NSF Directorate for Engineering | Division of

1. NSF Directorate for Engineering | Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Transport and Thermal Fluids Cluster Interfacial Processing and Thermodynamics Program Director - Bob Wellek - rwellek@nsf.gov Research Categories Interfacial Phenomena Mass Transfer Molecular Thermodynamics 1

2. Research Impact Focus and Trends Advanced Materials Processing at the Interface Bio-molecular Processing at the Interface Interfacial and Transport Processes with Impact on Energy and Environmental Issues 2

3. Phenomenological Considerations Directed- and Self-Molecular Assembly of novel Surfactant-Based Films, Structures, and Composites, including polymers Bio-molecular Interfaces and Nanodelivery Systems Nano-materials for Functional Materials, such as used for sensors, anti-fouling surfaces, and environmental clean-up Polymer Micro- and Nanostructures Molecular Thermodynamics and Mass Transfer 3

4. Budget FY 2010- Approximately $7.6 Million Description Total Proposals Received Unsolicited Awards CAREER (15 Proposals) EAGER (2 Awards), RAPID GOALI Workshop/Conferences Supplements (REU, etc.) Co-funded Awards # of Awards 214 29 3 10 1 9 13 22 Total Dollars - - - $5,202,159 $206,835 $775,225 $100,000 $206,810 $266,715 $969,708 4

5. Interfacial Phenomena Emphasis Areas: Functional Micro- & Nano-structures and Materials (possible use in health-related applications)  Surfactants in Oil-Spill Remediation  Molecular Assembly in Solution  Bio-related Functional Surfaces Polymer & Other Materials Processing - - Thin Polymer Films, Particles and Coatings 5

6. Mass Transport Emphasis Areas: Bioprocessing & Biomedical Materials at Interfaces; Biomedical Micro/Nano Delivery Systems Membranes, Polymer (with other programs) Diffusion Transport in Supercritical Fluids and along/at Interface Molecular Modeling & Simulation 6

7. Phase Equilibrium and Solution Thermodynamics Emphasis Areas: Simulations of Complex Fluids and Thin Films Energy and Environmental Implications Biological (with Other Programs) Polymer Systems • Molecular Simulations (compared with Experimental Studies) Supercritical Conditions  Surface Phenomena & Microscale Structures 7

8. How Sugar Helps Some Living Organisms Survive Freezing Conditions Alptekin Aksan - U. of Minnesota-Twin Cities A B Background:Under harsh environmental conditions, certain organisms create and accumulate sugars in order to eliminate crystallization damage and stop biochemical reactions, therefore, preserving the organism. Discovery:The sugars accumulated in the cells of the organism cause the intracellular medium to vitrify. Researchers’ studies help explain mechanisms of stabilization enabled by sugar solutions. Technical Impact:Information leads to new engineering solutions that enable storage of organisms (such as mammalian cells and bacteria) at room temperature without requiring very low cryogenic temperatures. The proposed mechanism of protection offered by sugars, through exclusion from the macromolecule surface in (A)sugar-water solutions and (B)sugar-water solutions that contain macromolecules (enzymes, proteins, etc.).  CBET- 0644784 8

9. Surfactant Solutions Under Flow Produce Permanent Nanostructured Gels for Use in Film Photovoltaics Radhakrishna Sureshkumar - Syracuse University Co-PI: Amy Shen - University of Washington Discovery: The PI has shown for the first timethat rod-shaped molecular building blocks, made of surfactant molecules in an aqueous solution, assemble into permanentnanostructured gels when subjected to flow in a microfabricated device. • Technical Impacts: • Gels can serve as templates for the manufacturing • of affordable active materials as they can be used • as inert background structures which allow for • the distribution of active species in a controllable • fashion. • This process can also distribute optically active nanoparticles within a nanogel to produce "light trapping" materials that enhance the efficiency of thin film photovoltaics. Schematic representation of a spherical (bottom) and a rodlike (top) micelle in aqueous solution.  The water-loving head groups are exposed to the solvent while the hydrophobic tails reside in the core of the micelles. 9 CBET-0853735

10. Targeted Drug and Therapeutic Delivery to Cell Membranes Igal Szleifer - Northwestern University Background:Biological systems combine different interactions with shifts in chemical reaction equilibrium, e.g. protonation and ligand-receptor binding, to optimize the efficiency of certain cell processes. Discovery: The PI has made important advances in the understanding of how to combine ligand-receptor binding, acid-base equilibrium, Van der Waals, steric and electrostatic interactions in order to optimize the ability of synthetic nanoparticles to bind to cell membranes. Technical Impacts:The information has uses in the design of drug carriers for ultra-specific targeting to some type of cells as well as biosensors. Schematic representation of polymer coated drug carrier (micelle) and a lipid bilayer (model cell membrane). Color maps for the densities of PEG, polybase and the local pH at two different distances between the aggregate and the lipid surface. 10 CBET-0828046

11. Detecting Bacterial Pathogens Using Microfluidics Obstacle Courses Charles Maldarelli - CUNY City College Background:Traditional methods for pathogen detection involve culture in selective media followed by a number of biological tests. These methods require extended periods of time and relatively large sample volumes. Significance:The PI explores a new particle-based pathogen detection microarray constructed of ultraminiaturized elements (40 microns in size) and fatty acid lipid bilayer host elements. Technical Impacts:These advantages will translate into very high throughput pathogen screening rates, smaller test volumes, and the ability to readily display functioning membrane receptors that work best in their native membrane environment. Schematic of the microbead with a probe biomolecule attached to its surface, and microfluidic cell obstacle courses for assembly of the microbead array. Schematic of a well capture, which is part of the microbead. 11 CBET-0829052