NIRT: Self-Assembled Nanohydrogels for Differential Cell Adhesion and Infection Control

This proposal was received in response to the Active Nanostructures and Nanosystems initiative, NSF 06-595, category NIRT.

CBET-0708379

Libera, Matthew R.

Stevens Institute of Technology

Title:NIRT: Self-Assembled Nanohydrogels for Differential Cell Adhesion and Infection Control

This project centers on the design and self-assembly of nanohydrogels that will either be adhesive to cells or repulsive to cells.

The special adhesive feature of the biomaterial relies on the detailed spatial composition of cell-adhesive and cell-repulsive nano sized hydrogels. The investigators are utilizing the well-documented differential in binding of eukaryotic cells versus bacteria. They are utilizing a very straight forward and creative mechanism for creating these controllable cell adherent surfaces. Finally, the successful completion of the project will lead to a major advancement in biomaterial. Such material will find wide surgical application.