Materials World Network: Design of responsive materials via mixed polymer brush approachIgor Luzinov, Clemson University, DMR 0602528

The focus of this project is on chemical design and characterization of novel responsive nanostructured materials, mixed polymer brushes, with controlled and variable hydrophilic/hydrophobic/steric/inonic interactions. The project is a research cooperation between US (Clemson and Clarkson) and German (Dresden Technical University, Leibniz-Institute for Polymer Research Dresden, University of Göttingen, and Institute for Analytical Sciences (in Berlin)) research institutions. The major findings to date: (1) hydrophilic grafted polymer layers containing anchored mobile hydrophobic regions can be prepared on a surface by “grafting to” method employing poly(ethylene glycol) and polyacrylic acid–b-polystyrene diblock copolymer; (2) the phase segregation mechanism was shown to be in accord with the SCF calculations; (3) we demonstrated very important and principal result that the specially tailored for this project three-component system can be effectively used to deliver hydrophobic groups to the hydrophilic polymer-aqueous solution interface upon stimuli.

Treated with Ca2+

Treated with HCl

Fibrinogen adsorption

1 mg/m2

3 mg/m2

Mixed polymer brush

PS-b-PAA, protein adsorbing and responsive

PEG, protein repelling

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Materials World Network: Design of responsive materials via mixed polymer brush approachIgor Luzinov, Clemson University, DMR 0602528

In Clemson graduate students (O. Hoy and Z. Li) and a postdoctorate researcher (B.Zdyrko) are involved into the research. During past summer one undergraduate and two high school female students took part in the study of polymer grafting. The Clarkson group involved a graduate (R. Sheparovych) and an undergraduate (A. Soilani) student.

The research conducted provided training and development opportunities for post-doctorate researchers and students of different levels. They received training in synthesis and characterization of reactive polymers, polymer grafting, ellipsometry, and Atomic Force Microscopy. By writing scientific reports (required by PIs) and articles, the participants improved their analytical and technical writing skills. By preparing posters and oral presentations, the young investigators polished their presentation proficiency. The PIs also consider student/postdoc attendance of professional meetings to be a priceless chance to improve student communication skills and the ability to listen and discuss, and discover examples of high professional standards. Thus, the investigators were provided with the opportunity to take part in professional meetings to present the results generated within the collaborative research.

The PIs presented their results to the industrial community. Sergiy Minko has presented the results of this work at seminars given for P&G (Miami valley research labs) and Corning Co. Igor Luzinov has presented results to Cryovac, Sealed Air (Greenville, SC). The results were disseminated among industrial representatives at two meetings organized by the Center for Advanced Materials and Processing at Clarkson University.

Dr. Luzinov included data on switchable surfaces into his lecture on emerging nanotechnologies presented to freshmen of School of Materials Science and Engineering (Clemson University). The results were incorporated in the courses taught by Dr. Minko: Introduction to Polymer Science and Multicomponent Polymer Systems.

The Web site of the Clarkson Nanostructured materials group has a directory elucidating the mixed polymer brushes and responsive materials and a reference to the NSF grant: http://people.clarkson.edu/~sminko/. Currently, the PIs are preparing an extended Web site on responsive polymer brushes, which will offer educational and research information on the topic.

Education

Outreach