High performance materials from biopolymer blends

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Two of the most important application areas in the biomaterial literature have been the development of scaffolds and delivery systems for tissue engineering and drug delivery respectively. In both cases the development of interconnected porous structures of controlled porosity and microstructure as well as control over surface functionalization are important concerns. Polymer-polymer blending of biopolymers offers the possibility to develop an entirely new platform of materials without having to synthesize or develop entirely new polymers. In this project we will concentrate on morphology and interface control in multiphase biopolymer systems as a route towards the development of novel porous biomaterials. We propose an approach based on a combination of co-continuous morphology control in polymer blends and layer by layer (LbL) deposition phenomena which will be used to prepare fully interconnected porous biopolymer structures of 60-90% void volume with controlled pore size. LbL deposition will also be used to control the surface functionality in order to enhance biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and drug release rates depending on the particular application. Sub-micron porous structures will be prepared for the drug delivery application and porous structures in the 50-200 micron range will be prepared for the tissue growth scaffold application. Ideally a polymeric scaffold needs to address multiple functions such as nutrient transport as well as tissue growth. In this regard we will also study the possibility of preparing multiple-percolated systems based on encapsulated co-continuous blends as a route towards preparing materials of multiple network porosity. The properties and performance of these materials will be examined in detail. This project will aim to develop novel biomaterials as well as advance knowledge in a number of areas of current intense research activity.