(3ia) Orthogonally Nanoengineered Biointerfaces: Where rational design meets precision engineering

As biointerfaces, nanostructured materials are unique for two main reasons: (i) tremendous surface area per unit volume, which can amplify desired surface chemistry (e.g., charge, functional moieties); (ii) nanotopography, which modulates the spatial distribution of surface properties at the nanoscale level - a length scale actively sensed by biological systems via biomolecules (e.g., proteins). Although exciting applications of nanostructured biointerfaces have been revealed, a generalizable understanding of the property-function relationship is lacking in many cases, mainly due to the coupling of their surface topography and chemistry. This understanding would be essential to explaining/predicting the response of biological systems to given nanostructured materials or vice versa, which will in turn form the cornerstone for rational design of high-performance biointerfaces.

To this end, as a faculty candidate I will devote my research program to (1) develop engineering platforms that enable orthogonal control of topography and chemistry with nanoscale precision; (2) use this platform to experimentally decouple the effect of topography and chemistry on interfacial phenomena (e.g., bacterial attachment, enzyme activity) important to functional biointerfaces (e.g., antifouling, (bio)sensing, enzymatic conversion); (3) derive theoretical models to explain/predict the interfacial phenomena and guide rational design of high-performance biointerfaces. Potential applications include antifouling/antimicrobial surfaces, microfluidcs/nanofluidics, and enzymatic membrane reactors.

One such orthogonal nanoengineering platform I have explored combines anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD). First, AAO provides a versatile yet facile approach to create highly ordered and tunable nanoporous surfaces, which could be converted to isoporous filtration membranes or serve as templates for advanced nanofabrication. Then, iCVD – an advanced vapor printing platform – enables solvent-free, substrate-independent application of functional polymer nanocoatings that conform to the nanopore walls. Two biointerfaces applications will be highlighted: (i) the nanoengineered surface topography for reducing the bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on food contact surfaces – a persisting threat to food safety, and (ii) the synthesis of polymer nanolayers along AAO nanopores using iCVD to control surface chemistry – a step toward developing sustainable enzymatic membrane reactors.

Teaching Interests

My background and training have given me a unique perspective and skill set that will allow me to teach courses across the curriculum of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Agricultural and Bioengineering. Furthermore, the fundamental principles that guide my research are readily translatable into advanced course subjects in the fields of advanced food and bioprocessing, nanoengineering, and colloidal and surface sciences.