CREST: Center of Excellence in Nanobiomaterials Derived from Biorenewable and Waste Resources

塔斯基吉大学将启动一项为期5年的科学技术卓越研究中心项目，以开发从生物可再生资源和废物资源中提取的新型纳米生物材料。中心的研究重点是：(a)纳米纤维的合成；(b)从大豆废料生产细菌纤维素纤维(c)；从蛋壳等可生物降解源合成纳米颗粒及其在高级复合材料中用作纳米填料的应用；(d)生物聚合物的合成；(e)利用这些材料和天然纤维开发和表征先进的绿色纳米复合材料；(f)产品设计、原型制作和商业可行性研究。该项目将包括一个强有力的教育和推广计划，以培训/教育K-12和社区大学的学生和教师。该中心还将大大促进塔斯基吉大学材料科学与工程博士课程的发展。该项目将包括与康奈尔大学、阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校和奥本大学的积极合作。研究将围绕以下子项目进行组织：1。纳米生物材料的合成与表征。生物聚合物和纳米生物复合材料的合成与表征高级绿色纳米复合材料的加工、性能评估和技术转化pi及其学生将从脱脂大豆粉中获得的废糖中提取细菌纤维素纤维，从蛋壳中提取碳酸钙纳米颗粒。然后，他们将它们与生物聚合物一起制成复合材料。碳酸钙纳米颗粒作为填料和性能增强剂在聚合物复合材料中具有广泛的应用前景。它们也被认为是生物医学应用的材料。目前这一代的复合材料使用石油基聚合物和人造纤维，如玻璃和碳，这些都是能源密集型的生产。这些材料有两个明显的缺点。首先，它们是基于石油原料，一种不可再生资源。其次，它们不能生物降解。在其使用寿命结束时，约95%被丢弃在垃圾填埋场，而一小部分被焚烧或粉碎成粉末用作填料。这些替代品是能源密集型的，对环境有潜在危害。另一类最终被填埋的材料包括蛋壳。因此，在设计寿命结束时，开发环境友好且可生物降解的材料具有诱人的潜力。如此开发的材料将为当前一代高性能“先进”复合材料提供替代方案，这可能对垃圾填埋场的使用产生积极影响，并导致广泛的新绿色技术。知识上的优点在于，生物可降解纳米纤维、纳米颗粒、纳米生物聚合物的发展及其表征、加工和表征先进的绿色复合材料将提供重要的知识，可用于开发汽车和建筑工业的新应用。通过三个子项目开发的流程和知识将有助于使研究组合多样化，进入其他领域，如药物输送、包装、伤口愈合和制药，这将使该中心在资助期后得以维持。所开发的材料将为目前使用的合成的、不可生物降解的、石油基纤维增强复合材料提供一种环境友好的替代品。一个由国内和国际公认的科学家和工程师组成的多元化团体已经聚集在一起，通过三个协同联系的子项目来追求最先进的研究和教育努力。该项目的更广泛影响包括培养大量拥有学士至博士学位的毕业生，其中包括相当数量的少数民族和妇女。这些毕业生将在纳米生物科学和技术的新兴领域得到充分的培训，并具有出色的沟通和人际交往能力。他们将通过参加国外的国际会议和在巴西和印度的合作机构的实验室工作，与美国以外的研究人员进行互动。这样的毕业生将成为许多年轻学生的优秀榜样，并有助于为国家的先进技术劳动力带来急需的多样性。更广泛的社会影响包括减少对石油产品的依赖，利用废物生产工程材料和产品，以及部分解决垃圾填埋问题。

Tuskegee University will initiate a 5-year Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology project to develop new nano-bio-materials derived from bio-renewable and waste resources. The research focus areas of the center are: (a) synthesis of nanofibers; (b) production of bacterial cellulose fibers from soy waste products (c); synthesis of nanoparticles from biodegradable sources like egg shells and their use as nano-fillers in advanced composites; (d) synthesis of biopolymers; (e) development and characterization of advanced green nanocomposites using these materials with natural fibers; and (f) product design, prototyping and commercial feasibility studies. The project will include a robust education and outreach program to train/educate K-12 and community college students and teachers. The proposed Center will also provide significant boost to the PhD program in Materials Science and Engineering at Tuskegee University. The program will include active partnerships with Cornell University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Auburn University. The research will be organized around the following subprojects:1. Synthesis and characterization of nanobiomaterials.2. Synthesis and characterization of biopolymers and nanobiocomposites3. Processing, Performance Evaluation, and technology transition of Advanced Green Nanobiocomposites to productsThe PIs and their students will extract bacterial cellulose fibers from waste sugars obtained from defatted soy flour and calcium carbonate nanoparticles from egg shells. They then make use of them along with biopolymers to make composites. Calcium carbonate nanoparticles have many potential applications in polymer composites as fillers and property enhancers. They are also considered as materials for biomedical applications.The current generation of composites materials utilize petroleum based polymers and man-made fibers like glass and carbon which are energy intensive to produce. These materials have two significant disadvantages. First, they are based on petroleum feedstock, a non-renewable resource. Second, they are not biodegradable. At the end of their service life, about 95% are discarded in landfills while a small fraction is incinerated or crushed into powder for use as filler. These alternatives energy intensive and potentially environmentally hazardous. Another class of materials that end up in land-fills includes egg shells. Hence, there is an attractive potential to develop materials that are environment-friendly and biodegradable at the end of their design life. The materials so developed will provide alternative to the current generation of high performance "advanced" composites materials, which could have a positive impact on landfill use and lead to a wide range of new green technologies.The intellectual merits lie in the fact that the development of biodegradable nanofibers, nanoparticles, nanobiopolymers and their characterization, processing and characterization of advanced green composites will provide significant knowledge that can be used to develop new applications in automotive and building industries. The processes and knowledge developed through the three subprojects will help in diversifying the research portfolio into other fields like drug delivery, packaging, wound healing, and pharmaceuticals that will result in sustaining the center beyond the funding period. The materials developed will provide an environment-friendly alternative to currently used synthetic, non-biodegradable, petroleum based fiber reinforced composites. A diverse group of nationally and internationally recognized scientists and engineers has been assembled to pursue state-of-the-art research and education endeavors through three synergistically linked subprojects. The broader impacts of this project include production of a large number of graduates with BS through PhD degrees, including, a significant number of minorities and women. These graduates will be adequately trained in emerging areas of nano-bio science and technology with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They will interact with researchers outside of USA through participation in international conferences abroad and working in the laboratories on partnering institutions in Brazil and India. Such graduates will become excellent role models for many young students and help bring much-needed diversity to the nation's advanced technological workforce. Broader societal impact includes reduced dependence on petroleum products, utilization of waste products to produce engineering materials and products, and a partial solution to landfill problems.