Generation and Self-Assembly of Novel Polymeric Materials Inspired by Nature

受大自然启发的新型高分子材料的生成和自组装

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05243
• 负责人: Harrington, Matthew
• 金额: $ 4.66万
• 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: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=691236
• 关键词: Generation; Self; Assembly; Novel; Polymeric

The field of bio-inspired materials is founded on the premise that humans can learn something from nature about creating versatile high-performance materials for a wide variety of functions through sustainable and economical processing. Our research program focuses on mussel byssus fibers, which provide an excellent role model for bio-inspired polymers due to technologically and biomedically relevant materials properties (high toughness, self-healing, wet adhesion). Our previous work indicates these properties arise from hierarchical organization of protein building blocks and protein-metal coordination cross-linking. Presently, however, little is understood about how this high degree of structural complexity is achieved during byssus formation. The goals of our research program are to elucidate the byssus self-assembly process and utilize extracted design concepts towards the development of bio-inspired materials processing.******Mussel byssus fibers are rapidly fabricated via bottom-up self-assembly of >10 different proteins, which undergo a dramatic transition from fluid precursor to tough fiber in just minutes. Our recent work indicates that byssus proteins are stored in micron-sized secretory vesicles, which are secreted in a spatiotemporally controlled process. We hypothesize that vesicles possess a controlled microenvironment (pH, ionic strength and redox potential) and that self-assembly is triggered via changing ambient conditions and mechanical shear as the stimuli responsive proteins are released from secretory glands into seawater. We posit that by elucidating the spatiotemporal control and physical chemical principles at play in byssus assembly, we will gain new insights for inspiring sustainable practices for fabricating polymeric materials with advanced properties via supramolecular assembly.******Building off our group's work over the last 7 years, the primary aims are I) Elucidate physical chemical principles underlying mussel byssus self-assembly through in situ and in vitro investigation of byssus formation. II) Adapt extracted principles towards assembly of novel polymeric materials with hierarchical structure via novel microfluidics-based materials processing. These aims will be achieved through a multi-scale, cross-disciplinary investigation at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry and materials science, utilizing cutting edge analytical techniques including confocal Raman spectroscopy, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The long-term aim of our program is production of polymeric materials that combine high performance with sustainable fabrication practices and circular life cycles. This will have tangible benefits for Canada, both economically and environmentally, in the emerging green technologies industry.*****

以生物启发的材料领域建立在一个前提的基础上，即人类可以从大自然中学到一些关于通过可持续和经济的处理为各种功能创建多功能高性能材料的知识。我们的研究计划着重于贻贝纤维，由于技术和生物医学相关的材料特性（高韧性，自我修复，湿粘附），该纤维为生物启发的聚合物提供了极好的榜样。我们以前的工作表明这些特性来自蛋白质构建块和蛋白质金属协调的分层组织。然而，目前，关于在Bysus形成期间如何实现这种高度的结构复杂性的知识很少。我们的研究计划的目标是阐明BYSSUS自组装过程，并利用提取的设计概念来开发生物启发的材料处理。****** mussel byssus byssus byssus纤维是通过自下而上的自动组件迅速制造的。 > 10种不同的蛋白质，它在短短几分钟内就经历了从流体前体到坚硬纤维的戏剧性过渡。我们最近的工作表明，BYSUS蛋白存储在微米大小的分泌囊泡中，这些囊泡在时空控制的过程中分泌。我们假设囊泡具有受控的微环境（pH，离子强度和氧化还原电势），并且由于刺激响应蛋白的刺激响应蛋白是从分泌腺从分泌腺释放到海水中，因此自组装是通过变化的环境条件和机械剪切触发的。我们认为，通过阐明在Byssus集会中发挥作用的时空控制和物理化学原理，我们将获得新的见解，以激发可持续的实践，以通过超分子组装来制造具有高级特性的可持续性实践。在过去的7年中，主要目的是i）通过原位和体外研究byssus形成，阐明了mussel byssus自组装的物理化学原理。 ii）通过新型的基于微流体的材料处理，将提取的原理适应新型聚合物材料的组装。这些目标将通过化学，生物化学和材料科学界面上的多尺度的跨学科研究来实现，并利用包括共凝聚拉曼光谱的尖端分析技术，聚焦离子光束扫描电子显微镜（FIB-SEM）和冷冻 - - 冷冻光束扫描透射电子显微镜（TEM）。我们计划的长期目标是生产高性能与可持续制造实践和循环生命周期相结合的聚合物材料。在新兴的绿色技术行业中，这将对加拿大的经济和环境上都有切实的好处。*****