Event Start
     
Event Time
4 p.m.
Zoom Meeting

"Polymer Physics: From Mucus Hydrogel to Adaptive Soft Materials" with Liheng Cai, University of Virginia (Online Seminar)

 

Title: Polymer Physics: From Mucus Hydrogel to Adaptive Soft Materials

SpeakerLiheng Cai, University of Virginia

Hosted byGregg Duncan

Abstract:

Synthetic rubber and biological hydrogels are dramatically different, but their properties and functions are largely determined by the structure and architecture of polymers, the common components of both systems. Such a deterministic correlation poses opportunities in the field of polymer physics. In this talk, I will discuss how the concepts and knowledge of polymer physics help understand biological questions, which, in turn, inspires the design of new soft functional materials. First, I will discuss the biophysical roles of mucus hydrogel in human lung defense. I will discuss how pathologically relevant biophysical parameters of mucus can help understand interactions among mucus, extracellular matrix, and epithelial cells – the three major components of human lung defense. Second, inspired by the structure of constituent molecules of mucus, I will show the development of adaptive, reversible, soft, yet solvent-free materials with mechanical properties matching those of watery biological tissues. Further, I will show the usage of these soft materials as a new class of inks for additive manufacturing. I will also discuss immediate applications and emerging challenges stimulated by these discoveries.

Biography: 

Liheng Cai is an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, where he currently holds joint appointments to the Department of Materials Science and the Department of Chemical Engineering, and a courtesy appointment to the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of North Carolina, where he researched with Prof. Michael Rubinstein on theoretical polymer physics and with Prof. Richard C. Boucher on experimental biophysics. During his postdoctoral training with Prof. David Weitz at Harvard, he switched to experiments. Since 2018, he has been leading Soft Biomatter Laboratory at UVa, where his group focuses on understanding and controlling the interactions between active soft materials and living systems with the mission to solve challenges in health, sustainability, and environmental science. He received North Carolina Impact Award, Harvard Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development, ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award, NSF CAREER Award, and recently has been recognized as a Soft Matter Emerging Investigator.

Event Start
Fall 2021