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Interplay Between Long-Range And Short-Range Interactions In Polymer Self-Assembly And Cell Adhesion

Citation

Zhang, Cheng-Zhong (2008) Interplay Between Long-Range And Short-Range Interactions In Polymer Self-Assembly And Cell Adhesion. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/GCH8-4A59. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11022007-232906

Abstract

Interplay between long-range and short-range interactions is a common theme in soft and biological matter, which results in complicated self-assembly behaviors. We study two examples of this interplay: reversible gelation of associating polymers and ligand-receptor interactions in membrane adhesion. In associating polymer solutions, the competition between the conformation flexibility of polymer chains and the enthalpic monomer interactions results in phase-separated micro-structures at the mesoscopic scale; both gelation and the microphase order-disorder transition are manifestations of this self-assembly. We further establish that reversible gelation is similar to the glass transition: both are characterized by ergodicity breaking, aperiodic micro-structures, and non-equilibrium relaxations over a finite temperature range. In the study of ligand-receptor interactions between surfaces, we emphasize the interplay between specific ligand-receptor binding, and generic physical interactions. We find that both the finite spatial extension of receptors and their mobilities affect their binding affinity. As a special case of the interplay between receptor binding and generic interactions, we study the dynamics of membrane adhesion that is mediated by receptor binding but fulfilled through membrane deformations. We calculate the energy barrier of the adhesion as a result of membrane bending deformations and the double-well adhesion potential, and analyze the different scenarios according to the shape of the adhesion potential by scaling arguments.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:biomaterials; block copolymer; cell adhesion; glass transition; microphase transition; polymer brush; polymer gel; receptor binding; reversible gelation; surface engineering
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemical Engineering
Minor Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Wang, Zhen-Gang
Thesis Committee:
  • Wang, Zhen-Gang (chair)
  • Asthagiri, Anand R.
  • Tirrell, David A.
  • Brady, John F.
  • Phillips, Robert B.
Defense Date:13 September 2007
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-11022007-232906
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11022007-232906
DOI:10.7907/GCH8-4A59
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Zhang, Cheng-Zhong0000-0001-8825-7158
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:4377
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:05 Dec 2007
Last Modified:18 Dec 2019 22:23

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