Synthetic biomaterials must pass rigorous clinical, toxicological, and regulatory tests before they are introduced into practice. In order to design new materials with specialized properties (e.g., size and shape, viscosity, elastic modulus, drug loading capacity) an improved set of measurement methods and test of modern theory and simulations are required to develop structure-property guidelines. This research opportunity involves experimental studies of macromolecules with novel chain architectures for their characterization of solution self-assembled structure and transport properties in multicomponent solutions. We are particularly interested in block copolymer and tri-block copolymer materials with varying degree of hydrophobicity to control the interaction strength in aqueous environments. These materials self-assemble into well-defined polymer nanoparticles for drug encapsulation as well as thermoreversible gels for site-directed self-assembly. Measurement of the polymer physical chemistry in these systems will formulate structure-property relationships for next-generation biomaterials. Specialized experimental methods available to this opportunity include static and dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

 

Reference

Venkataraman S, et al: Macromolecules 46: 4839, 2013

 

key words

Polymer; Self-assembly; Solutions; Complex; Gels; Biomaterials; Light scattering; Neutron scattering; Nanoparticle; Hydrophobic effect; Phase separation;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants