IRGs

This interdisciplinary research aims to develop a new class of “patchy” nanoparticle coatings for uses in biocompatible surfaces and in flexible electronics. The work builds on this research group’s recent progress in using electrostatic interactions to drive self-assembly of charged nanoscopic components into various types of supra-structures.1-3
In this work, the group is using nanoscale electrostatics […]

Coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease are the largest causes of mortality in the United States [1]. To treat the consequences of this disease, clinicians rely on donor veins, arteries, or synthetic vascular grafts. Unfortunately, synthetic vascular grafts have had limited success as they occlude and fail within 5 years when used to replace small-diameter […]

Molecular biology permits custom programming of cells to carry out specific tasks, such as synthesis of specific biomolecules or modification of molecules in the extracellular environment. Further examples include formation of multicellular structures or sending chemical or optical signals in response to detection of specific molecules.
The bacterium Escherichia coli, for which there exists a staggering […]

The interdisciplinary research group on Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials seeks to develop macromolecular materials with predictable biological response by combining understanding of macromolecular synthesis, experimental and theoretical nanomechanics, and cell biology to move towards a comprehensive understanding of biological structure-function relationships in soft materials. Artificial extracellular matrix (aECM) proteins which enable […]

This IRG focuses on understanding the mechanical properties of the cell, a central object of study in biology, and its structural components. Tools and techniques necessary to study problems in biology at the scale of a single cell are being developed using the materials expertise of MRSEC participants. This IRG has established the use of […]

This IRG has grown from a seed effort whose goal is to investigate the mechanical behavior responsible for physiological function of biological systems. An important outcome of this work will be concepts to creat new “smart” materials that exploit our knowledge of biological systems to improve materials function. This IRG seeks to establish this area […]

The next generation of polymer-based materials will rely on the incorporation of multiple components to achieve superior and tunable properties; this, in turn, will require control over chemical connectivity and morphology from the nanometer scale up to microns. The thermodynamic incompatibility of most polymer pairs demands a flexible strategy for designing hybrid materials in both […]

IRG-1 establishes new synthesis-structure-property relationships for materials development based on non-covalent assembly. By utilizing both covalent and directed non-covalent interactions we aim to create new, extraordinarily responsive materials that will lie at the interface of biomaterials and synthetic macromolecules. These multi-functional systems show great promise in areas as diverse as novel catalysts and […]

The theme of this IRG is to understand and control of micro- and nanoscale movement. By investigating three classes of motors - catalytic, biological and synthetic - we are endeavoring to bring the study of dynamic nanoscale processes into the realm of engineering science and physics.

The IRG research projects are augmented by seed projects in materials science research. At present there are three seed projects in the CCMR funded through a combination of NSF and Cornell University resources.

IRG 1 focuses on the Design and Synthesis of Response Driven Macromolecules. This IRG is concerned with design, synthesis, and understanding of molecular processes in biomaterials, self-assembling amphipatic protein films, film formation of membrane forming proteins, synthesis of water-soluble and liquid crystalline polymers as well as colloidal dispersions that mimic biosystems or exhibit stimuli-responsive characteristics.

SEED Leader: Sang Bok Lee
We are interested in synthesis of multifunctional nanotubes and nanowires with various materials such as conductive polymers, metal oxides, metals, and their composites materials, based on well-controlled template synthesis method. Using these nanotube/nanowire structures, we are exploring new chemical, physical, electrochemical, and biological properties and their applications in fast electrochemical […]

This IRG develops new routes for designing and controlling the interface between biological entities and man-made materials. A first theme in this IRG develops biochips for quantitative characterization of biological activities. A second theme focuses on polyvalency to develop new approaches and design rules for engineering materials used in biological applications. A third theme seeks to develop and exploit the assembly processes inherent to biology for the fabrication of materials with unique properties. This paradigm is especially relevant to materials with ordered structure at the 10-50 nm length scale.

Senior Investigators: William F. DeGrado & Daniel A. Hammer
IRG Leaders; Feng Gai, Mark D. Goulian, Michael L. Klein, Virgil Percec
IRG-3 draws expertise from four departments to design fully integrated functional analogues of cellular mstrongbranes. The goal is highly stable mstrongbranes with integrated functional components including, ion channels, receptors, & signal transducers. strongploying the tools of […]

Senior Investigators: Shu Yang & Arjun G. Yodh
IRG Leaders; Christopher S. Chen, John C.Crocker, Paul A. Janmey, Tom C. Lubensky, Karen I. Winey
IRG-1 will draw on expertise from five departments & collaborate to explore & understand the properties of filamentous networks. The goal is to design & synthesize responsive network materials. The ultimate aim is […]

Senior Investigators: J. Kent Blasie & P. Leslie Dutton
IRG co-leaders; William F. DeGrado, Bohdana M. Discher, Jeffrey G. Saven, Michael J. Therien, & A. Joshua Wand
IRG-4 draws on the rich biological resource of atomic-level structures & functional mechanisms to guide design & synthesis of novel proteins as modular nano-scale materials. These adaptable self-assembling modules will […]

Work in the area of Biological Synthesis and Assembly of Macromolecular Materials (Interdisciplinary Research Group I) explores the powerful control of self-organization that can be achieved in polymers of absolutely defined comonomer sequence — genetically engineered artificial proteins—and the control of spatial arrangement and size […]