Fundamental theoretical and experimental studies of soft matter and their composites

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This research seeks to understand and control the physical interactions that produce complex responses in soft materials containing nanoparticles, polymers, and phospholipids. The research combines state-of-the-art experimental tools---including laser holographic microrheology and electroacoustics---and theory to benefit the Canadian energy and healthcare enterprises. The potential benefits for Canada are improved energy efficiency (e.g., by optimizing nanocomposite membranes for gas separations in petrochemical processing) and improved human health (e.g., by understanding NP transport in biofilms for treating cancer and respiratory disease, and developing soft materials for clinical diagnostics and implants). Knowledge will be gained from four sub-themes: In the first, we will seek a fundamental understanding of nanoparticle dynamics in biofilms, particularly how biofilm stickiness affects nanoparticle transport. This will help researchers in synthetic and clinical areas optimize nanoparticle size and chemistry for cancer and respiratory disease therapeutics and tumor detection. In the second, we will undertake novel studies of phospholipid bilayer membranes supported on and within hydrogels. Our goal is to correlate the motion of membrane-embedded proteins and polymers to the hydrogel chemistry, permeability, and softness. This research may lead to new controlled release drug-delivery therapeutics and sensors. In the third, we will decorate hydrogels with nanoparticles to impart an ability to change shape when subjected to an electric field. Such materials might function similarly to muscle tissue in specialized medical diagnostic applications. Finally, we will elucidate how nanoparticles influence polymer-chain packing in nanocomposites, and establish a criterion for selecting nanoparticle size and polymer chain stiffness to optimize membrane permeability and selectivity for energy-efficient gas separations in the petrochemicals industry.