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The Materials Properties and Characterization Subgroup focuses on the development and application of novel techniques to understand, control and improve the structural properties of self-assembled materials.  Working in close collaboration with the other two subgroups, we investigate both biological and non-biological systems using a range of techniques, including AFM, TEM, NSOM, CD, 2D-NMR, XPS and rheometry.  This group also employs nanoscale patterning techniques to control the structure and orientation of biomaterials on surfaces, including e-beam and microcontact lithography, microfluidics and electromagnetic field alignment.

Projects underway in our group include the creation of mixed, aligned peptide amphiphile nanofibers for neural cells, the microfluidic control of cell culture assays ("lab on a chip"), the creation of biocompatible cross-linking strategies for self-assembled molecules and the development and nanoscale imaging of bioactive scaffolds for drug delivery and cancer therapy.

Below you will find a list of subgroup members with links to more specific project descriptions: