ARC Works-in-Progress - Material Design from Nature: Bio-Inspired and Bio-Based Polymers

Nature inspires and informs the design of new materials. By looking to nature, we can design materials

offering desirable properties such as response to environmental stimuli, improved safety, and

sustainability. To develop materials with these desirable attributes, our approach involves designing the

material at the molecular level by incorporating structural building blocks inspired by or derived from

nature. By modifying the chemical makeup of these materials, we can tune their responses and thereby

engineer materials for diverse applications, such as in drug delivery, sustainable plastic packaging, and

microfluidics. This works-in-progress talk will span progress on several projects in the areas of bio-

inspired and bio-based polymers that were realized in conjunction with undergraduate researchers.

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED, FIRST COME BASIS