BRIGE: Enhancing Nanoparticle Dispersion though Surface Modification using Biopolymers

这个扩大参与工程研究启动补助金（BRIGE）为开发低环境影响聚合物提供资金，以涂覆用于地下水修复的纳米颗粒。植物为基础的聚合物将被修改，并将研究它们的结构-性能关系，以了解各种官能团对分散，污染物可处理性，含水层可注入性和地下流动性的涂层纳米零价铁颗粒的影响。从实验中获得的结果将用于微调生物聚合物的最终结构以涂覆颗粒。 本研究的总体目标是研究生物聚合物功能基团的操作对分散的影响，污染物降解，和运输行为的涂层铁粒子以及聚合物涂层的生物降解性，如果成功的话，这项研究将导致智能和低影响地下水修复工具，这将有利于环境修复从业者的发展。这项研究的结果将阐明聚合物结构对聚合物涂层纳米材料的含水层运输的影响。生物降解研究预计将导致新的聚合物生物降解测试协议的发展，并有助于更好地了解复杂的工程纳米材料在水生环境中的降解行为。这个研究项目将增加在环境工程，聚合物科学和纳米技术以及生物医学科学的知识体系。在这个项目中合成的生物可降解聚合物可能会在人类和植物的药物和营养输送中找到用途。该项目将扩大代表性不足的群体（美洲原住民，第一代美国人和妇女）在基础研究中的参与。在这个项目中招募的高中学生将继续接受高等教育，从事科学和工程方面的职业。在美洲原住民中学生和残疾学生中组织的方案将有助于在他们中间灌输科学研究精神。

This Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grant in Engineering (BRIGE) provides funding for the development of low-environmental impact polymer to coat nanoscale particles for groundwater remediation. Plant-based polymers will be modified and their structure-property relationships will be studied to understand the impacts of various functional groups on dispersion, contaminant treatability, aquifer injectability, and subsurface mobility of coated nanoscale zero-valent iron particles. The results obtained from the experiments will be used to fine-tune the final architecture of biopolymers to coat the particles. The overall objective of this research is to study the impacts of manipulation of the biopolymer functional groups on dispersion, contaminant degradation, and transport behaviors of the coated iron particles as well as biodegradability of the polymer coatings.If successful, this research will lead to the development of smarter and low-impact groundwater remediation tools which will benefit practitioners in environmental remediation. The findings from this research will elucidate the impacts of polymer architecture on aquifer transport of polymer coated nanomaterials. The biodegradation studies are expected to lead to the development of new polymer biodegradation test protocols and help in better understanding the degradation behavior of complex engineered nanomaterials in an aquatic environment. This research project will add to the body of knowledge in environmental engineering, polymer science, and nanotechnology as well in biomedical science. The biodegradable polymers synthesized within this project may find uses in drug and nutrient delivery in human and plants. The project will broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (Native Americans, first generation Americans, and women) in fundamental research. The high school students recruited for research in this project are expected to pursue higher education and careers in science and engineering. Programs organized among Native American middle/high school students and students with disabilities will help in inculcating the spirit of scientific research among them.