IMRI Seminar: Development and Characterization of Synthetic Polymers for Medical Applications

Abstract: Materials characterization is a branch of materials science that incorporates elements of physics, chemistry, engineering and other disciplines to examine the structure and properties of materials, from the atomic level up to the coarse grain structural level. The vital point to developing future products, monitoring and improving performance, and preventing failures is to appreciate a material’s composition, microstructure and properties and how they interact with the environment. This talk will focus on the structure/property function relationship of dental adhesives composed of a hybrid network to provide buffering and autonomous strengthening, addressing the problem of secondary decay and failure of the composite restoration. A variety of analytical characterizations, such as polymerization behavior, thermal property, dynamic mechanical properties in dry and wet conditions, and leached species, etc. were investigated. Establishing and maintaining the interfacial integrity of the adhesive/dentin bond has been a critical roadblock to durable composite restorations. However, the persistently improved mechanical properties of these novel copolymers in wet conditions indicated that the photoacid-induced sol-gel reaction could strengthen the traditional polymethacrylate-based biomaterials, while reduce leaching under conditions relevant to the oral environment.

Bio: Charles Ye was trained as a polymer chemist (Ph.D.) at University of Science and Technology of China. He manages a core research facility at the University of Kansas (KU) that provides multiscale structure/property characterization of materials and material/tissue interfaces. He has been praised as a highly collaborative leader, very skilled at designing new approaches to address complex problems related to the characterization of tissues, biomaterial/tissue interfaces and biomaterials development. Faculty, staff and students in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, chemical and petroleum engineering, and chemistry frequently seek his advice in the planning, implementation and troubleshooting of a wide variety of experiments and the interpretation of data. At KU Institute for Bioengineering Research, he is actively involved in the development of novel biomaterials that can be used in the repair and reconstruction of oral and craniofacial tissues.

Host: Xiaoqing Pan