Nano-Structured Hydrogels for Macromolecular Separations

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9521381 Locke This project is on research to develop and characterize new, nano-structured porous media for improved separations of biological macromolecules by electrophoresis or chromatography. Hydrogels with tailored internal channels or pores having defined diameters in the range from approximately 2 to several nanometers will be created by using semi-rigid rod-like polyions or amphiphiles (surfactants) that form lyotropic liquid crystalline phases to template the internal structure. Both isotropic and anisotropic channelized (hence nano-structured) media will be prepared. The specific aims of this research include: (1) synthesis of several classes of nano-structured hydrogels; (2) development and application of new methods for characterizing the internal pore structures of hydrogels; (3) measurement of size exclusion limits and transport properties (electrophoretic and diffusive) of molecules within structured and conventional hydrogels; and (4) modeling molecular transport in conventional and structured gels. ***