Collaborative Research: Understanding and Controlling Chemo-Mechanical Properties of Metal Coordinating Polymer and Inorganic Nanoparticle Composites

1605943/1605699 Holten-Andersen，Niels/Tracy，Joseph B.金属配位蛋白质和无机表面之间的界面在自然界中发现的一些最显着的复合材料的机械性能中起着至关重要的作用。从贻贝的水下粘性胶到珍珠层的坚韧外壳，越来越多地发现金属结合蛋白和无机表面之间的粘性相互作用控制其机械性能。 一个更简单的合成系统，其中无机纳米粒子作为金属结合聚合物的动态桥梁，将研究从自然界中学习复合材料设计的原则，并将这些原则应用于工程新材料的控制和响应机械性能。 这些材料的潜在应用包括药物输送、自修复复合材料和3D打印。 PI将开发基于这些生物启发的复合材料的学习模块，用于外展活动，以提高公众对纳米技术的认识，并招募更多的学生进入STEM职业。该项目的目标是利用生物启发的金属配位聚合物-纳米颗粒（MCP-NP）复合材料作为模型系统，了解如何通过控制MCP-NP界面动力学设计新的力学。 与先前具有金属离子交联剂的MCP材料相比，NP将充当超分子交联剂，每个NP结合的配体的数量可调。 系统的化学和物理参数将进行调整，以获得一个基本的了解如何在MCP-NP界面的分子相互作用影响的MCP-NP复合材料的整体机械性能，并证明控制的机械响应。 与传统的工程复合材料和其他复合水凝胶相比，MCP-NP复合材料具有粘弹性和可调的界面结合。 已经选择了磁响应和光响应NP，以允许使用光和磁场进行远程加热。 该项目将提供对复合材料界面动力学的更深入的理解，这对改善复合材料机械性能的工程至关重要，例如自修复和可调的流体-固体转变。 有关MCP-NP界面化学性质与机械响应之间关系的见解将适用于具有动态界面的其他复合系统。

1605943/1605699Holten-Andersen, Niels/Tracy, Joseph B. Interfaces between metal coordinating proteins and inorganic surfaces have a vital role in the mechanical properties of some of the most remarkable composites found in nature. From the underwater adhesive glues of mussels to the tough shells of nacre, sticky interactions between metal binding proteins and inorganic surfaces have increasingly been found to control their mechanical properties. A simpler, synthetic system, where inorganic nanoparticles serve as dynamic bridges for metal binding polymers, will be investigated to learn principles of composite material design from nature and to apply these principles for engineering new materials with controlled and responsive mechanical properties. Potential applications for these materials include drug delivery, self-healing composites, and 3D printing. The PIs will develop learning modules based on these bio-inspired composites for use in outreach activities to increase public awareness about nanotechnology and to recruit more students into STEM careers.The goal of this project is to utilize bio-inspired metal coordinating polymer-nanoparticle (MCP-NP) composites as model systems for understanding how to engineer novel mechanics via controlled MCP-NP interfacial dynamics. In contrast to previous MCP materials with metal ion crosslinkers, NPs will serve as supramolecular crosslinkers, with a tunable number of ligands bound per NP. Chemical and physical parameters of the system will be adjusted to obtain a fundamental understanding of how molecular interactions at MCP-NP interfaces affect the bulk mechanical properties of MCP-NP composites and to demonstrate control over the mechanical response. In comparison with traditional engineering composites and other composite hydrogels, MCP-NP composites are viscoelastic and have tunable interfacial bonding. Magnetically and optically responsive NPs have been selected to also allow remote heating using light and magnetic fields. This project will provide a deeper understanding of composite interfacial dynamics critical for improved engineering of composite mechanical properties, such as self-healing and tunable fluid-solid transitions. Insights about the relationship between chemistry at MCP-NP interfaces and the mechanical response will be applicable to other composite systems with dynamic interfaces.