Author ORCID Identifier:

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1914-0508

Date of Graduation

8-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science & Engineering (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Materials Science & Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Chen, Jingyi

Committee Member

Kyle Quinn

Second Committee Member

Morgan Ware

Third Committee Member

Suresh Thallapuranam

Fourth Committee Member

Yong Wang

Keywords

Fibroblast; Gelatin; Hydrogels; Nanostructures; Plasmonic; Polymer

Abstract

The development of advanced materials for disease management and treatment presents a pressing challenge in the health sector. The overall objective of this research is to contribute to the development of advanced materials with tailored properties for biomedical applications, with a focus on cost-effective and robust nanoparticles and biomaterials. The first part of this work focuses on designing and synthesizing earth-abundant copper nanoparticles with desired optical properties. Copper nanoparticles, which provide a more affordable alternative to gold and silver, are being investigated due to their unique plasmonic properties. However, their susceptibility to oxidation limits their application. To address this challenge, copper nanoparticles are being surface-functionalized with polymers such as methoxy polyethylene glycol acetic acid (PEG-COOH) and polydopamine (PDA) to enhance their stability in different environments. Thorough investigations of the stability of PEG-COOH and PDA coated copper nanoparticles were carried out in aqueous solutions. Such a surface-modification method can be applied to other non-precious metals and metal oxides to improve their stability in various applications. In addition to nanoparticle research, the second part of this work aims to develop a gelatin-incorporated hydrogel for sustained protein delivery over 5-10 days for chronic wound healing. Building on our previous work with polyethylene glycol-based anionic injectable hydrogels, which showed improved release of human acidic fibroblast growth factor (hFGF) in vitro, gelatin is being incorporated to enhance the biodegradability and performance of the hydrogel. Gelatin, a natural polymer derived from collagen, possesses non-toxic, biocompatible, and bioadhesive properties, making it an ideal component for wound healing. Gelatin A or Gelatin B was incorporated into the formulations to improve the controlled release of hFGF and its mutants while maintaining the rheological properties of the hydrogel suited for wound healing applications.

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