Complexation of charged polymers and nanoparticles at all aqueous interfaces for functional membrane formation

CBET-1705891PI：Lee，Dayeon微胶囊是由一层膜包裹的内部核心组成的颗粒。它们被广泛用于微胶囊内部含有释放到环境中的活性成分的应用中。微胶囊用于各种产品，包括食品添加剂、定时释放药物载体、治愈剂和杀虫剂。当膜的通透性是选择性的时，微胶囊尤其有效，这样可以控制微胶囊内化学成分的释放速率，并可以对其进行编程，以响应环境条件的变化。该奖项将支持合成和表征由多对聚电解质或聚电解质和纳米颗粒组成的膜制成的微胶囊的实验。膜是通过在两水相界面自发形成络合物而形成的。这些微胶囊的优点是它们完全在水基系统中配制，这使它们与活细胞和生物体兼容。将使用各种技术研究膜的形成过程、膜的传输和机械性能以及包封率的细节。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供参与研究的机会。该团队还将为学生和教师准备一个演示乳液形成的动手工具包。该奖项将支持一个实验计划，以了解由聚电解质和带电纳米粒子通过聚电解质-聚电解质对或聚电解质-纳米粒子对在两水相体系中的界面络合而合成的功能膜的传输现象和热力学。研究膜的生长和膜动力学将使用(1)标记成分形成的膜的荧光显微镜，以确定其位置作为膜的形式；(2)基于悬滴的弹性膜的观察和表征，辅以原子力显微镜测量；(3)光漂白后的荧光恢复测量膜内的聚电解质迁移率；以及(4)等温滴定量热法，以检测络合过程中的热事件。膜的机械性能将使用微吸管吸入法和渗透压诱导屈曲法进行测量。研究结果不仅将改进形成具有功能膜的微胶囊的方法，还将为其他构型的功能膜的形成提供信息。

CBET - 1705891PI: Lee, DaeyeonMicrocapsules are particles consisting of an interior core surrounded by a membrane. They are widely used in applications where the interior of the microcapsule contains an active ingredient that is released to the surroundings. Microcapsules are used in a variety of products, including food additives, drug carriers for timed release, healing agents, and pesticides. Microcapsules are especially effective when the permeability of the membrane is selective so that release rates of chemical components inside the microcapsule can be controlled and can be programmed to respond to changes in environmental conditions. This award will support experiments to synthesize and characterize microcapsules made with membranes composed of pairs of polyelectrolytes or a polyelectrolyte and nanoparticle. The membrane is formed by the spontaneous formation of a complex at the interface between two aqueous phases. The advantage of these microcapsules is that they are formulated completely in water-based systems, which makes them compatible with living cells and organisms. The details of the membrane formation process, the transport and mechanical properties of the membrane, and the encapsulation efficiency will be studied using a variety of techniques. The project will provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in the research. The team will also prepare a hands-on kit for students and teachers that demonstrates emulsion formation.This award will support an experimental program to understand the transport phenomena and thermodynamics that govern the formation and properties of functional membranes synthesized from polyelectrolytes and charged nanoparticles via interfacial complexation of polyelectrolyte-polyelectrolyte pairs or polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle pairs in aqueous two phase systems. The growth of the membranes and membrane dynamics will be investigated using (1) fluorescence microscopy of membranes formed with labeled components to identify their location as membranes form; (2) pendant drop-based observation and characterization of the elastic membranes, complemented by atomic force microscopy measurements;(3) fluorescence recovery after photobleaching-enabled measurements of polyelectrolyte mobility within the membranes; and (4) isothermal titration calorimetry to detect the thermal events during complexation. Membrane mechanical properties will be measured using micropipette aspiration and osmotic pressure-induced buckling methods. Results of the research will not only improve methods of forming microcapsules with functional membranes, but also will provide information that can be applied to the formation of functional membranes in other configurations.