RII Track-4: Linking Chemistry to the Mechanics of Dynamic Hydrogel Interfaces

非技术描述软水凝胶界面对于高科技应用至关重要，从合成组织和医疗粘合剂到商品，如隐形眼镜。然而，大多数水凝胶仅限于静态特性，阻碍了先进的材料功能。该奖项支持基础研究，旨在推进如何控制水凝胶中动态键激活的动态界面的知识，并将宏观与微观力学行为联系起来。该项目利用了麻省理工学院（MIT）的专家资源和设备，在那里，PI和他的合作者将专注于合成新的动态水凝胶并表征其机械性能。麻省理工学院软物质的资源将在这些水凝胶的合成和表征中发挥关键作用。除了推进科学知识外，动态水凝胶的成功开发有望为新的生物材料提供平台，以促进国民健康。PI和东道主之间将发展新的持久合作，这将加强肯塔基大学（英国）和麻省理工学院之间的伙伴关系，从而在英国建立更强大的软材料项目。软聚合物界面支撑着许多重要的应用，从水凝胶医用粘合剂和合成组织到隐形眼镜。然而，它们在很大程度上仅限于具有静态特性的材料，阻碍了智能，响应或瞬态接口所需的高级功能。提出的研究旨在提高我们对如何控制具有动态特性的软水凝胶界面的认识，从而实现配金属交联动力学。我们预计界面行为将由与时间相关的键形成、大块材料的近表面粘弹性以及相对于交联动力学的凝胶的分子结构和组成来决定。为了解决这一假设，PI将与麻省理工学院（MIT）的专家在金属配体交联和非牛顿力学表征的水凝胶合成方面进行长期合作。作为该项目的一部分，PI和一名学生将接受必要的合成方法以及独特的流变学方法的培训。化学和宏观流变学的结果将与界面力学实验相结合，以建立动态水凝胶界面的化学和力学之间的联系。随着新的化学和分子组织被探索，以扩大动态水凝胶性质的多功能性和控制，PI获得的技能将变得非常有价值。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical DescriptionSoft hydrogel interfaces are essential for high-technology applications, from synthetic tissues and medical adhesives, to commodity products, such as contact lenses. However, the majority of hydrogels are limited to static properties, hindering advanced material functions. This award supports fundamental research that aims to advance knowledge on how to control dynamic interfaces enabled by dynamic bonds in hydrogels, and relate macroscopic to microscopic mechanical behavior. The project takes advantage of expert resources and facilities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where the PI and his collaborators will focus on synthesizing new dynamic hydrogels and characterizing their mechanical properties. The resources available in soft matter at MIT will play a critical role in synthesis and characterization of these hydrogels. In addition to advancing scientific knowledge, successful development of dynamic hydrogels is expected to afford a platform for new biomaterials to advance national health. New lasting collaborations will be developed between the PI and hosts, which will strengthen partnerships between the University of Kentucky (UK) and MIT, leading to a stronger program in soft materials at UK.Technical DescriptionSoft polymer interfaces underpin many important applications, from hydrogel medical adhesives and synthetic tissues to contact lenses. However, they are largely limited to materials with static properties, hindering advanced functions where smart, responsive, or transient interfaces are desirable. The proposed research aims to advance our knowledge on how to control interfaces of soft hydrogels with dynamic properties, enabled by ligand-metal crosslinking dynamics. We expect interfacial behavior to be governed by the time-dependent formation of bonds, near-surface viscoelasticity of the bulk material, and the molecular architecture and composition of the gel relative to the crosslinking dynamics. To address this hypothesis, the PI will cultivate lasting collaborations with experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in hydrogel synthesis with metal-ligand crosslinking and non-Newtonian mechanical characterization. As part of this project, the PI and a student will be trained in necessary synthesis methods, as well as unique rheological methods. The results obtained on the chemistry and macroscale rheology will be coupled with interfacial mechanics experiments to develop a link between the chemistry and mechanics of dynamic hydrogel interfaces. The skills gained by the PI will become extremely valuable as new chemistry and molecular organizations are explored to expand the versatility and control of dynamic hydrogel properties.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.