Abstract:

Biological materials rely on intricate organization at every length scale in order to build the complex systems which are key to life. These structures must be able to grow and change in response to a variety of incoming stimuli, in stark contrast to most synthetic materials, which are typically chemically inert once formed. This means that synthetic materials which seek to interface with biology, or biomaterials, are often limited, as they cannot show the same complex behaviors that their native counterparts do. Using the strategies of biology, namely supramolecular chemistry, can help bridge this gap. Supramolecular chemistry relies on non-covalent interactions, which are inherently more dynamic and responsive due to their highly reversible nature. Developing synthetic supramolecular materials can pave the way for the next generation of biomaterials. I have investigated the interactions of supramolecular materials with a common biological stimulus, redox, supplied by the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis, and showed pathway complexity, one of the hallmark properties of supramolecular materials, within these systems.