(6hr) Gradient Double Network Gels for Medical Implants

Gradient materials exhibit a continuous variation in any of their physical or chemical properties. For example, tendons, fibrous tissues found in our bodies, illustrate naturally occurring gradient materials; they exhibit a continuous change in modulus, which helps to achieve efficient connectivity between soft muscle tissues and hard bones. Mimicking such gradients using synthetic hydrogels with tunable stiffness will have a tremendous impact on the development of medical implants. The research program that I envision to develop in my research group will explore new methods for generating tough gradient hydrogels. The strategy will be to synthesize double network hydrogels (DN) and elastomers by incorporating degradable network strands, wherein the first network can be degraded under acidic conditions while maintaining the second network intact. Such a system will also allow for complete characterization of DN strands after their formation by selective degradation of either one of the two networks to examine the network properties of the other gel. After gaining fundamental insights into the structure of DN, the project will focus on the development of gradient DN (gDN), demonstrating a continuous variation in network density and modulus. A key advantage of gDN is that a single specimen can be used to investigate the effect of varying a given parameter systematically (e.g., elasticity or molecular concentration). I am also interested in exploring the non-thrombogenic coatings, and the detection method for thrombi formation in blood contacting devices, e.g., left ventricular assist devices (VADs). VADs are used as life support for many patients with heart failure or those waiting for the heart transplantation, which can take months to several years. This project will develop a new technique to target platelets using biocompatible microbubbles (MBs) as ultrasound contrast agents. Such a noninvasive and low-cost molecular imaging technique will have a tremendous impact on blood contacting device industry, where monitoring thrombus formation (in-vivo) is of utmost importance. The interdisciplinary nature of my research interest would draw a potential funding from NIH (NIEHS, NIBIB), NSF (BMAT, CMMT, EBMS, POLY, MRSEC), ONR and many industries.

Selected Publications:

• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Jan Genzer, “One-Pot Synthesis of Surface-Anchored Network Coatings”, article in preparation 2018.
• Joachim Jelken, C. K. Pandiyarajan, Jan Genzer, Nino Lomadze, Svetlana Santer, “Polymer nano-membranes with reversible tunable pore size”, ACS Applied Materials 2018, Submitted.
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Jan Genzer, “Effect of network density in surface-anchored poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogels on adsorption of fibrinogen”, Langmuir 2017, 33, 1974-1983 (Link).
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Oswald Prucker, Jürgen Rühe, “Humidity Driven Swelling of the Surface-Attached Poly (N-alkylacrylamide) Networks”, Macromolecules 2016, 49 (21), 8254-8264 (Link).
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Michael Rubinstein, Jan Genzer, “Surface-Anchored Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) Orthogonal Gradient Networks”, Macromolecules 2016 49 (14), 5076-5083 (Link).
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, “Biofunctionalized Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering”, Advanced Science News: Regenerative Medicines, 2016 (Link)
• Ke Li, C. K. Pandiyarajan, Oswald Prucker, Jürgen Rühe, “On the lubrication mechanism of surfaces covered with Surface-attached hydrogels”, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 2016, 217, 526-536 (Link).
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Oswald Prucker, Barbara Zieger, Jürgen Rühe, “Influence of the Molecular Structure of Surface-Attached poly (N-alkylacrylamide) Coatings on Blood Platelet Adhesion”, Macromolecular Bioscience, 2013, 13, 873-884 (Link).
• C. K. Pandiyarajan, Oswald Prucker, Barbara Zieger, Jürgen Rühe, “Influence of the Molecular Structure of Surface-Attached poly (N-alkylacrylamide) Coatings on Blood Platelet Adhesion”, Macromolecular Bioscience, 2013, 13, 7, 817 [Front cover page, Link].
• N. Somanathan, C. K. Pandiyarajan, W.A. Goedel, W. C. Chen, “Physico-mechanical Studies on the Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Polythiophene Containing Mesogenic Side Chain”, Journal of Polymer Science B: Polymer Physics, 2009, 47, 2, 173 (Link).

Books:

• C. K. Pandiyarajan, “The interaction of Blood Proteins and Platelets on Surface-Attached poly (N-alkyl acrylamide) Networks”, Der Andere Verlag (CPI Band 23) 2014, ISBN:978-3-86247-408-0

Teaching Interests:

I am qualified to teach any undergraduate major courses on Chemical Engineering and chemistry:

• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• Chemical Reaction Engineering and/or Reaction Kinetics
• Macromolecular Science and Engineering
• Material and Energy Balances and/or Materials Science
• Computer-Aided Chemical Engineering
• Principles of Chemical Engineering
• Biomaterials
• Polymer science and Technology
• Chemistry for Engineers (My course design for undergraduates)
• Organic Chemistry and Bio-organic chemistry
• In-organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry

For graduate students, considering my previous experiences, I can teach (or design) the following courses:

• Polymer Chemistry & Physics
• Polymer at Interfaces
• Proteins at Interfaces
• Biomaterials
• Spectroscopic methods for Molecular Characterization
• Surface-Analytical Techniques for Soft Matters