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Responsive Biomaterials Lab

Texas A&M University College of Engineering

Research

Engineered Living Materials for Therapeutics or Sustainably Built Structures.

Engineered Living Materials are composites of non-living and living composites. We often make synthetic hydrogels with embedded bacteria or yeast. We are studying the fundamental properties of these materials and applying them to solve important engineering problems. Some of our latest work includes creating materials that grow into a predetermined size and shape. This growth can even be powered by food waste. We are also creating materials that can controllably delivery probiotics, including yeast and bacteria.

 

An engineered living material schematic showing shape change and cell release.       An 3D printed engineered living material that grows into different forms     

 

Key Citations:

Advanced Functional Materials, 2021, p. 2106843, doi:10.1002/adfm.202106843

Biomaterials Advances, 2022, p. 213182, doi:10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213182

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 14, no. 17, 2022, pp. 20062–72, doi:10.1021/acsami.2c03109

Science Advances, 6(3): eaax8582, doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax8582

Liquid Crystal Elastomers as Dynamic Biomaterials and Artificial Muscles

Liquid crystal elastomers are soft materials that reversibly change shape, much like a biological muscle. We are studying the fundamental properties of these materials and applying them to solve challenges with medical devices. Some of our latest work includes creating dynamic slings to treat urinary incontinence and deploying intracortical electrodes.

Cover image of patterned cracks on a liquid crystal elastomer        Snapshots of NIR light responsive CB-LCE composite actuating in air. A CB–LCE sling in a “U” shape, mimicking the mechanism by which mesh slings for stress urinary incontinence support urethra (top). CB-LCE sling widens its radius of curvature after the application of 300 mW/cm2 NIR light for 30 s at a 15 mm distance and reaching a temperature of 43 °C (bottom). Scale bar: 5 mm.         Schematic and image of 3D printable liquid crystal elastomers

Key Citations:

Biomaterials, vol. 292, 2022, p. 121912, doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121912.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 14, no. 30, 2022, pp. 35087–96, doi:10.1021/acsami.2c07533

Advanced Materials, 2021, p. 2008434, doi:10.1002/adma.202008434

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 9, no. 42, 2017, pp. 37332–39, doi:10.1021/acsami.7b11851.

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