(3m) Sustainable Life: Solutions to Renewable Energy, Protections From Chemical and Biological Threats, and Improved Biomedical Devices

Dhiman Bhattacharyya

Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139

In order to live a green, safe and healthy life; in one word to sustain life, we need to develop innovative technologies for renewable supplies of energies, detection of threats from chemical and biological agents and improvement of currently available state-of-the-art biomedical devices.

The following proposed research studies on these three fields are predicated on recent advances involving development of improved vapor phase based coating technology. These advances now permit precise surface modification of virtually any solid substrate material. Specifically, chemical vapor deposition processing involving pulsed plasma and/or oxidative polymerizations will be applied to research topics focused on developing new materials and improving existing technologies for renewable energy, sensors and biomaterial applications. I have extensive experience in development and application of these new surface modification approaches during my Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Studies. The research areas that I will pursue in my near-future academic career are mentioned below.

1.      A Nano/Micro-structure Based Thermoelectric Materials to Harvest Renewable Energy.

2.      The Development of Chemiresistive Sensor for Detection of Biological and Chemical Threats.

3.      The Development of Total Artificial Lung and Kidney.

My goal as a faculty member is to build a high-energy, interdisciplinary research program at the interface of surface engineering and materials for above mentioned applications. I envision that hybrid nanocomposites, whether it is organic-inorganic, bio-organic or bio-inorganic, are the solutions for next generation advanced materials. In addition, my research will also focus on basic researches for better understanding of the mechanisms of the CVD techniques. I am interested in working in a fast paced, highly collaborative environment where I can make a significant impact through translating ideas into reality and through mentoring students to become the next generation leaders in this field.

Patents:

• K. K. Gleason, D. Bhattacharyya, M. C. Barr. Reactor Design of A Single Unit CVD Chamber for Various Applications. Patent application in process. 
• R. B. Timmons, D. Bhattacharyya, K. T. Nguyen, H. Xu. Surface Tailored Materials to Enhance the Growth Rates of Cells under Both in vitro and in vivo Conditions. U.S. Patent Filed. 
• R. B. Timmons, D. S. Wavhal, D. Bhattacharyya, N. Mukherjee. Covalently Functionalized Particles for Synthesis of New Composite Materials. U.S. Patent Filed.
• R. B. Timmons, W. Chyan, D. Bhattacharyya. Improved Controlled Drug Release from Molecularly Tailored Hydrogel Films. U.S. Patent Filed.
• T. Reid, R. B. Timmons, R. R. Deshmukh, D. Bhattacharyya, T. Mosley. Plasma Surface Depositions of Thin Film Coatings Containing Selenium. U.S. Patent Filed.  

 Selected publications:

• D. Bhattacharyya, K. Senecal, K. K. Gleason. “High Surface Area Flexible Chemiresistive Biosensor by Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition.” Submitted.
• D. Bhattacharyya, K. K. Gleason. “Single-Step Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition of –COOH Functional Conducting Copolymer and Immobilization of Biomolecule for Sensor Application.” Chemistry of Materials. (Published online on April 26, 2011 as Article ASAP), DOI: 10.1021/cm2002397.
• W.-J. Yoon, D. Bhattacharyya, R. B. Timmons, P. R. Berger. “Plasma-Polymerized Multistacked Bipolar Gate Dielectric for Organic Thin-Film Transistors.” Organic Electronics, 2010, 11, 1767-1771. 
• D. Bhattacharyya, H. Xu, R. B. Timmons, K. T. Nguyen. “Surface Chemistry and Polymer Film Thickness Effects on Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Proliferation.” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part-A, 2010, 94A, 640-648.
• D. Bhattacharyya, W.-J. Yoon, P. R. Berger, R. B. Timmons. “Plasma Polymerized Multistacked Organic Bipolar Films: A New Approach to Flexible High – κ Dielectrics.” Advanced Materials, 2008, 20, 2383-2388.
• C. L. Chapman, D. Bhattacharyya, R. C. Eberhart, R. B. Timmons, C.-J. Chuong. “Plasma Polymer Thin Film Depositions to Regulate Gas Permeability through Nanoporous Track Etched Membranes.” Journal of Membrane Science, 2008, 318, 137-144.
• D. Bhattacharyya, K. Pillai, O. M.R. Chyan, L. Tang, R. B. Timmons. “A New Class of Thin Film Hydrogels Produced by Plasma Polymerization.” Chemistry of Materials, 2007, 19, 2222-2228.