Soft Matter: from Nano to Microscales

该提案描述了一个全面的研究计划，重点是在纳米和微米尺度上的软物质的基础研究。该提案中描述的三个研究方向的统一主题是纳米级构建块（金属纳米棒，纤维素纳米棒和生物细丝）的结构各向异性。这些结构单元在具有耦合等离子体性质的结构中经历分级多尺度组织，具有增强的圆二色性的液晶，以及具有独特的机械和传输性质的水凝胶。通过发展对这些构建块在纳米，微米（和更大）长度尺度上组织的普遍原则的理解，我们将实现控制其特性的能力，并将设计，概念化，合成和制造新材料，在生物传感，重金属清除，光工程，三维细胞培养，药物输送和伤口愈合方面具有先进的应用。拟议研究的协作和跨学科性质将为学生和博士后研究员提供化学，物理，生物和工程方面的培训，并为他们未来在学术界，工业界和政府机构的职业生涯做好准备。

This proposal describes a comprehensive research program focused on the fundamental studies of soft matter at nano- and microscales. The unifying theme of three research directions described in the proposal is the structural anisotropy of nanoscale building blocks (metal nanorods, cellulose nanowiskers and biological filaments). These building blocks undergo hierarchical multi-scale organization in structures with coupled plasmonic properties, cholesteric liquid crystals with enhanced circular dichroism, and hydrogels with unique mechanical and transport properties. By developing understanding of the universal principles governing the organization of these building blocks on nano, micro- (and larger) length scales we will achieve the ability to control their properties and will design, conceptualize, synthesize and fabricate new materials with advanced applications in biosensing, heavy metal scavenging, opto-engineering, three-dimensional cell culture, drug delivery, and wound healing.******The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research will provide training of students and postdoctoral fellows with training in chemistry, physics, biology and engineering and will prepare them for future careers in Academia, Industry and Governmental Institutions.*****