"Protein Adsorption on Surfaces with Grafted Polymers: A Theoretical Approach", I. Szleifer, Biophysical J., 72, 595-612 (1997).

"Polymers and Proteins: Interactions at Interfaces", I. Szleifer, Current Opinion in Solid State and Material, Science, 2, 337-344 (1997).

"Tethered Polymer Layers", I. Szleifer and M.A. Carignano, Adv. Chem, Phys., Vol. XCIV, Chapter 3, pages 165-260. I. Prigogine and S.A. Rice Eds., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1996).

"Statistical Thermodynamics of Polymers Near Surfaces", I. Szleifer, Current Opinion in Collodial and Interface Science, 1, 416-423 (1996).

"On the Structure and Lateral Pressures of Tethered Polymers in Good Solvent", M.A. Carignano and I. Szleifer, Macromolecules, 28, 3205-3213 (1995).

"Critical Temperature Shifts in Thin Polymer Blend Films", H. Tang, I. Szleifer, and S. Kumar, J. Chem, Phys., 100, 5367-5371 (1994).

The objective of our research is to understand the behavior of polymer molecules in confined environments. These include polymers grafted at one of their ends to surfaces, adsorption of polymer and polymer blends thin films. We have developed a general molecular approach that enables us to perform systematic studies of the structural, mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of these polymeric systems as a function of the thermodynamic control variables, the geometry of the systems as a function of the thermodynamic control variables, the geometry of the system, the chemical architecture of the polymer molecules and the type of solvents or composition in the cases of mixtures. The predictions obtained from our theory are in quantitative agreement with a variety of experimental studies as well as with full scale computer simulations, in particular for grafted polymer layers. In the case of grafted polymer layers we have found how changes in the chemical structure of the polymer chains can be used to modify the ability of the polymer layer to prevent the adsorption of proteins and colloidal particles. On polymer blends thin films, we have studied how the miscibility between the polymers can be enhanced or reduced depending upon the surface polymer interactions, and the thickness of the polymeric film. These findings can be used to prepare films with miscible polymer blends to form surfaces with desired optical and mechanical properties. The next step of our research is to develop a dynamical theory that will enable us to understand the kinetics of the interactions between surface and the kinetics of adsorption on surfaces modified with polymer chains. These studies will be used to find optimal kinetic and thermodynamic surface modifications for applied purposes.

Purdue
HomePage

General
Information

Engineering
HomePage

Computing
Network

Topic
HomePage