Supramolecular Active Materials
“Everything in equilibrium is dead whereas exciting features of life comes from processes operating under out-of-equilibrium conditions.”
Living systems are highly dynamic and their self-assembled structures constantly form and break down by consuming chemical energy and by driving processes out-of-equilibrium. This provides living systems with unique properties like spatial and temporal control over structure and functions, the ability to adaptability etc. In contrast, nanostructure made from the self-assembly of synthetic molecules are mostly static in a sense that they do not require chemical energy for their function. We aim to incorporate some of the working principles of biology into the functioning of supramolecular nanostructures to create life-like materials.
In our laboratory we start with design and synthesis of functional organic molecules and then study how they come together in solution to form self-assembled structure, either autonomously or by consuming chemical fuel, to result in unique nano materials for a variety of applications.
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Some of our specific current interests:
1) Temporal regulation: Like in living system where structure and functions are temporally regulated, we make nanostructure whose lifetime can be controlled. These nanostructures are sustained by the consumption of chemical fuel. Specifically, we synthesize lipid molecules and study its self-assembly at physiological conditions. We investigate how vesicles assembled under dissipative conditions can dynamically regulate the drug release.
2) Active drug delivery system: nano containers for targeted therapy: We study self-assembly of molecules into nano containers like vesicles, coacervates and functionalize them with disease targeting ligands for therapeutics
3) Active supramolecular materials as multi-analyte detection tool
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4) Heparin and polysulfonate responsive helical supramolecular polymers
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5) Controlling supramolecular assemblies under controlled diffusion using micro fluidics
