Polymer Science and Multifunctional Nanomaterials in the areas: science of polymers, multidisciplinary materials research and applied chemistry. Team leader: dr hab. Wojciech Kujawski, prof. UMK

Scientific activities of the research area “Science of polymers and multifunctional nanomaterials” focus on three interrelated themes:

1. Preparation and characterization of new polymer materials, in particular mixtures and micro and nanocomposites based on synthetic and natural polymers intended mainly for biomedical, cosmetic and packaging applications.
2. Modification of polymeric and ceramic membranes to obtain materials with new or improved separation and transport properties.
3. Multifunctional materials and nanomaterials, especially carbon nanomaterials (including graphene, nanotubes, nanohorns, nanodiamonds). The research aims at finding potential applications of new nanomaterials as e.g. drug carriers, catalysts, sensors, surface coating of controlled wettability or controlled toxicity.

Chemistry of polymers and multifunctional materials, including ceramic and carbon materials, is now a fast-growing scientific discipline. Modification of polymers by chemical and physical methods, e.g. photochemical surface modification, grafting and photo-(co)polymerization processes lead to photosensitive compounds and compounds with biological activity, e.g. bactericidal agents. The research will be carried out on biodegradable and photodegradable as well as cross-linked systems (i.e. gels obtained in the process of fast photopolymerization with the use of multifunctional monomers). The aim of the research is also to develop a method of preparation of nanocrystalline polysaccharides enriched in reactive aldehyde groups capable of effective polymer crosslinking, and subsequently to obtain new materials and examine their physicochemical properties. An indirect objective is also to develop an efficient method of obtaining polysaccharides from plant waste and waste paper. Modified polysaccharides will be tested for their applicability in drinking water treatment. Polyolefin composites with inorganic fillers, designed for the manufacture of piezoelectric sensors in microelectronics, constitute a separate group of materials under research.

A membrane is a partition between two phases that allows selective or preferential transport of selected components of mixtures by using an appropriate stimulus (mechanical, chemical or electrical). The need to produce new membrane materials and modify the existing ones is a source of inspiration for many researchers. There are attempts to modify the proven membrane materials, which leads to their improved separation and transport properties. The manufacture of materials with controlled properties is significant from an application point of view. This “control” of the properties can be carried out by connecting suitable particles (e.g. silanes) to material surfaces, e.g. inorganic ceramic materials. The research involves the design and manufacture of innovative hybrid (organic-inorganic) materials having predictable material and transport/separation properties. Recognizing and understanding the mechanism of modification (functionalization) conducted in various experimental conditions will constitute a very important task. Prepared materials will be tested in selected separation processes. A very interesting element of the research is the planned immobilization of enzymes on the surface of the ceramic substrate and determining how the surface that has been modified in this way changes its physicochemical properties. Model theories will also be used to describe transport and separation phenomena.

Studies on carbon nanomaterials are conducted into their application in adsorption, wetting, sensors, and biological activity. Additionally, theoretical calculations involving computer simulations and quantum calculations related to interphase phenomena are carried out. New nanomaterials as carriers of drugs are one of the most explored areas of so-called nanomedicine today. Carbon materials as biocompatible are of great interest in this respect. Therefore, the team plans to study, in collaboration with centres in Poland and abroad (e.g. in Japan), the use of e.g. nanohorns or nanodiamonds in terms of their ability to accumulate – release drugs. Research on sensors or the application of carbon nanomaterials in energy storage mainly aims at working on the application of graphene and its modified forms. Research in this area is conducted in collaboration with reputable domestic and foreign centres (mainly in Korea). The third group of tests involves the manufacturing of surfaces with controlled wettability. The application of various methods of depositing nanomaterials on surfaces and their further modification aims at the manufacture of superomniphobic surfaces. The experimental research in all these areas is accompanied by theoretical work, mainly quantum calculations and computer simulations.

As part of this research field, close collaboration is planned with specialists from the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics and organic chemists from the Faculty of Chemistry.

The biological part of the emerging field research will address the assessment of cytotoxicity of polymeric materials, biomaterials and nanomaterials with potential biomedical relevance. The assessment of cytotoxicity will be carried out on commercially available cell lines (human skin fibroblasts, 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, lung epithelium, etc.) under ISO 10993 for tests on materials that come into contact with human tissue cells. Screening based on the metabolic test (MTT test) and the neutral red uptake(NRU) phototoxicity test will enable to determine the degree of toxicity or its absence and/or to determine the effective concentration of EC50 experimentally. More detailed tests will enable to identify possible cell damage mechanisms. Confirmation of the absence of the cytotoxic effect for a given material will enable its further implementation in biomedical applications. Understanding the nature of damage in cells may, in turn, result in deliberate and targeted modification of materials to make them biocompatible.

Organic chemistry has specific challenges ranging from the synthesis of relevant compounds with specific properties (absorption, fluorescence, ion bonding and others) to design the geometry of molecules so that they can be incorporated into polymers, membranes or surfaces of solids. Such operations result in the modification of materials with the possibility of optimizing their properties for analytical (molecular recognition), catalytic (deposition on solids) or for conducting processes under flow conditions. Research combining supramolecular chemistry with physicochemistry of polymers and nanomaterials will lead to the understanding of the mechanisms that will allow to improve current materials and to design them more precisely.