Adaptive separation of valuable molecules or particles using dynamically tunable nanofibril networks and porous structures

My research program will utilize dynamic nanofibril networks for adaptive separation of molecules and particles.

Dynamically tunable membranes/gels would be groundbreaking for next-generation separation technology.Current separation technologies rely on polymeric membranes or gels.

Membrane filtration is versatile but lacks selectivity, while gel-based chromatography is selective but with limited throughput.

As pharmaceutical companies move toward protein or nanoparticle-based therapies, the size limitation of conventional methods is a concern.

The future separation technology should be adaptive and selective, with high resolution and throughput.Hydrated nanofibril networks with unique nanomechanical behavior, a vast dynamic density range, and large pore sizes enable tunability that polymer networks cannot achieve.

It is an unexplored class of materials for separation purposes, now available at scale due to recent developments of cellulose nanofibril.

Nanofibrils assemble in anisotropic hydrogel networks with a uniaxial swelling, ranging from 0 to 1000 g/g water content with pore sizes from a few to 1000 nm.

I will study how liquid and particles move through these networks under different pressures, and how this is affected by the 1000-fold change in pore size.

I will compare different structures: gels, random and directional microporous networks, and fiber networks, and how these structures can be used for the separation of valuable bioproducts.