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Seminar: Shape-Morphing Elastomers and Engineered Living Composites

Speaker: Taylor H. Ware, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, and Engineering
Texas A&M University

Host: Tim White

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 2:45 p.m
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Seminar Abstract

Stimuli-responsive polymers respond to their environment without requiring motors, sensors, or power supplies. These materials can replace the functions of traditional machines in conditions or at scales, such as in the human body, where traditional actuators, electronics, and batteries are difficult to employ. Here, two orthogonal strategies, one non-living and one living, to create materials that respond in a complex manner to specific environmental conditions, such as exposure to light, will be discussed. First, we will discuss controlling molecular orientation, and therefore the stimulus-response, in liquid crystal elastomers. Using processing techniques, such as 3D printing, and materials formulation strategies, shape change, geometry, and activation temperature can be precisely controlled. We will discuss the potential applications of these materials as reconfigurable structures and as artificial muscles. We will also discuss the harnessing entanglement of many shape changing polymer structures to create 3D objects that self-assemble and then disperse on command. Notably, the stimulus-response of these and many other smart materials is derived wholly from physical properties, and as a result, these materials require powerful stimuli, such as heat, to induce shape change. By comparison, the stimulus-response of living organisms can be triggered by weak physical stimuli or specific biochemicals. To bridge the gap between living cells and engineered materials, we will discuss fabricating living Baker’s yeast –hydrogel composites capable of undergoing programmed shape change. As the cells are higher modulus (~100×) than the gel, cell proliferation results in a macroscopic shape change of the composite. Importantly, genetic manipulation of the yeast enables the stimulus that induces shape change to be controlled. For example, we will discuss composites where volume change on exposure to a single biochemical (L-histidine) is 14× higher than volume change when exposed to highly similar biochemicals (D-histidine and other amino acids). These living composites may enable new strategies for medical devices like autonomous drug-delivery systems.

Biosketch

Taylor Ware is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. Prior to joining TAMU in August 2020, he graduated summa cum laude with his B.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2009) and with his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas (2013) in Materials Science and Engineering. Taylor completed postdoctoral training at the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Ware was an Assistant Professor from 2015-2020 at the University of Texas at Dallas. His research interests include biomaterials, liquid crystal materials, flexible electronics, and the interfacing of these technologies in medical devices. Dr. Ware was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2011), the Air Force Young Investigator Award (2017), the NSF CAREER award (2018), and the NIH Trailblazer Award (2019).