Materials World Network: Design of responsive materials via mixed polymer brush approach

1. MEK Mixed responsive polymer brush 1 mg/m2 PEG, protein repelling Fibrinogen adsorption + 4 mg/m2 PS - b - PAA, protein adsorbing and responsive TOLUENE Materials World Network: Design of responsive materials via mixed polymer brush approach Igor Luzinov, Clemson University, DMR 0602528 The focus of this project is on chemical design and characterization of novel responsive nanostructured materials, mixed polymer brushes, with controlled and variable hydrophilic/hydrophobic/steric/inonic interactions. The project is a research cooperation between US (Clemson and Clarkson) and German (Dresden Technical University, Leibniz-Institute for Polymer Research Dresden, University of Göttingen, and Institute for Analytical Sciences (in Berlin)) research institutions. The major findings to date: (1) hydrophilic mixed polymer brush containing anchored mobile hydrophobic fragments can be prepared employing poly(ethylene glycol) and polyacrylic acid–b-polystyrene diblock copolymer; (2) treatment of the brush with selective solvents rearrange position and alter size of the PS hydrophobic fragments; (3) protein adsorption strongly depends on the position and size of the hydrophobic regions; (4) the position of the regions can be altered, when pH and ionic strength of the aqueous environment is changed.

2. Materials World Network: Design of responsive materials via mixed polymer brush approach Igor Luzinov, Clemson University, DMR 0602528 Education In Clemson graduate students (O. Hoy and Z. Li) and a postdoctorate researcher (B.Zdyrko) are involved into the research. During summer of 2007 three undergraduate NSF REU students: N. Hankins (Vanderbilt), L. Gwynn (Pennsylvania College of Tech.), and D. Dawkins (Ohio State) took part in the study of polymer grafting. Additionally, two high-school students (B. Thompson and W. Kabir) were working in PI lab during the summer for two weeks. The Clarkson group involved in the research graduate (R. Sheparovych and R. Lupitskyy) and undergraduate (A. Soilani and N. Potter) students. The research conducted provided training and development opportunities for post-doctorate researchers and students of different levels. They received training in synthesis and characterization of reactive polymers, polymer grafting, ellipsometry, and Atomic Force Microscopy. The investigators were provided with the opportunity to take part in professional meetings to present the results generated within the collaborative research. Outreach The PIs presented their results to the industrial and government community. Dr. Minko has presented the results of this work at seminars given for P&G (Miami valley research labs) and Corning Co. Dr. Luzinov has presented results to Cryovac, Sealed Air (Greenville, SC), Coats North America (Charlotte, NC), and Tyndal Air Force Base (Panama City, FL). The results were disseminated among industrial representatives at 4 meetings organized by the Center for Advanced Materials and Processing at Clarkson University. Dr. Luzinov included data on switchable surfaces into his lecture on emerging nanotechnologies presented to freshmen of School of MS&E (Clemson) and high school students of Daniel High School (Central, SC). The results were incorporated in the courses taught by Dr. Minko: Polymer Science and Multicomponent Polymer Systems. N. Hankins, L. Gwynn , and D. Dawkins at NSF REU poster presentation at Clemson