Materials & chemistry
With the intent to better recapitulate isolated biochemical and mechanical properties of physiological microenvironments, we develop novel synthetic approaches for controlling crosslinking, degradation, bond exchange, ligand presentation, and other relevant cues in PEG hydrogels. We engineer these material properties with biological questions in mind to elucidate fundamental mechanobiological interactions and to create new designer biomaterials for personalized medicine. Harnessing a variety of static and dynamic covalent chemistries, we have introduced many novel hydrogel formulations that have become ubiquitous in the bioengineering community. We continue to innovate in this space and are focused on applying fundamental materials science concepts (e.g., molecular anisotropy, nonlinear elasticity, network topology) to hydrogel biomaterials.
Collaborators: Chris Bowman, Tim White, Jason Burdick (all ²ÊÃñ±¦µä), (Sandia National Laboratories)
Small group members
