Peter Kofinas
Current Research Projects
Lab Website: fml.umd.eduHigh Affinity Binding of Proteins and Viruses Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers
The separation of viruses and virus-like particles from various media represents an enormous challenge to the fields of medicine, healthcare, and biotechnology. The separation of viruses from blood and bodily fluids, for example, is a critical but tedious task in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous ailments. In addition, the separation of virus-like particles from cell culture media and cell debris is an extremely inefficient process that results in increased development times for vaccines, medical diagnostics, and gene therapy treatments. This research using aqueous molecular imprinting technology can be used to develop a device that will provide a low-cost, rapid solution for the problems associated with separating large amounts of viruses and virus-like particles from any medium.
We are custom-synthesizing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional (molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which are created by trapping viruses within a crosslinked polymer matrix. The virus can be subsequently removed, leaving cavities possessing size and shape that are complementary to the virus. The end product is a material that exhibits high affinity for rebinding the virus of interest. This material can easily be synthesized using virus-like particles, which are non-infectious, non-hazardous analogues of wild-type viruses, without compromising recognition or selectivity, and can be easily incorporated into a device that is compatible with many existing separation systems such as dialysis machines, medical diagnostic systems, and chromatographic systems. A virus MIP can also be used as a virus filter, virus mask, or virus sensor.
In addition to hydrogels which can selectively recognize viruses, hydrogels are also developed to recognize peptides, proteins, and larger macromolecular complexes. Synthesis conditions functionality can be tailored to achieve bioinspired materials which exhibit the highest affinity for their respective template molecule. The methodologies developed for the synthesis of MIPs thus offer exciting avenues for the development of novel biorecognition techniques for human health and bioterrorism protection technologies.
Blood Coagulation-Inducing Nanostructured Polymer Hydrogel
We are aiming to develop purely synthetic polymer hydrogels, which are able to actively induce the body’s natural haemostatic coagulation process resulting in the generation of a fibrin- based haemostatic plug in an acellular environment. There is currently no synthetic, polymer-based haemostatic agent with the capability of inducing the formation of a natural haemostatic matrix in the absence of platelets or blood cells, typically vital to the body’s natural haemostatic process. The polymer hydrogels are able to induce the formation of a natural haemostatic plug in the absence of platelets or cells, and have enormous potential as a general haemostatic, especially with patients will platelet disorders. This synthetic haemostatic system is able to achieve the same end result as biological based haemostatics, yet without the innate risk of disease transmission or immunological response, and at a fraction of the price.
Nanostructured Color-Changing Polymer for Bacterial Pathogen Detection
Foodborne pathogens present an enormous threat to consumers of food products. Current detection methods require tedious biological assays and long wait times before contamination can be confirmed. We are aiming to fabricate nanostructured polymers that undergo a visible color change upon recognition of the target pathogen. Such color-changing polymers can be integrated into food packaging and labels, to serve as sensors for the direct visualization of food contamination by pathogens. Sensors of this type would provide consumers and manufacturers with a quick and reliable method for quality monitoring and preservation of a large number of food products, a process that currently takes days to weeks. In addition, such coatings would aid in the verification and location of pathogen outbreaks in food and agricultural products.
Functional Polymer Nanostructures for Radio Frequency Device Applications
The overall goal of this research is the development of functional nanostructures with unique magnetodielectric properties, which are not available in the bulk. Applications of this research is sought in antennas communications, computer hardware and magnetic storage systems. The primary objective is to incorporate metal oxide nanoclusters into the self - assembled nanodomains of block copolymer templates, and to fabricate functional nanostructures exhibiting improved magnetic and radio frequency properties.
Polymer Nanoarchitectures for Flexible Batteries
In recent years, the interest in polymeric batteries has increased dramatically. With the advent of lithium batteries being used in cell phones and laptop computers, the search for an all solid state battery has continued. Current configurations have a liquid or gel electrolyte along with a separator between the anode and cathode. This leads to problems with electrolyte loss and decreased performance over time. The highly reactive nature of these electrolytes necessitate the use of protective enclosures which add to the size and bulk of the battery. Polymer electrolytes are more compliant than conventional inorganic glass or ceramic electrolytes. The goal of this research is to develop novel nanoscale polymer electrolyte flexible thin films based on the self-assembly of block copolymers for pulsed power capacitor and battery applications.
The ease of processing a polymer electrolyte using alternative non-solvent techniques would allow for the mass production of thin film nanoscale self-assembled flexible batteries that could be wound into coils or processed as coatings and sheets. A solid polymer electrolyte based on the nanoscale self-assembly of block copolymers will provide for devices with integrated electronics and yet be distributed over a large area substrate as freestanding flexible films or coatings. The active circuit components would be directly integrated on the
flexible substrate. The substitution of current corrosive electrolytes would greatly augment the safety aspects of the battery or capacitor and would outmode the need for bulky protective casings. Such a light weight, shape versatile polymer electrolyte based battery system could find wide spread application as energy sources in miniature medical devices like pacemakers, wireless endoscopes, implantable pumps, treatment probes and untethered robotic mobile manipulators.
