Fundamental theoretical and experimental studies of soft matter and their composites

软物质及其复合材料的基础理论与实验研究

• 批准号: 262785-2013
• 负责人: Hill, Reghan
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525567
• 关键词: Fundamental; theoretical; experimental; studies; soft

This research seeks to understand and control the physical interactions that produce complex responses in soft materials containing nanoparticles, polymers, and phospholipids. The research combines state-of-the-art experimental tools---including laser holographic microrheology and electroacoustics---and theory to benefit the Canadian energy and healthcare enterprises. The potential benefits for Canada are improved energy efficiency (e.g., by optimizing nanocomposite membranes for gas separations in petrochemical processing) and improved human health (e.g., by understanding NP transport in biofilms for treating cancer and respiratory disease, and developing soft materials for clinical diagnostics and implants). Knowledge will be gained from four sub-themes: In the first, we will seek a fundamental understanding of nanoparticle dynamics in biofilms, particularly how biofilm stickiness affects nanoparticle transport. This will help researchers in synthetic and clinical areas optimize nanoparticle size and chemistry for cancer and respiratory disease therapeutics and tumor detection. In the second, we will undertake novel studies of phospholipid bilayer membranes supported on and within hydrogels. Our goal is to correlate the motion of membrane-embedded proteins and polymers to the hydrogel chemistry, permeability, and softness. This research may lead to new controlled release drug-delivery therapeutics and sensors. In the third, we will decorate hydrogels with nanoparticles to impart an ability to change shape when subjected to an electric field. Such materials might function similarly to muscle tissue in specialized medical diagnostic applications. Finally, we will elucidate how nanoparticles influence polymer-chain packing in nanocomposites, and establish a criterion for selecting nanoparticle size and polymer chain stiffness to optimize membrane permeability and selectivity for energy-efficient gas separations in the petrochemicals industry.

这项研究试图理解和控制在含有纳米颗粒，聚合物和磷脂的软材料中产生复杂响应的物理相互作用。该研究结合了最先进的实验工具 - 包括激光全息微流行病学和电声学 - 以及使加拿大能源和医疗保健企业受益的理论。加拿大的潜在好处是提高能源效率（例如，通过优化石化加工中气体分离的纳米复合膜）和改善的人类健康（例如，通过了解治疗癌症和呼吸系统疾病的生物膜中的NP运输，以及开发用于临床诊断的软材料和植入物）。知识将从四个子主题中获得：首先，我们将寻求对生物膜中纳米颗粒动力学的基本理解，尤其是生物膜粘性如何影响纳米颗粒的运输。这将有助于合成和临床领域的研究人员优化纳米颗粒的大小和化学，用于癌症，呼吸道疾病疗法和肿瘤检测。在第二个中，我们将对水凝胶上支撑的磷脂双层膜进行新的研究。我们的目标是将膜包含的蛋白质和聚合物的运动与水凝胶化学，渗透性和柔软度相关联。这项研究可能会导致新的受控释放药物递送治疗剂和传感器。在第三个中，我们将用纳米颗粒装饰水凝胶，以在受到电场时赋予改变形状的能力。在专门的医学诊断应用中，此类材料可能与肌肉组织相似。最后，我们将阐明纳米颗粒如何影响纳米复合材料中的聚合物链填料，并建立一个标准，用于选择纳米颗粒尺寸和聚合物链刚度，以优化石化工业中易于膜的通透性和可选择性。