The Complex Fluids and Nanomaterials Group seeks to engineer matter at the nano and micro scales using the strategies of self-assembly and directed assembly. The lab's interest is primarily in soft matter (e.g., hydrogels) and in biomolecular and biomimetic structures. Moreover, the lab seeks to develop rules for the design of new classes of "smart" fluids and materials that could be useful in drug delivery, wound healing, oil recovery, and energy storage. Examples of active projects include: (1) the design of hemostatic biomaterials that can rapidly stop bleeding from serious injuries; (2) the development of hybrid jellyfish-like hydrogels that alter their shape in response to changes in temperature and pH; (3) the design of biomimetic microcapsule-based assemblies that exhibit self-propelled motion; and (4) the synthesis of photoresponsive containers that open up and release their contents when irradiated with UV light.

Srinivasa R. Raghavan Professor 301-405-8164 | sraghava@umd.edu Profile