Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces, Thin Films, Wetting, Dewetting, Polymer Blends, Diffusion, Ion Scattering and Cell Adhesion

The Composto group focuses on the behavior of synthetic and natural macromolecules at surfaces and interfaces. Polymer films are of interest for diverse properties as coatings, barrier layers and optical films. Our group aims to control fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic principles including surface segregation, phase separation and wetting in order to tailor surface properties (e.g., wetting) and internal morphology (e.g., co-continuous phases of nanoparticles or polymers). Diffusion and phase evolution in ionomers and multi-component, multi-phase nanocomposites are of particular interest. Biomolecular engineering principles are also being utilized in our group in order to understand cellular adhesion on peptide/protein modified surfaces, biomimetic glycocalyx surfaces, and nanotextured/patterned elastomer surfaces. These studies will provide us with insight to improve biomaterial compatibility as well as tissue integration in scaffolds. These projects use state of the art characterization tools including forward recoil spectrometry and neutron reflectivity for depth profiling, and atomic force microscopy and confocal microscopy for lateral profiling.

Schematic view of FRES

AFM image of an osteoblast cell on a RGD surface

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