Current Research Projects
Surfactants weaken microplastic capture
Surfactants can compete with microplastics for surfaces using adhesives as substrates for microplastic sequestration
Tolulope Lawal & collaborators in Chemistry at UM published on surfactants also binding with micro-plastics & adhesives in fluids like laundry effluent. Micro plastic adoption assessed through using slides, optical measurements, and rapid sampling gives insight into the binding characteristics of microplastics in additive exposed systems. Further research is called-for through either modeling or further experimentation to learn more about implementation in laundry applications.
Micelle based therapeutics dissolution for local release.
We are using amphiphilic copolymer polyethers as structures that self assemble around body temperature. We have probed release of antibiotics and antimicrobials, chemotherapeutics, and other probiotics, embedded in these structures. We have an NIH proposal in review and a large review paper coming out.
Injectable self-assembling gels
Relating to antibiotics, the flooding of a locally infected area is applicable to both joint replacement, general sepsis, and perhaps linked with surface infections arising from limb extension procedures. Since micelle-based self assembling gels are a platform technology, swapping out antibiotics for another therapeutic might be just as relevant. We are considering other disease fronts and delivering other payloads. Sharon Song has been considering chemotherpeutics with in vitro testing and there may be other areas where infection control is also needed.
Therapeutic Controlled Release
Melt-blowing of next generation filter
Fabrication of High-Performance Biodegradable Melt-Blown Nonwovens
Our society needs better and sustainable air filtration media materials to effectively and energy-efficiently capture air borne viruses and fine particulate matter for the safety of healthcare workers and the general public. We envision that the bio-sourced, biodegradable, and low CO2 footprint green polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), can be melt-blown to fine fibers for broad applications. Brandon Zhang has been developing melt-blowing technique for these green polymers to investigate the factors that determines the performance of nonwovens, and thereby fabricating high performance biodegradable nonwoven filter.
Coffee to Cloth: Ionic liquids as solvents for cellulose
We have several proposals in review to use ionic liquids as green solvents to extract cellulose for subsequent repreciptiation as fibers and mattes for other industrial uses. We are considering cultivation that generates a lot of waste including pineapple, coffee, and corn among others. Here, we show coffee cherries, which are cultivated for the bean inside.
Fruit Fiber Waste Reuse
