Nikhil Malvankar

Title: Nikhil Malvankar: Innovator in Microbial Nanowires

Introduction

Nikhil Malvankar is a prominent inventor based in New Haven, CT (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of microbial nanowires, particularly in enhancing their conductivity and reducing their diameters. His innovative work has the potential to impact various applications in biotechnology and materials science.

Latest Patents

Nikhil Malvankar holds a patent for "Microbial nanowires with increased conductivity and reduced diameters." This invention involves the generation of improved electrically conductive pili derived from a natural pilus protein found in microorganisms. By substituting a tryptophan for the phenylalanine at position F51 and a tryptophan for the tyrosine at position Y57 of the pilus monomer, he was able to substantially increase the conductivity of the pili while reducing their diameter to 1.5 nm. Furthermore, additional substitutions of tyrosine, histidine, and phenylalanine in the pilus monomer led to significant improvements in conductivity, while the pili maintained a typical wild-type diameter of 3 nm.

Career Highlights

Nikhil Malvankar is affiliated with the University of Massachusetts, where he continues to advance his research in microbial nanowires. His work has garnered attention for its innovative approach to enhancing the properties of natural proteins for practical applications.

Collaborations

He has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Yang Tan and Ramesh Adhikari, to further explore the potential of microbial nanowires in various scientific fields.

Conclusion

Nikhil Malvankar's contributions to the field of microbial nanowires exemplify the innovative spirit of modern science. His patent on enhancing the conductivity and reducing the diameter of pili showcases the potential for significant advancements in biotechnology.