1. research

Bioinspired Materials

  • Crack propagation in macroporous polymer-polymer composite.
  • Compression of a porous material.
  • Tensile Testing system.
  • Mussels at low tide. Credit: E. Filippidi

Drawing inspiration from the exceptional performance of materials found in nature, we develop polymeric composites and complex multiscale materials with enhanced toughness, strength, and resilience. Our research provides foundational understanding of how processing and composition influence mechanics, and enables the design of materials for a broad range of applications including healthcare, packaging and robotics.

 Recent Publications

Network Schematic

Rational mechanochemical design of Diels–Alder crosslinked biocompatible hydrogels with enhanced properties

Sophia J. Bailey, Christopher W. Barney, Nairiti J. Sinha, Sai Venkatesh Pangali, Craig J. Hawker, Matthew E. Helgeson, Megan T. Valentine and Javier Read de Alaniz. Mater. Horiz. 9:1947-1953 (2022).
figure from text

High-throughput microscopy to determine morphology, microrheology, and phase boundaries applied to phase separating coacervates

Yimin Luo, Mengyang Gu, Chelsea E. R. Edwards, Megan T. Valentine and Matthew E. Helgeson. Soft Matter, 18, 3063-3075 (2022).
Schematic

Strength of fluid-filled soft composites across the elastofracture length

Christopher W. Barney, Megan T. Valentine, and Matthew E. Helgeson. Soft Matter, 18:4897 (2022).
image of mussel

On-Demand Manufacturing Capabilities of Mussels Enable Robust Adhesion to Geometrically Complex Surfaces

Younghoon Kwon, Justin H. Bernstein, Noy Cohen, and Megan T. Valentine. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 7, 11, 5099–5106 (2021).
Network Fragment

Tailoring the Toughness of Elastomers by Incorporating Ionic Cross-Linking

Thomas R. Cristiani, Emmanouela Filippidi, Rachel L. Behrens, Megan T. Valentine, and Claus D. Eisenbach. Macromolecules 53(10): 4099-4109 (2020).
Fracture Event in Polymer Composite

Engineering crack tortuosity in polymer-polymer composites through ordered pores

Luke F. Gockowski, Neil D. Dolinski, Roberto Chavez, Noy Cohen, Fabian Eisenreich, Stefan Hecht, Robert M. McMeeking, Craig J. Hawker, and Megan T. Valentine. Materials Horizons 7: 1854-1860 (2020).
Effects of sea water pH on marine mussel plaque maturation

Effects of sea water pH on marine mussel plaque maturation

Justin H. Bernstein, Emmanouela Filippidi, J. Herbert Waite, Megan T. Valentine. Soft Matter 16:9339-9346 (2020).
Spring diagram

Force distribution and multiscale mechanics in the mussel byssus

Noy Cohen, J. Herbert Waite, Robert M. McMeeking, and Megan T. Valentine. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 374 (1784) 20190202 (2019).
Stress-strain data

Toughening elastomers using mussel-inspired catechol-iron complexes

Emmanouela Filippidi, Thomas R. Cristiani, Claus D. Eisenbach, J. Herbert Waite, Jacob N. Israelachvili, B. Kollbe Ahn, and Megan T. Valentine. Science 358 (6362) 502-505 (2017).