Achievement

Christopher S. Kolodziej’s research projects involve fabricating nanosized hydrogels using electron-beam (e-beam) lithography for biomedical applications. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, patterning of a heparin-mimicking polymer was described. Features of ~100 nm were achieved, and these bound proteins involved in stimulating blood vessel cells. Binding of the cytokines on the surface was site specific and stable under physiological salt concentrations; both are important for using the surfaces to study and control cell behavior. The long term goal of this project is to achieve biomaterials that are optimally integrated within the body. This interdisciplinary project was made possible because of Chris' training on surface characterization equipment in the MCTP Laboratory. Chris presented this work as a poster at the US-Argentina Nanomaterials Workshop held in Bariloche, Argentina in March, 2009.