IEM Distinguished Lecturers Seminar: 3D Printed protein-polymer networks as mechanical metamaterials
*** Drinks and pizza at 11:45 in the lobby of BM 5202 ***
Abstract
Bio-sourced and biodegradable polymers for additive manufacturing could enable the rapid fabrication of parts for a broad spectrum of applications ranging from healthcare to aerospace. However, a limited number of these materials are suitable for light-based 3D printing processes. Herein, we report a process to fabricate protein-based constructs using commercially available light-based 3D printers. Our approach utilizes globular proteins as single-chain nanoparticles that can be chemically derivatized and incorporated into polymer networks. We demonstrated that this strategy is suitable using native proteins such as serum albumins, as well as de novo designed proteins. Interestingly, 3D printing enabled the fabrication of arbitrary bioplastic constructs with shape memory behavior. We posit that the mechanical deformation of these materials and their subsequent recovery back to their original shape is driven by the mechanically induced deformation and unraveling of globular proteins within the network, followed by re-assembly of the globular structure during shape recovery. Our work demonstrates a broadly applicable method to 3D print protein-containing networks and the unique functional properties that can emerge from them.
Bio
Alshakim Nelson is the Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair at the University of Washington. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2004, where he worked with Sir J. Fraser Stoddart on carbohydrate-containing polymers and macrocycles. He was then an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology working for Professor Robert Grubbs on olefin metathesis catalysts for the formation of supramolecular ensembles. Dr. Nelson was a Research Staff Member at IBM Almaden Research Center for 10 years where he focused on the synthesis of nanomaterial building blocks that enabled large area nanomanufacturing via self-assembly. In 2015, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at the UW, where his research group focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and processing of stimuli-responsive materials for 3D printing biohybrid and bioinspired materials. Dr. Nelson has over 100 publications and 30 issued patents. His honors and awards include recognition as an IBM Master Inventor, Kavli Foundation Fellow, and NSF CAREER award. He is also an Associate Editor for ACS Macro Letters.
Abstract
Bio-sourced and biodegradable polymers for additive manufacturing could enable the rapid fabrication of parts for a broad spectrum of applications ranging from healthcare to aerospace. However, a limited number of these materials are suitable for light-based 3D printing processes. Herein, we report a process to fabricate protein-based constructs using commercially available light-based 3D printers. Our approach utilizes globular proteins as single-chain nanoparticles that can be chemically derivatized and incorporated into polymer networks. We demonstrated that this strategy is suitable using native proteins such as serum albumins, as well as de novo designed proteins. Interestingly, 3D printing enabled the fabrication of arbitrary bioplastic constructs with shape memory behavior. We posit that the mechanical deformation of these materials and their subsequent recovery back to their original shape is driven by the mechanically induced deformation and unraveling of globular proteins within the network, followed by re-assembly of the globular structure during shape recovery. Our work demonstrates a broadly applicable method to 3D print protein-containing networks and the unique functional properties that can emerge from them.
Bio
Alshakim Nelson is the Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair at the University of Washington. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2004, where he worked with Sir J. Fraser Stoddart on carbohydrate-containing polymers and macrocycles. He was then an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology working for Professor Robert Grubbs on olefin metathesis catalysts for the formation of supramolecular ensembles. Dr. Nelson was a Research Staff Member at IBM Almaden Research Center for 10 years where he focused on the synthesis of nanomaterial building blocks that enabled large area nanomanufacturing via self-assembly. In 2015, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at the UW, where his research group focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and processing of stimuli-responsive materials for 3D printing biohybrid and bioinspired materials. Dr. Nelson has over 100 publications and 30 issued patents. His honors and awards include recognition as an IBM Master Inventor, Kavli Foundation Fellow, and NSF CAREER award. He is also an Associate Editor for ACS Macro Letters.
Practical information
- General public
- Free