Multiscale Assembly of Soft Biomaterials

My Discovery Grant research program will develop technologies for efficient production of soft materials across dimensional scales, with applications ranging from sustainable textiles to living cell assemblies for cellular agriculture. This innovative research program links discovery science related to new forms of soft and active matter to industrial applications of these materials. HQP will be empowered to pursue interdisciplinary research where the physical and life sciences intersect such that they are prepared to exert maximum impact in advanced manufacturing, the circular bioeconomy, and biotechnology. Objective 1: To develop and characterize novel self-assembling soft materials. My lab will further explore the utility of the contact drawing approach we developed for assembly of fibers from high value biomaterials such as recombinant spider silks, mussel foot proteins, and fibrillar and network forming extracellular matrix proteins. In addition, we will continue to build a database of water-soluble phase-separating compounds and work towards prediction and discovery of new phase-separating systems. Objective 2: To design and characterize multi-component hydrogel systems and interfaces. My lab will apply materials developed through previous research and in Objective 1 to enhance the performance characteristics of hydrogels such as alginate which have numerous applications in personal care products, tissue engineering, and soft coatings. We hypothesize that incorporation of short protein fibers (e.g., 100 µm-long collagen or zein fibers) will provide structural reinforcement to the hydrogels. Other materials that will be explored for use in composite biomaterials will include embedded nanocrystals and phase-separating polymers. Objective 3: To develop technologies for scaled production of living matter. Here, we will further develop our protein fiber technology and also explore strategies for templated-assembly of cells cultured at liquid-liquid interfaces or in miniature molds to assemble muscle microtissues with structures reminiscent of natural muscle tissue, with potential applications in the emerging cultured meat industry. Key methodology related to the overall scientific approach will expose trainees to computational science, physical characterization of soft materials, and wet lab approaches to materials chemistry and application testing. Each objective will lead to significant advancements in capacity to manufacture high performance biomaterials with direct applications in green and resilient materials for textiles and building materials, personal care products, therapeutic delivery systems, soft scaffolds for cell growth and device coatings, and tissue engineering for cellular agriculture and cultured meat.