Collaborative Research: Synthetic mucins with tunable structures and programmable interfacial behavior

合作研究：具有可调结构和可编程界面行为的合成粘蛋白

• 批准号: 2212162
• 负责人: Robert Carpick
• 金额: $ 37.47万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2212162&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Synthetic; mucins; tunable

NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTMost people cringe when they hear the word mucus, repulsed by the image of gooey slime, but what they may not realize is that mucus is one of the most interesting and diverse materials found in the natural world. Every animal uses mucus to fill a wide range of needs. The common garden snail, for example, secretes one type of mucus that facilitates locomotion, another that helps them stick to walls, and a third mucus, found on the back, that protects it from environmental threats. Despite its prevalence in the natural world, very little is understood about how mucus changes properties to behave, in one case, as an adhesive and, in another, as a lubricant. If these properties can be understood and reproduced in a synthetic material, it could have applications ranging from eye drops to coatings for medical implants. This project supports fundamental research to understand the lubricity and adhesion of synthetic mucin polymers – human-made materials that mimic the structures and properties of natural mucus. By understanding the effects of polymer length, composition, and the presence of additives, such as calcium salts, on the lubricity and adhesion, it would be possible to design useful synthetic mucins that mimic the properties of natural mucins. This project will provide significant educational opportunities for students to explore the wonders of materials research and the fascinating science behind everyday objects that populate our world. Integrated outreach activities are focused on engaging students from high school to undergraduate levels, and broadening participation in STEM amongst students from traditionally underrepresented groups.TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis collaborative project aims to create a new class of biomimetic polymers – synthetic mucins – that emulate the structures and, in turn, the properties of the glycosylated polypeptides that are the primary components of mucus. The research involves investigating systematically the relationship between synthetic mucin structure and rheological, mechanical, and tribological properties. Specifically, the three research objectives are to study the properties of (i) homopolymers composed solely of glycosylated monomeric units, (ii) random copolymers containing glycosylated monomers and thiol-containing monomers that can form interchain cross-links, and (iii) triblock copolymers that contain glycosylated monomers, thiol-containing monomers, and monomers capable of forming specific interactions with surfaces. In addition to developing new synthetic methods and polymerization protocols to create the monomers and polymers, respectively, nanotribological methods and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations will be applied to measure and understand the behavior of these new materials. The broader impacts of this project are aimed to promote STEM and to create a STEM-capable workforce by expanding access to STEM opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups. Specific broader impact activities will be (i) an internship program in materials science for high-school students, (ii) student exchanges between CUNY and the University of Pennsylvania, and (iii) booths at science outreach days intended to inform the public on the impact of materials science research on everyday life.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.

非技术抽象的大多数人听到粘糊糊的形象被拒绝时，大多数人都会畏缩，但他们可能没有意识到的是粘液是自然界中发现的最有趣，最多样化的材料之一。每种动物都使用粘液来满足各种需求。例如，普通的花园蜗牛分泌一种促进运动的一种粘液，另一种可以帮助它们粘在墙壁上的粘液，而在背面发现的第三种粘液可保护其免受环境威胁。尽管它在自然世界中的盛行，但在一种情况下，粘液如何改变特性是一种粘合剂，而在另一种情况下是润滑剂。如果可以在合成材料中理解和复制这些特性，则可能具有从眼滴到医疗涂层的应用。该项目支持基本研究，以了解合成粘蛋白聚合物的润滑性和粘合剂 - 模仿天然粘液的结构和特性的人造材料。通过了解聚合物长度，成分以及添加剂（例如钙盐）对润滑性和粘合剂的影响，可以设计有用的合成粘液，以模仿天然粘蛋白的性质。该项目将为学生提供巨大的教育机会，以探索材料研究的奇观以及遍布我们世界的日常物品背后的迷人科学。综合外展活动的重点是吸引从高中到本科水平的学生，并扩大了传统上代表性不足的群体的学生参与。技术抽象的合作项目旨在创建一类新的生物模拟聚合物 - 合成粘液 - 合成的粘液 - 仿效结构和主要组合的属性，这些杂种是gycosyl colysyl colysyl collecton的物业。该研究涉及系统地研究合成突变结构与流变，机械和摩擦学特性之间的关系。 Specifically, the three research objectives are to study the properties of (i) homopolymers composed solely of glycosylated monomeric units, (ii) random copolymers containing glycosylated monomers and thiol-containing monomers that can form interchain cross-links, and (iii) triblock copolymers That contains glycosylated monomers, thiol-containing monomers, and monomers capable与表面形成特定的相互作用。除了开发新的合成方法和聚合方案以分别创建单体和聚合物，还将应用纳米脱水方法和动力学蒙特卡洛模拟，以衡量和了解这些新材料的行为。该项目的更广泛的影响旨在促进STEM并通过扩大传统代表性不足的群体的STEM机会的机会来促进STEM和创建具有STEM能力的劳动力。 （i）针对高中生的国际材料科学课程将是（ii）（ii）CUNY和宾夕法尼亚大学之间的学生交流，以及（iii）在科学外展活动中的摊位，旨在为公众提供有关材料科学研究对每日生活的影响的影响，这些奖项通过NSF的智力进行了良好的影响，这表明了NSF的合法传统，并依靠NSF的范围，这是对材料的影响。 标准。