Patterned Protein and Hybrid Materials: Responsive "Chemomechanical" Shape-Shifters
Abstract
The objective of this proposal is to (I) engineer stimuli-responsive photo-crosslinkable protein polymers capable of forming hydrogels and investigate physicochemical properties as a function of temperature/salt; (2) pattern thin films of the protein polymers into strips and dots (rods/hairs, if possible) and study the temperature/salt-dependent swelling of the patterned hydrogel; and (3) develop an underlying patterned substrate and deposit the protein polymer hydrogel and then explore the temperature/salt-dependent patterning through buckling. In order to fabricate stimuli-responsive photo-crosslinkable hydrogels, the CEC triblock polymer will be employed as it has been demonstrated to assemble into soft gels in preliminary experiments, and residue-specific incorporation ofp-azidophenylalanine (pAzF) will be added. Free-standing hydrogels will be generated via photo-crosslink:ing and the swelling/shrinkage as a function of temperature or salt will be evaluated. Increasing complexity to mimic biological systems. a thin film of photo-crosslinkable protein polymer will be patterned into dots/rods of varying thickness, with the goal of creating a patterned array of responsive "fingers". A thin film of CEC bearing pAzF (pAzF-CEC) will then be patterned onto a 4" glass substrate surface using e-bearn lithography (EBL), and temperature and/or salt dependent size changes of the fingers will be investigated. As different patterns can result in different overall physicochernical properties, responsive "ripples" or "folds" will be produced by employing indirect patterning where a substrate is patterned with microstrips of varying diameters. The pAzF-CEC will be covalently attached onto the patterned substrate via UV exposure. The final material will then be subjected to temperature change, leading to swelling/shrinkage. Swelling is expected to occur when the temperature is decreased. Upon swelling, buckling and crease fonnation is anticipated due to the elevated pattern of the substrate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510304
Entities
People
- Jin K Montclare
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- New York University
- United States Army