AVS 64th International Symposium & Exhibition
    Biomaterial Interfaces Division Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoM

Invited Paper BI-MoM10
Stimuli Responsive Polymers in Biofouling and Bioadhesion

Monday, October 30, 2017, 11:20 am, Room 12

Session: Engineering a Paradigm Shift in Control of Microbes and Fouling
Presenter: Gabriel Lopez, University of New Mexico
Correspondent: Click to Email
This talk will review work by the Lopez lab and its collaborators on the role of stimuli-responsive polymers in processes associated with biopolymer adsorption, biofouling and bioadhesion. Wikipedia currently defines stimuli-responsive (or “smart”) polymers as those that change their shape or properties “according to the environment they are in.” From this perspective, almost any polymer in solution that adsorbs to an interface placed in its proximity can be thought of as a stimuli-responsive polymer. In the present context, a less trivial distinction includes polymeric systems that are sensitive to external fields (e.g., thermal, stress, optical, electric) in a way as to dramatically affect tendency for adsorption or adhesion. Such polymeric systems include synthetic polymers comprising engineered interfaces with biologically relevant aqueous phases (brushes, solution and vacuum deposited films, gels) and biopolymers (proteins) in aqueous phases. These systems and their ability to dramatically influence adsorption, attachment and adhesion are of potential use in a wide range of biotechnological, biomedical, aquatic, marine and food production applications including processes such as separations, assays, controlled delivery, cell culture, packaging, energy transfer and transportation.