CAREER: Hierarchical Polymeric Hybrids - Lessons from Nature in Mechanical Behavior

技术概述：在自然界中发现的高性能材料，如胶原蛋白和蜘蛛丝，表现出分层结构排列，并含有增强的有序结构域，这导致了新的机械功能。 这个CAREER项目的总体目标是利用生物启发的方法，特别是有序区域的结合，以产生具有可调机械性能的功能性聚合物混合物。 多嵌段共聚物，模仿许多天然材料的微观结构，是理想的系统，与探索？软？通过多肽基嵌段共聚物的二级结构的变化的域有序化。 PI将开发具有受控结构变化的含肽聚合物杂化物，以阐明分级有序（二级结构;微相分离;超分子相互作用;结晶度）和结构相互作用对机械和形态学行为的作用。 在对分级组装的杂化物的研究中获得的基本结构-功能关系将推动具有针对新兴应用的定制机械行为的新聚合物材料系统的开发，例如耐刮擦涂层、复合材料的抗冲击膜/纤维和多功能组织工程支架。具有生物活性的杂化聚合物材料的发展灵感的结构和可调的机械响应将影响下一代材料的设计，用于能量吸收和高强度应用，例如抗冲击面板、抗刮擦涂层和耐用织物。 这个多学科的研究，教育和推广职业计划为高中，研究生和本科研究人员提供了一个独特的培训和指导平台。PI还将把自然灵感设计，层次装配和机械行为的概念纳入新的和现有的本科和研究生课程。 提出了创新和有影响力的外联方案，包括1）为对科学、技术、工程和数学感兴趣的代表性不足的妇女建立一个辅导网络，姐妹2姐妹; 2）与公民建立伙伴关系？学院，一所城市K-5特许学校，位于凯斯西储大学校园附近的大学圈地区，提供探索聚合物世界的机会，支持科学俱乐部活动和课程开发; 3）STEM的许多面孔，一个面向主要来自代表性不足群体的马里兰地区中学生的曝光日，激发对STEM学科的兴趣，并促进与来自类似背景的STEM榜样的互动。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:High performance materials found in nature, such as collagen and spider silk, exhibit a hierarchical structural arrangement and contain reinforcing, ordered domains, which lead to novel mechanical function. The overall aim of this CAREER project is to utilize a bio-inspired approach, particularly the incorporation of ordered regions, to generate functional, polymeric hybrids with tunable mechanical properties. Multi-block copolymers, which mimic the microstructure of numerous natural materials, are ideal systems with which to explore ?soft? domain ordering via variations in secondary structure of polypeptide-based block copolymers. The PI will develop peptide-containing polymeric hybrids with controlled structural variations to elucidate the role of hierarchical ordering (secondary structure; microphase segregation; supramolecular interactions; crystallinity) and structural interplay on mechanical and morphological behavior. The fundamental structure-function relationships obtained in this examination of hierarchically-assembled hybrids will drive the development of new polymeric material systems with tailored mechanical behavior for emerging applications, such as scratch-resistant coatings, impact-resistant films/fibers for composites, and multi-functional tissue engineering scaffolds.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The development of hybrid polymeric materials with a bio-inspired architecture and tunable mechanical response will impact the design of next generation materials for energy-absorption and high strength applications, such as impact-resistant panels, scratch-resistant coatings, and durable fabrics. This multi-disciplinary research, educational, and outreach CAREER plan provides a unique training and mentoring platform for high school, graduate, and undergraduate researchers. The PI will also incorporate concepts of nature-inspired design, hierarchical assembly, and mechanical behavior into new and existing undergraduate and graduate courses. Innovative and impactful outreach programs have been proposed, including 1) a mentoring network, Sister 2 Sister, for underrepresented women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); 2) a partnership with Citizens? Academy, an urban K-5 charter school in the University Circle area adjacent to the Case Western Reserve University campus, to provide opportunities to explore the world of polymers, support Science Club activities and curriculum development; and 3) Many Faces of STEM, an exposure day for Cleveland-area middle school students from primarily underrepresented groups, to spur an interest in STEM disciplines and to promote interaction with STEM role models from similar backgrounds.