Biolubrication

We draw inspiration from biomacromolecules, namely proteoglycans to create novel materials and understand biological function. Found within articular cartilage, proteoglycans protect human joints from a lifetime of wear and tear by functioning as a lubricating agent. The high graft and charge density along the proteoglycans’ polymer backbones result in unique lubricating properties, something which we desire to recreate synthetically. Here, we seek to understand how the conformation and tribology of bottlebrushes can be controlled through the imparted effects of charge and graft density.

Fire Prevention

We utilize bottlebrushes as a means to control the dynamics and flammability of liquid fuel jets. Liquid fuels that are easily nebulized pose safety hazards for consumers as the liquid’s ability to be dispersed into small droplets exponentially increases the combustibility and explosive nature of said fuels. And, in the event of an accident (such as the 1977 Tenerife Airport disaster), these properties can lead to fiery and often deadly results. With this in mind, our goal is to utilize bottlebrush polymers to modify the rheology of liquid fuels to retard droplet formation from jet flows and limit fuel volatility. 

Alpha-Helix Flexibility

Polymer structure and flexibility define polymer stability and function. Nature utilizes these qualities to design and build proteins. For example, the structural protein collagen is a triple helix that forms fibrils in intermediate pH solutions and provides strength in cartilage. In contrast, poly-L-lysine forms random coils in low pH and single alpha - helices in high pH. We quantify and compare the flexibility of these structures in different ionic environments to better understand biological function and create synthetic mimics.