Self-Healing Microgel Assemblies

Chemistry and Biochemistry Special Seminar

The Lyon group is involved in a number of research efforts that fall under the general heading of "materials for biotechnology". Hydrogel nano- or microparticles (nanogels or microgels) comprise the main building block for these materials, which have the potential to impact areas such as trauma/emergency medicine, cardiovascular care, cancer therapy, stem cell engineering, and tissue engineering. Whereas functional materials are obtained from many microgel-based assemblies, the significant structural and compositional complexity of those materials can make rational design challenging. Thus, the group is also heavily invested in obtaining a detailed, fundamental understanding of microgels and microgel assemblies. This presentation will discuss our efforts in polyelectrolyte-based microgel thin films, with a particular focus on their self-healing properties. Self healing will be discussed in the context of film architecture and composition, and the role of microgel mobility in the observed properties will be discussed. Finally, we will speculate as to the role of microgel mobility in the unusual observations made in the context of eukaryotic cell attachment and spreading on microgel assemblies. Those observations are suggestive of viscous relaxation as an important material parameter in the control of cell spreading and proliferation on synthetic biomaterials.

For more information contact Prof. Paul Goldbart (404-894-5201)