).

    3. "Gene Delivery –Without Viruses", in Chemical & Engineering News, Cover Story, by Celia M. Henry, pp. 35-41, November 26, 2001.

    4. "Chemistry Highlights 2000", in Chemical & Engineering News, Dec. 18, 2000. Actin-Lipid Tubules featured in the section on "Materials".

    5. "Actin and Membrane equals Tubular Capsules", in Chemical & Engineering News, News of the Week, by M. Jacoby, page 11, June 19, 2000.

    6. "In a Pinch", in Science, Editor"s Choice, by P. Szuromi, 287, 550 (2000)

    7. "DNA-Inspired Electrostatics," in Physics Today, by W. M. Gelbart, R. F. Bruinsma, P. A. Pincus, V. A. Parsegian, p. 38-45, September 2000.

    8. "DNA Ordering on a Lipid Membrane", in Science, Perspectives, by M. S. Spector & J. M. Schnur, 275, 791-792 (1997).

    9. "Recent Applications of X-Rays in Condensed Matter Physics," in Physics Today, Special Issue: X-Rays 100 Years Later, by J. Als-Nielsen and Gerhard Materlik. p. 34-40, November 1995.

    10. "Heat-Proof Proteins", in Nature, News and Views, by N. Hampp, 366, 12 (1993).

    11. "Bacteriorhodopsin remains stable at high temperatures", Chemical & Engineering News, November 8 (1993).

    12. "Fluid Membranes Repel One Another; Solid Membranes May Not Crumple," in Physics Today, Search and Discovery Section, by A. Khurana, p. 17-21, August 1989.


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