RII Track-4: Linking Chemistry to the Mechanics of Dynamic Hydrogel Interfaces

RII Track-4：将化学与动态水凝胶界面力学联系起来

• 批准号: 1832889
• 负责人: Jonathan Pham
• 金额: $ 22.31万
• 依托单位: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-10-01 至 2021-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1832889&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RII; Track; Linking; Chemistry; Mechanics

Non-Technical DescriptionSoft hydrogel interfaces are essential for high-technology applications, from synthetic tissues and medical adhesives, to commodity products, such as contact lenses. However, the majority of hydrogels are limited to static properties, hindering advanced material functions. This award supports fundamental research that aims to advance knowledge on how to control dynamic interfaces enabled by dynamic bonds in hydrogels, and relate macroscopic to microscopic mechanical behavior. The project takes advantage of expert resources and facilities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where the PI and his collaborators will focus on synthesizing new dynamic hydrogels and characterizing their mechanical properties. The resources available in soft matter at MIT will play a critical role in synthesis and characterization of these hydrogels. In addition to advancing scientific knowledge, successful development of dynamic hydrogels is expected to afford a platform for new biomaterials to advance national health. New lasting collaborations will be developed between the PI and hosts, which will strengthen partnerships between the University of Kentucky (UK) and MIT, leading to a stronger program in soft materials at UK.Technical DescriptionSoft polymer interfaces underpin many important applications, from hydrogel medical adhesives and synthetic tissues to contact lenses. However, they are largely limited to materials with static properties, hindering advanced functions where smart, responsive, or transient interfaces are desirable. The proposed research aims to advance our knowledge on how to control interfaces of soft hydrogels with dynamic properties, enabled by ligand-metal crosslinking dynamics. We expect interfacial behavior to be governed by the time-dependent formation of bonds, near-surface viscoelasticity of the bulk material, and the molecular architecture and composition of the gel relative to the crosslinking dynamics. To address this hypothesis, the PI will cultivate lasting collaborations with experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in hydrogel synthesis with metal-ligand crosslinking and non-Newtonian mechanical characterization. As part of this project, the PI and a student will be trained in necessary synthesis methods, as well as unique rheological methods. The results obtained on the chemistry and macroscale rheology will be coupled with interfacial mechanics experiments to develop a link between the chemistry and mechanics of dynamic hydrogel interfaces. The skills gained by the PI will become extremely valuable as new chemistry and molecular organizations are explored to expand the versatility and control of dynamic hydrogel properties.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

非技术描述柔软的水凝胶界面对于高科技应用至关重要，从合成组织和医用粘合剂到日用品，如隐形眼镜。然而，大多数水凝胶仅限于静态性能，阻碍了先进的材料功能。该奖项支持基础研究，旨在推进有关如何控制水凝胶中动态键实现的动态界面的知识，并将宏观与微观机械行为联系起来。该项目利用了马萨诸塞州理工学院（MIT）的专家资源和设施，PI及其合作者将专注于合成新的动态水凝胶并表征其机械性能。麻省理工学院在软物质方面的可用资源将在这些水凝胶的合成和表征中发挥关键作用。除了推进科学知识，动态水凝胶的成功开发有望为新的生物材料提供一个平台，以促进国民健康。PI和主办方之间将建立新的持久合作关系，这将加强肯塔基州大学（英国）和MIT之间的伙伴关系，从而加强英国软材料项目。技术说明软聚合物界面支撑着许多重要应用，从水凝胶医用粘合剂和合成组织到隐形眼镜。然而，它们在很大程度上限于具有静态特性的材料，阻碍了需要智能，响应或瞬态界面的高级功能。拟议的研究旨在提高我们的知识，如何控制界面的软水凝胶与动态性能，使配体-金属交联动力学。我们预期界面行为受时间依赖性的键的形成、本体材料的近表面粘弹性以及相对于交联动力学的凝胶的分子结构和组成的支配。为了解决这一假设，PI将与马萨诸塞州理工学院（MIT）的专家在具有金属配体交联和非牛顿力学表征的水凝胶合成方面建立持久的合作关系。作为该项目的一部分，PI和一名学生将接受必要的合成方法以及独特的流变学方法的培训。化学和宏观流变学的结果将与界面力学实验相结合，以建立动态水凝胶界面的化学和力学之间的联系。PI所获得的技能将成为非常有价值的新的化学和分子组织的探索，以扩大多功能性和动态水凝胶性能的控制。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。