{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92938"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92938","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Bioinspired soft matter self-assembly and its use in biomedical applications","abstract":"The human body consists of a dynamic collection of polymers, colloids, and gels. Therefore, most biological matter is soft matter, and many biomedical products, such as 3D cell culture platforms or nanocarriers for drug and imaging agent delivery, often consist mostly of soft matter. Despite advances in these fields, concerns still exist regarding the function, reproducibility, and cost of soft matter systems for biomedical applications. To mitigate these concerns, we examined a variety of methods to utilize bioinspired self-assembly to improve the function of 3D cell culture platforms and drug- and imaging agent-loaded nanocarriers. The first part of this thesis investigates the role of a hydrophilic polymer in modulating the self-assembly of collagen molecules and the subsequent mechanical properties and permeability of the collagen gel. We further examined the combined effects of gel properties and external fluid flow on cancer cell phenotypes (Chapter 2). An additional study focuses on a 3D printing technique to form multifunctional hydrogels (Chapter 3). In parallel, this thesis examined the thermodynamic effects of solvent quality and microfluidic mixer-based oil/water mixing rate on the size of nano-sized polymeric micelles and vesicles (Chapter 4). An additional study focuses on a self-assembled cluster of imaging agents for stem cell labeling (Chapter 5). Furthermore, this thesis explored a strategy to significantly increase the bioavailability of drug molecules in nanoparticles by driving self-assembly between alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and amphiphilic polymers. The resulting system was functionalized to target and enhance treatment of venous neointial hyperplasia (VNH) that often occurs at arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of patients who are undergoing dialysis therapy (Chapter 6). Overall, the studies included herein will contribute broad knowledge to the fundamental science and applications of self-assembled systems for biomedical tools and products.","abstract_html":"The human body consists of a dynamic collection of polymers, colloids, and gels. Therefore, most biological matter is soft matter, and many biomedical products, such as 3D cell culture platforms or nanocarriers for drug and imaging agent delivery, often consist mostly of soft matter. Despite advances in these fields, concerns still exist regarding the function, reproducibility, and cost of soft matter systems for biomedical applications. To mitigate these concerns, we examined a variety of methods to utilize bioinspired self-assembly to improve the function of 3D cell culture platforms and drug- and imaging agent-loaded nanocarriers. The first part of this thesis investigates the role of a hydrophilic polymer in modulating the self-assembly of collagen molecules and the subsequent mechanical properties and permeability of the collagen gel. We further examined the combined effects of gel properties and external fluid flow on cancer cell phenotypes (Chapter 2). An additional study focuses on a 3D printing technique to form multifunctional hydrogels (Chapter 3). In parallel, this thesis examined the thermodynamic effects of solvent quality and microfluidic mixer-based oil/water mixing rate on the size of nano-sized polymeric micelles and vesicles (Chapter 4). An additional study focuses on a self-assembled cluster of imaging agents for stem cell labeling (Chapter 5). Furthermore, this thesis explored a strategy to significantly increase the bioavailability of drug molecules in nanoparticles by driving self-assembly between alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and amphiphilic polymers. The resulting system was functionalized to target and enhance treatment of venous neointial hyperplasia (VNH) that often occurs at arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of patients who are undergoing dialysis therapy (Chapter 6). Overall, the studies included herein will contribute broad knowledge to the fundamental science and applications of self-assembled systems for biomedical tools and products.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Clay, Nicholas Edwin"],"institution":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Chemical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Kong, Hyunjoon","Schroeder, Charles","Boppart, Stephen","Kraft, Mary"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-11-10T18:27:46Z","date_published":"2016-11-10T18:27:46Z","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:26:35Z","subjects":["Biomaterials","self-assembly"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright 2016 Nicholas Clay"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92938","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Kong, Hyunjoon","Schroeder, Charles","Boppart, Stephen","Kraft, Mary"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Clay, Nicholas Edwin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2016-11-10T18:27:46Z","2018-11-11T10:15:11Z","2016-07-11","2016-08"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Chemical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Biomaterials","self-assembly"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2016 Nicholas Clay"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92938"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The human body consists of a dynamic collection of polymers, colloids, and gels. Therefore, most biological matter is soft matter, and many biomedical products, such as 3D cell culture platforms or nanocarriers for drug and imaging agent delivery, often consist mostly of soft matter. Despite advances in these fields, concerns still exist regarding the function, reproducibility, and cost of soft matter systems for biomedical applications. To mitigate these concerns, we examined a variety of methods to utilize bioinspired self-assembly to improve the function of 3D cell culture platforms and drug- and imaging agent-loaded nanocarriers. The first part of this thesis investigates the role of a hydrophilic polymer in modulating the self-assembly of collagen molecules and the subsequent mechanical properties and permeability of the collagen gel. We further examined the combined effects of gel properties and external fluid flow on cancer cell phenotypes (Chapter 2). An additional study focuses on a 3D printing technique to form multifunctional hydrogels (Chapter 3). In parallel, this thesis examined the thermodynamic effects of solvent quality and microfluidic mixer-based oil/water mixing rate on the size of nano-sized polymeric micelles and vesicles (Chapter 4). An additional study focuses on a self-assembled cluster of imaging agents for stem cell labeling (Chapter 5). Furthermore, this thesis explored a strategy to significantly increase the bioavailability of drug molecules in nanoparticles by driving self-assembly between alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and amphiphilic polymers. The resulting system was functionalized to target and enhance treatment of venous neointial hyperplasia (VNH) that often occurs at arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of patients who are undergoing dialysis therapy (Chapter 6). Overall, the studies included herein will contribute broad knowledge to the fundamental science and applications of self-assembled systems for biomedical tools and products.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2018-08-01","The student, Nicholas Clay, accepted the attached license on 2016-07-09 at 00:42.","The student, Nicholas Clay, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2016-07-09 at 01:43.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2016-07-11 at 09:37.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #9844 on 2016-11-10 at 12:20:28","Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-10T18:27:46Z (GMT). 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Therefore, most biological matter is soft matter, and many biomedical products, such as 3D cell culture platforms or nanocarriers for drug and imaging agent delivery, often consist mostly of soft matter. Despite advances in these fields, concerns still exist regarding the function, reproducibility, and cost of soft matter systems for biomedical applications. To mitigate these concerns, we examined a variety of methods to utilize bioinspired self-assembly to improve the function of 3D cell culture platforms and drug- and imaging agent-loaded nanocarriers. The first part of this thesis investigates the role of a hydrophilic polymer in modulating the self-assembly of collagen molecules and the subsequent mechanical properties and permeability of the collagen gel. We further examined the combined effects of gel properties and external fluid flow on cancer cell phenotypes (Chapter 2). An additional study focuses on a 3D printing technique to form multifunctional hydrogels (Chapter 3). In parallel, this thesis examined the thermodynamic effects of solvent quality and microfluidic mixer-based oil/water mixing rate on the size of nano-sized polymeric micelles and vesicles (Chapter 4). An additional study focuses on a self-assembled cluster of imaging agents for stem cell labeling (Chapter 5). Furthermore, this thesis explored a strategy to significantly increase the bioavailability of drug molecules in nanoparticles by driving self-assembly between alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and amphiphilic polymers. The resulting system was functionalized to target and enhance treatment of venous neointial hyperplasia (VNH) that often occurs at arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of patients who are undergoing dialysis therapy (Chapter 6). Overall, the studies included herein will contribute broad knowledge to the fundamental science and applications of self-assembled systems for biomedical tools and products.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2018-08-01","The student, Nicholas Clay, accepted the attached license on 2016-07-09 at 00:42.","The student, Nicholas Clay, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2016-07-09 at 01:43.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2016-07-11 at 09:37.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #9844 on 2016-11-10 at 12:20:28","Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-10T18:27:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 4 CLAY-DISSERTATION-2016.pdf: 4986083 bytes, checksum: 8d432bffb76ce23578d50a92c91d4699 (MD5) 3D printing copyright info.pdf: 293344 bytes, checksum: 6589ab5c08d494b4a2ad64af6f7b9c11 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4210 bytes, checksum: b59495886e4b5e29d3a25337e69c2066 (MD5) flow--copyright info.pdf: 220787 bytes, checksum: d804fa332ad3f47393dee17765d381a1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-11","Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 95358 Lift date: 2018-11-10T18:28:02Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system","Limited Restriction Lifted for Item 95358 on 2018-11-11T10:15:11Z."],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92938"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2016 Nicholas Clay"],"dc:subject":["Biomaterials","self-assembly"],"dc:title":["Bioinspired soft matter self-assembly and its use in biomedical applications"],"dc:type":["text"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Chemical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:26:35Z"}