Chemistry 108

Catalin Picu, Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Soft Network Materials: Structure-Properties Relations

Many materials have a stochastic network of filaments as their main structural component and are referred to collectively as ‘network materials.’ This class includes all biological connective tissue, the extracellular matrix, the intra-cellular cytoskeleton, paper and cellulose-based products, nonwovens, as well as various molecular networks such as rubber, gels and thermosets.

Hongbin Li, Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia

Rational Engineering of Protein-based Biomaterials: from single molecule traits to functional material properties

In their biological settings, elastomeric proteins function as molecular springs, thereby establishing elastic connections, plus providing mechanical strength and elasticity. With an ability to change their shape (evolving from simple, random coil-like structures to a more sophisticated beads-on-a string formation), they fulfill their biological function. These complex protein polymers exhibit distinct mechanical properties.

The development of single molecule force spectroscopy techniques has made it possible to directly probe these properties, at the single molecule level, allowing us to understand their molecular design principles. This knowledge has enabled us to engineer novel elastomeric proteins to achieve tailored and well-defined nanomechanical properties.