Melik Demirel
Huck Chair in Biomimetic Materials; Pearce Professor of Engineering

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212 Earth and Engineering Sciences
University Park, PA 16802 - mcd18@psu.edu
- 814-863-2270
Research Summary
Prof. Dr. Melik Demirel holds a tenured professor position in engineering at Penn State, and has a decade of experience in biosensors and nanomaterials. Prof. Demirel’s achievements have been recognized, in part, through his receipt of a Young Investigator Award, an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, an Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter Junior Fellowship, the Pearce Development Professorship at Penn State, a Boeing Distinguished Speaker Award. Prof. Demirel received his Ph.D. from Carnegine Mellon University and B.S. and M.S. degrees from Bogazici University.
Links
Publication Tags
Proteins Protein Self Healing Materials Tandem Repeat Sequences Biomimetics Self Assembly Liquid Film Application Polymers Fibers Textiles Biomimetic Materials Hydration Composite Materials Thermal Conductivity Adhesion Nanostructures Strength Nanomaterial Proteomics Rna Fiber Biomaterial Fabrication Physical PropertiesMost Recent Publications
Diffusive Dynamic Modes of Recombinant Squid Ring Teeth Proteins by Neutron Spectroscopy
Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Madhusudan Tyagi, Melik C. Demirel, 2022, Biomacromolecules on p. 3165-3173
Bioinspired stretchable molecular composites of 2D-layered materials and tandem repeat proteins
Mert Vural, Tarek Mazeed, Dong Li, Oguzhan Colak, Reginald F. Hamilton, Huajian Gao, Melik C. Demirel, 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Enhancing sustainability and elasticity of synthetic fibers by tandem repeat proteins
Burcu Dursun, Tarek El Sayed Mazeed, Oguzhan Colak, Ramiz Boy, Melik C. Demirel, 2022, Smart Materials and Structures
Dielectrophoretic separation of randomly shaped protein particles
Tae Joon Kwak, Huihun Jung, Benjamin D. Allen, Melik C. Demirel, Woo Jin Chang, 2021, Gas Separation and Purification
Hydration-Induced Structural Transitions in Biomimetic Tandem Repeat Proteins
Romeo C.A. Dubini, Huihun Jung, Chloe H. Skidmore, Melik C. Demirel, Petra Rovó, 2021, Journal of Physical Chemistry B on p. 2134-2145
Protein Based Biomimetic Materials
Melik C. Demirel, 2021,
Biosynthetic self-healing materials for soft machines
Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Melik C. Demirel, Metin Sitti, 2020, Nature Materials on p. 1230-1235
Self-Assembly of Topologically Networked Protein-Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>MXene Composites
Mert Vural, Haoyue Zhu, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Benjamin D. Allen, Melik C. Demirel, 2020, ACS Nano on p. 6956-6967
Highly Conductive Self-Healing Biocomposites Based on Protein Mediated Self-Assembly of PEDOT:PSS Films
Yusuke Kikuchi, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Mert Vural, Melik C. Demirel, 2020, ACS Applied Bio Materials on p. 2507-2515
Squid-inspired tandem repeat proteins: Functional fibers and films
Melik C. Demirel, 2020, on p. 130-153
Most-Cited Papers
Accelerating the design of biomimetic materials by integrating RNA-seq with proteomics and materials science
Paul A. Guerette, Shawn Hoon, Yiqi Seow, Manfred Raida, Admir Masic, Fong T. Wong, Vincent H.B. Ho, Kiat Whye Kong, Melik C. Demirel, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Shahrouz Amini, Gavin Z. Tay, Dawei Ding, Ali Miserez, 2013, Nature Biotechnology on p. 908-915
Biosynthetic self-healing materials for soft machines
Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Melik C. Demirel, Metin Sitti, 2020, Nature Materials on p. 1230-1235
3D Printing of PDMS Improves Its Mechanical and Cell Adhesion Properties
Veli Ozbolat, Madhuri Dey, Bugra Ayan, Adomas Povilianskas, Melik C. Demirel, Ibrahim T. Ozbolat, 2018, ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering on p. 682-693
Tunable thermal transport and reversible thermal conductivity switching in topologically networked bio-inspired materials
John A. Tomko, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Madhusudan Tyagi, Benjamin D. Allen, Melik C. Demirel, Patrick E. Hopkins, 2018, Nature Nanotechnology on p. 959-964
Molecular tandem repeat strategy for elucidating mechanical properties of high-strength proteins
Huihun Jung, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Alham Saadat, Aswathy Sebastian, Dong Hwan Kim, Reginald F. Hamilton, Istvan Albert, Benjamin D. Allen, Melik C. Demirel, 2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 6478-83
Materials fabrication from native and recombinant thermoplastic squid proteins
A Pena-Francesch, Sergio Florez, Huihun Jung, Aswathy Sebastian, Istvan Albert, Wayne Curtis, H Gao, Melik Demirel, 2014, Advanced Functional Materials on p. 7401-7409
Recent advances in nanoscale bioinspired materials
Melik C. Demirel, Murat Cetinkaya, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, 2015, Macromolecular Bioscience on p. 300-311
Self-Healing Textile: Enzyme Encapsulated Layer-by-Layer Structural Proteins
David Gaddes, Huihun Jung, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Genevieve Dion, Srinivas Tadigadapa, Walter J. Dressick, Melik C. Demirel, 2016, ACS applied materials & interfaces on p. 20371-20378
Pressure sensitive adhesion of an elastomeric protein complex extracted from squid ring teeth
Abdon Pena-Francesch, Bulent Akgun, Ali Miserez, Wenpeng Zhu, Huajian Gao, Melik C. Demirel, 2014, Advanced Functional Materials on p. 6227-6233
Programmable Proton Conduction in Stretchable and Self-Healing Proteins
Abdon Pena-Francesch, Huihun Jung, Michael A. Hickner, Madhusudan Tyagi, Benjamin D. Allen, Melik C. Demirel, 2018, Chemistry of Materials on p. 898-905
News Articles Featuring Melik Demirel
Jul 25, 2022
Nature-inspired protein creates stretchable, composite layered materials
Using biomimetic proteins patterned on squid ring teeth, circular appendages on the tentacles of squid that are used to grasp prey, researchers have created composite, layered 2D materials that are resistant to breaking and extremely stretchable.
Full Article
Jul 26, 2021
From waste to wear: How squid may be key to material revolution
With elongated bodies, large eyes and a combination of arms and tentacles, squid appear alien. In reality, they are one of the oldest classes of animals on the planet. Squid evolved during the Jurassic period and now appear in every ocean around the world. Now, nearly two and a half millennia later, squid may be the answer to a modern dilemma — plastic pollution.
Full Article
Jul 28, 2020
Scientists Develop Material that Repairs Itself
Inspired by the pandemic-induced need for durable, clean face masks and other personal protection equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, researchers may have developed a biosynthetic polymer material that repairs itself by synthesizing a protein found in squids.
Full Article
Jun 04, 2020
Self-assembling, biomimetic composites possess unusual electrical properties
Sometimes, breaking rules is not a bad thing. Especially when the rules are apparent laws of nature that apply in bulk material, but other forces appear in the nanoscale.
Full Article
Aug 22, 2019
Engineering faculty named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors
Two professors in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics honored for work as inventors.
Full Article
Mar 27, 2019
Scientists working with squid take a bite out of microplastic pollution
A protein found in the ringed teeth of squid could be processed into fibers and films with applications ranging from smart clothing to self-healing and recyclable fabrics that reduce microplastic pollution.
Full Article
Mar 03, 2019
Smart material made from squid teeth a potential plastic alternative
A newly-discovered material made from squid teeth could one day replace man-made fibres like nylon and polyester, according to a review by scientists at Pennsylvania State University.
Full Article
Feb 27, 2019
Lab: Material made from squid teeth could cut plastic pollution in seas
A NEW material made from squid suckers could one day replace man-made fibres such as nylon and polyester. This would help to reduce microplastic pollution in the oceans, as well as paving the way for new possibilities such as self-repairing safety clothing, or garments with built-in, flexible screens.
Full Article
Feb 22, 2019
Squid may help curb micro-plastic pollution
A recently discovered protein, found in squids, could revolutionise materials in a way that would be unattainable with conventional plastic. The study was published in Frontiers in Chemistry.
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Feb 22, 2019
Protein found in squid forms fibres of sustainable materials
Protein found in ring teeth of squid could be used to make biodegradable materials for ‘smart’ clothes that monitor health, or self-healing recyclable fabrics that reduce microplastic pollution.
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