Angela Belcher, the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and a professor of materials science at MIT, delivered the 2023 Mildred S. Dresselhaus Lecture with a vivid demonstration of how biology can be harnessed to engineer advanced nanomaterials. Addressing an audience of more than 300 in person and online, she combined technical depth with tactile models, including a light-up 3D representation of the M13 bacteriophage — a virus that infects only bacteria — complete with a removable DNA strand.
“I love controlling materials at the nanoscale using biology,” Belcher stated. “We all know if you control materials at the nanoscale and you can start to tune them, then you can have all kinds of different applications.” Her research spans applications from batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells to carbon sequestration, environmental remediation, catalysis, and medical diagnostics.
Belcher’s work often begins with modifying the genetic code of the M13 bacteriophage to incorporate new DNA and peptide sequences, enabling it to template inorganic materials. In one project, her team engineered the virus to wrap itself with carbon nanotubes, which were then combined with cathode or anode materials to form nanowires for battery electrodes. This approach bridges molecular biology and energy storage engineering, offering a path to high-performance, precisely structured components.
The environmental potential of this technology is equally striking. Belcher described the work of Geran Zhang, a former doctoral student, who adapted the virus to create high-surface-area carbon-based materials capable of capturing and breaking down small molecules. Such materials could be deployed for cleaning waterways, neutralizing hazardous chemicals, or reducing urban smog. Collaborations with the U.S. Army scaled production from laboratory volumes of five liters to industrial batches of 10,000 liters, yielding kilograms of nanofiber material for protective clothing and filtration masks.
In biomedical imaging, Belcher’s group has focused on near-infrared wavelengths above 1,000 nanometers, a range that allows deeper visualization inside the body compared to conventional optical techniques. Her lab developed imaging systems capable of real-time, sub-millimeter resolution for surgical guidance. Working with Sangeeta Bhatia, Belcher engineered viruses to carry fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes directly to tumors, enabling surgeons to detect malignancies that would otherwise remain hidden.
She outlined an ambitious goal: to create accessible diagnostic tools for ovarian cancer within five to ten years. Current efforts include scanning entire fallopian tubes to identify pre-cancerous lesions, a method designed to improve early detection rates. This work is part of a collaborative effort involving MIT faculty, clinicians, and researchers, united by the aim of extending patients’ lives through earlier intervention.
Belcher’s lecture also carried a personal dimension. She dedicated her talk to her grandmother and mother, both lost to cancer, and to late MIT professors Susan Lindquist and Angelika Amon, who died of ovarian cancer. Honoring Mildred S. Dresselhaus, she described the pioneering physicist and electrical engineer as “a trailblazer, a genius, an amazing mentor, teacher, and inventor,” adding, “Millie was and is a huge hero of mine. Giving a lecture in Millie’s name is just the greatest honor.”
Her closing remarks reflected a broader philosophy: “Part of the secret of life and the meaning of life is helping other people enjoy the passage of time. I think that we can all do that by working to solve some of the biggest issues on the planet, including helping to diagnose and treat ovarian cancer early so people have more time to spend with their family.”
Through the fusion of biology and materials science, Belcher’s work demonstrates how engineered organisms can produce functional nanostructures for energy, environmental, and medical applications — a convergence that continues to expand the frontiers of engineering.