Dissertation
Evolutionary molecular dynamics
This thesis introduces the concept of "physics-based inverse design", working on the notion that the physical driving forces governing functionality are inherently encoded in independently parameterized energy functions, which can be resolved through the use of inverse design strategies.
- Author
- J. Methorst
- Date
- 02 April 2024
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
The thesis describes the development of EVO-MD, a Python-based implementation of the physics-based inverse design concept. EVO-MD is capable of automatically setting-up, performing, and analyzing molecular dynamics simulations, allowing for the evolutionary optimization of complex and dynamic features in peptides. Examples of such applications include the optimization of lipid composition and curvature sensors, and the development of peptides with antiviral properties.