Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory have shown how higher magnetic fields can improve analysis of the molecules linked to Alzheimer’s disease, a finding that could aid the development of future treatments.

In a study published in Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, the researchers showed how a high-magnitude magnetic field can improve the accuracy of measurements that show the chemical composition of amyloid beta fragments, small pieces of proteins that have been shown to play a critical role in Alzheimer’s disease. They were able to analyze amyloid proteins even when they were structurally complex and mixed with lipids, creating conditions that more closely resemble the human brain than traditional laboratory samples.

By better understanding the composition and structure of these molecules, scientists can design compounds that may disrupt disease progression and lead to more effective treatments.

“The current treatment plans for Alzheimer’s disease are not working well enough,” said study co-author Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. “This disease follows a complex process. We are looking into the mess of molecules implicated in memory loss, investigating how they promote toxic compounds in the brain and trying to stop them.”

How it works: finding a way to block Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers are still studying the exact mechanisms that cause Alzheimer’s disease, but amyloid beta proteins are believed to play a central role in the disease. These proteins are found clumped together among neurons inside affected brains. Studies have shown them to be a good benchmark for tracking disease progression and a potential target for treatment.

By mapping the structure of amyloid beta catalyzed by lipids, researchers can develop compounds that could effectively bind to its surface and fully stop them from killing neuronal cells within the brain.

“It’s like an incredibly complex puzzle piece,” Ramamoorthy said. “We want to create another puzzle piece that can match with it and stop it from binding with something within the brain responsible for memory.”

 What they did

To find the edges of that puzzle piece, Ramamoorthy and the research team used a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. NMR spectrometers work by placing a sample in a strong magnetic field and applying radio waves to excite atomic nuclei. By measuring how the atomic nuclei absorb and re-emit these radio waves, scientists can determine properties like the chemical composition of molecules.

Instead of clean samples, researchers analyzed amyloid beta interacting with a lipid found in the membrane of neural cells. That emulated the tangled mix of cells found within the brain.

They measured samples with a 600-megahertz spectrometer and a 1,100-megahertz spectrometer and compared the results. Researchers already knew that a higher magnetic field would enhance the spectral resolution of amyloid beta proteins. This study showed that an NMR spectrometer using a higher magnetic field could also better identify discrete parts of amyloid beta within a realistic sample.

Even though the protein-lipid mix looks chaotic overall, the improved measurements revealed distinct, well-ordered segments within the combined samples and evidence of a central core inside amyloid proteins.

“When you have these amorphous collections of different cell types, they are not well-ordered. When you try to take a picture, it looks very blurry,” Ramamoorthy said. “We were able to zoom in and get a look at the structured regions within the protein.”

Why it matters and future research

The study shows that a higher magnetic field NMR spectrometer can identify information from amyloid proteins that exist in a diverse mixture of cell types. Scientists studying Alzheimer’s disease are no longer limited to ideal samples. They can study complex mixtures and still get atomic-level clues.

The researchers plan to use the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s 1.5-gigahertz NMR spectrometer for future research.

“This is the only place in the world where such an ultra-high magnetic field (1.5-GHz) NMR spectrometer is available,” Ramamoorthy said. “We want to push the challenges and overcome the hurdles in developing potential drugs to treat Alzheimer’s and related diseases, and these resources are crucial for this work.”

FSU postdoctoral researcher Jhinuk Saha and University of Wisconsin researcher Thirupathi Ravula were co-authors on this study. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK), the National Science Foundation, and Florida State University. The research used NHMFL at FSU and the National Magnetic Resonance Facility at the University of Wisconsin.

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Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people around the world. To study this condition, researchers must peer inside the distinctive environment of the human brain.

For scientists to get the most accurate picture of the proteins that drive this disease, they must extract them without altering their environment.

In a study published in Protein Science, researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering demonstrated a new method for studying Alzheimer’s disease that keeps disease-causing proteins intact in a near-native environment, helping scientists get a more accurate picture of how they function.

“Alzheimer’s disease is devastating,” said Professor Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, a co-author of the study. “More people are living longer, and that means more people are going to be living with Alzheimer’s disease, so we need to find a cure for it and other aging-related amyloid diseases, like Parkinson’s and Type 2 diabetes. Attempts to develop drugs for Alzheimer’s disease have failed, so we started to work on the C99 protein, which is the origin for everything.”

What they did

Researchers developed a method to extract a key protein involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease called C99.

Previously, C99 was difficult to study, as samples had to be removed from cells and prepared for analysis using detergents. The harsh, soap-like chemicals break down lipids, or fats, that surround C99 in the brain and influence how it behaves. Without lipids, C99’s behavior changes, and scientists were unable to study how it acts in its natural environment in the brain.

By using a non-detergent-based polymer to capture C99, the natural environment of the brain cells where the protein is found was preserved, providing researchers with a new way to study it.

“We have been developing these synthetic polymers that can extract proteins present in the cell membrane directly without using detergents,” Ramamoorthy said. “This work was about using synthetically prepared polymers in my lab to isolate a precursor protein along with the lipids present in the cell membrane and reconstituting them together in the form of disc-shaped particles called nanodiscs for a deeper medical investigation.”

How it works

C99 is a byproduct of the amyloid precursor protein, or APP, which is found in the brain.

When enzymes known as secretases cut APP, they produce fragments of C99 called Aβ isomers. The accumulation of Aβ and lipids causes plaque buildup, which is responsible for memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients by killing neuronal cells.

In this study, researchers isolated the C99 protein from a bacterial cell membrane then extracted it along with lipids surrounding C99 using their newly designed polymer. After extraction, researchers conducted further tests to confirm that the protein’s shape and lipids were still intact and preserved exactly as they are in cells.

Why it matters

This study represents a revolutionary advancement in Alzheimer’s research by keeping a key disease-causing protein intact for more accurate study.

“This work provides a toolkit for studying Alzheimer’s disease at the molecular level and it lets scientists observe C99 in its ‘natural habitat,’ which is something that had not been possible in more than 30 years of research,” Ramamoorthy said. “It creates a biomedically relevant and more accurate method for preparing proteins used in therapeutic discovery and Alzheimer’s disease modeling.”

The research could improve outcomes for pharmaceutical development, medical diagnostic and imaging tools or biotechnology manufacturing. The new method provides a foundation for further research that could one day lead to a cure.

“Drug development has so far not been able to solve the problems posed by Alzheimer’s disease,” Ramamoorthy said. “Our hope is that this new method will give researchers a clearer picture of how the C99 protein works and contributes to this disease, so that we can develop ways to stop its progression. Ultimately, we can find a cure.”

Researchers from the University of Michigan contributed to this study. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

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Researchers from Mayo Clinic Florida, Florida State University and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering are collaborating to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Yan Li, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, is leading research into this neurodegenerative disease. Her team includes several doctoral students and renowned experts from Mayo Clinic. Li, who holds a dual appointment at FSU and Mayo, brings over two decades of experience in pluripotent stem cell biology and extracellular vesicle therapeutics to the work.

“This shared project is significant because of the resources and expertise the Mayo Clinic offers,” Li says. “One of the key components of this research is gaining access to patient-derived three-dimensional brain models. These cutting-edge tools will allow scientists to evaluate new treatments more effectively based on real human biological systems.”

Targeting Alzheimer’s Disease Through Brain Organoid Research

In research published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, Li and colleagues developed a more accurate cellular model for brain disease research, a tool that could help scientists create better treatments for patients.

By combining brain organoids — lab-grown cell structures that imitate the function of human organs — and immune cells like those found in the brain, the researchers created a model that more closely mimics the environment found within a human brain.

Unlike simpler representations of the brain, these organoids included microglia‑like immune cells, similar to the brain’s natural cleanup and defense cells. Those allowed the brain organoids to imitate inflammation or immune responses, both of which are crucial in neurodegenerative diseases.

Having developed that tool, the research team used it to examine Alzheimer’s disease by exposing the organoids to tiny cell‑to‑cell messengers — known as extracellular vesicles — from Alzheimer’s patient brain cells.

They found that samples with healthy immune cells and their accompanying extracellular vesicles reduced harmful inflammation and lowered signals linked to several harmful proteins found in Alzheimer’s patients.

“This study paves the way for understanding the role of microglia and brain organoids in modeling neural degeneration and the development of extracellular vesicle-based cell-free therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease treatment,” Li said.

The results offer a new, more accurate way to study Alzheimer’s disease and related neural conditions and point toward treatments that use extracellular vesicles for therapies instead of drugs or transplanted cells.

“Using cellular messengers as medicine is a promising avenue for new treatments that apply the brain’s own clean-up tools toward fighting disease,” Li said. “By gaining insight into this communication, we hope to develop new treatments that can alter the progression of Alzheimer’s.”

Students Gain Rare Clinical Exposure Through Collaboration

The collaboration between FSU and the Mayo Clinic offers doctoral students in biomedical engineering an opportunity uncommon in traditional engineering Ph.D. programs: direct immersion in a clinical research environment.

Several notable researchers from Mayo Clinic in Florida are contributing to the initiative. Dr. Takahisa Kanekiyo, an associate professor of neuroscience, and Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a professor of neurosurgery, lead the medical side of the effort. Doctoral research students Jennifer Berg Sen, Sailesti Joshi and Falak Syed are working with Li on the academic side.

Students work alongside physicians and medical doctors at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, observe patient-centered research firsthand, and learn advanced laboratory techniques not typically available in university settings. The experience gives engineering students a medical perspective on their research, helping them understand how their technical work translates to clinical applications.

“It is my hope that in the future we can broaden these types of faculty collaborations and student training opportunities to advance translational research that improves patient outcomes for patients,” said Emily Pritchard, assistant provost and assistant vice president for Academic Affairs Health Innovation and Strategic Alliances.

Witnessing real-world medical challenges that their work could help solve has been an inspiration to the doctoral students who have already visited the clinic. The arrangement provides clinicians with access to engineering expertise while giving students healthcare context that traditional engineering programs rarely offer.

“Working with the Mayo Clinic has been a highly inspiring experience, and I look forward to what the future holds for this work,” Berg Sen said.

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FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers are applying fuel cell technology to new applications like sustainable energy and water treatment.

In a study published in Frontiers in Membrane Science and Technology, the researchers examined a type of membrane called a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane, or PFSA polymer membrane. These membranes act as filters, allowing protons to move through, but blocking electrons and gases.

In the study, the researchers examined how boiling these membranes — a common treatment applied to the material — affects their performance and helps them work as specialized tools for different applications.

“PFSA membranes are essential for making fuel cells function, but we wanted to examine understudied uses of this technology,” said Daniel Hallinan Jr., a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and the study’s co-author. “The qualities that make them useful in one application may not be optimal for another purpose. Our goal was to understand how pretreatment affected the final material properties.”

Expanding the Possibilities for PFSA Membranes

PFSA membranes are advanced materials engineered for selective movement of protons, which are positively charged ions. The membranes’ unique chemical synthesis results in thin, flexible sheets that act as high-performance filters, letting protons pass while blocking unwanted substances. The amount of water inside the membrane strongly affects how ions move, and controlling water content is one of the most important parts of designing these systems.

During production, PFSA membranes sometimes undergo boiling as pretreatment, which helps them to absorb more water and thereby transport ions faster.

The research team showed how pretreatment leads to design tradeoffs: Treated membranes showed increased water absorption, which led to better conductivity (faster transport of desired material through a membrane) but worse selectivity (more of the unwanted material also gets through the filter). Untreated membranes had the opposite qualities.

“If you want speed, pretreatment is helpful. If you want precision, pretreatment might hurt performance,” said co-author Youneng Tang, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Understanding how this process works will help engineers optimize membrane selection and pretreatment for specific applications.”

Breakthroughs in Membrane Applications

The team measured membrane permeability, water uptake, salt partitioning and conductivity, metrics that determine how quickly salts and ions pass through PFSA membranes versus conventional materials, which are important for applications like flow batteries and lithium extraction.

Along with their use in fuel cells, PFSA membranes play a vital role in other applications. Hallinan highlighted three promising areas for research:

• Mineral Harvesting from Desalination Brine: Membranes are critical for extracting valuable minerals such as lithium from desalination processes, providing resources that are used in batteries.

• Redox Flow Batteries for Energy Storage: PFSA membranes improve rapid ion transport needed for efficient energy storage in renewable power systems.

• Electrochemical Reactors for Fuel Conversion: These reactors use PFSA membranes as part of the process, converting carbon dioxide into fuel.

This research helps engineers customize membranes for their specific use cases, said co-author Sebastian Castro, a former chemical engineering undergraduate who is now a doctoral student at New York University.

“Membranes are crucial in electrochemical systems, serving to separate substances in the presence of an electric field,” he said. “A deeper understanding of these membranes will enhance the viability of large-scale electrochemical processes. This work contributes to global efforts to improve renewable energy technology, making it more efficient and sustainable, ultimately providing better access to clean and affordable energy for everyone.”

Collaborators and Support

Graduate student Dennis Ssekimpi was a co-author of this study. The work was supported by Florida State University and by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates.

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Inside millions of stomachs around the country are tiny corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). More than 13% of Americans carry this unwelcome guest, which can cause serious health issues, including painful ulcers and cancer.

A National Science Foundation-funded study from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will examine how H. pylori navigate through the thick, gel-like materials found in human stomachs, research that could help develop methods to hamper the microorganisms and prevent the diseases they cause.

“H. pylori is the only bacteria that survives in the acidic environment of the stomach,” said project researcher Hadi Mohammadigoushki, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. “They are able to penetrate the protective gastric mucus layer because of the way they swim.”

By studying the locomotion of these organisms, scientists can innovate new treatments for infections and potentially strengthen the mucus barrier against bacteria.

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Inside cells there are tiny particles, known as extracellular vesicles, that store and move molecules. Our cells naturally package beneficial proteins and healing compounds into these tiny bubbles, dispatching them to where they are needed to deliver molecular cargo or to communicate with other cells. 

Extracellular vesicles, or EVs, are a promising tool for health care because of their ability to contain medicines and to deliver them to hard-to-reach parts of the body. But their benefits are restricted by the challenges of making them at scale. 

Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering have pioneered a method that uses a bioreactor — an industrial device for carrying out biological reactions — with a vertically rotating wheel to mass produce EVs derived from lab-grown blood vessel tissues. This innovation could revolutionize experimental therapies for age-related diseases by making them more affordable and accessible. The work was published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 

“Imagine if we could harvest microscopic delivery trucks from lab-grown human tissues to carry healing molecules directly to damaged cells in our bodies,” said Professor Yan Li from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. “That’s essentially what we have accomplished in our investigation.” 

PRODUCTION STRATEGIES
EVs have been limited as a therapy because of the challenge in scaling up their production. Traditional manufacturing methods yield very few of them, making potential treatments expensive. 

To address this challenge, the researchers used sophisticated bioreactors known as vertical-wheel bioreactors to create EVs. The spinning chambers within these bioreactors create gentle currents mimicking blood flow in our bodies. This setup helped cells produce 2 to 3 times more EVs compared to the traditional method where the machines just sit still. 

“Think of it like the difference between a factory running at normal capacity versus one operating at peak efficiency under optimized conditions,” Li said. “Essentially, the gentle spinning motion enhances both the quantity of these essential vesicles and the overall health of the artificial blood vessels.” 

WHY IT MATTERS
The research solves a bottleneck that has prevented EV-based therapies from reaching more patients. 

Laboratory tests showed that the EVs produced through this method maintained all their healing properties. They reduced cellular damage from aging and boosted cell growth, key indicators that they retain their therapeutic potential even when produced at larger scales. 

By developing a scalable, controlled production method, the researchers have created a pathway for these promising treatments to move from laboratory curiosities to potentially affordable medical interventions for age-related diseases and tissue damage.

“I hope that the research on EVs increases because of our study,” said Justice Ene, a graduate student researcher and study co-author. “In the future, we need to explore the composition of therapeutic cargo and learn how well the research translates to safely being produced at a large scale. There are still many questions, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT
Other FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University researchers who were co-authors on this study were Chang Liu, Falak Syed, Li Sun, Danyale Berry, Pradeepraj Durairaj, Zixiang Leonardo Liu and Changchun Zeng. Sunghoon Jung, the executive director of bioprocess research and development at PBS Biotech, which developed the vertical-wheel bioreactors, was also a co-author. 

The research is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), including the NSF INTERN award, and partially funded by the National Institutes of Health.

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In Ho Yong Chung’s laboratory, magic is at work — plants turn into plastics.

In new research, Chung, an associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, showed for the first time the possibility of using lignin, a material found in plant cell walls, and carbon dioxide to create a new kind of polyurethane, a polymer used in various applications for its ability to regulate heat, flexibility during processing and strength as a finished product.

The work was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

“We’ve created a high-quality polymer using fewer steps, less energy and no toxic ingredients,” Chung said. “It’s better for the environment, better for people and easier to manufacture.”

WHAT THEY DID
Traditional polyurethane relies on compounds called isocyanates, which are highly reactive and hazardous. Chung’s method skips them entirely. By using the natural polymer lignin, they created a material that is biodegradable, made from a renewable and underutilized resource and avoids toxic chemicals. Their discovery keeps the benefits of polyurethane but avoids its disadvantages.

Although lignin has some applications in modern manufacturing, it is usually treated as a byproduct of pulp and paper processing.

The breakthrough from Chung’s team creates the same high-performance materials in traditional polyurethanes but uses abundant waste from paper mills and captured carbon dioxide. The resulting material is as strong and heat-resistant as conventional versions but dissolves easily in solvents for manufacturing.

WHY IT MATTERS
The ability to be easily processed gives this material a major advantage over other biomass-based alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

“Scalability is big for us, because we are a polymer science group and we’re always trying to scale up and commercialize and industrialize our research technology,” Chung said. “This has much better processability compared to other alternatives used to recreate polyurethane. We use far fewer reaction steps to produce the same quality or higher quality of material. That saves a lot of energy, which is good for the environment and for cost and efficiency. We spend less money to produce the same or higher quality of polyurethane.”

LOOKING TO LIGNIN
Chung’s previous research has explored the possibilities for using lignin to make other types of environmentally friendly plastics. In work published in 2024, he showed the possibility of using it to create polycarbonate, material from another polymer family.

This research expands what is possible with lignin by focusing on polyurethane. The polymer’s flexibility and elasticity mean it is more widely used than polycarbonate.

Chung first became interested in lignin in graduate school, when he sought to develop it for use as an adhesive. At the time, there was little research into this material. When he began his career, he continued to focus on it because it offered the possibility of breakthroughs in medical applications, energy and sustainable materials.

“Polyurethane is a very important material,” Chung said. “By producing it with a new and non-toxic method, we can help the world.”

POWERED BY FSU
Chung credited FSU’s support for helping bring this vision to life. With a lab space in the university’s new Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building, access to internal funding and a collaborative network of top-tier scientists, he has been able to push the boundaries of sustainable chemistry.

“FSU gave me the space, the tools and the people to make this happen,” he said.

COLLABORATORS AND FUNDING
Postdoctoral researcher Arijit Ghorai was the lead author of the study. This research was supported by the U.S. Army Research Office and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy of the Republic of Korea.

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The study validates a model predicting how these materials mix and could help develop safer batteries

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FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant Professor Z. Leonardo Liu has been awarded the 2024 Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award for his groundbreaking research into blood clotting mechanisms.

Liu is the only awardee from the United States among six international recipients, placing him among the most promising young researchers advancing the understanding of thrombosis and hemostasis, the complex biological processes that control blood clotting and bleeding.

“I was both surprised and deeply honored to receive this recognition,” Liu said. “Being acknowledged by such a respected journal and editorial board is incredibly meaningful. I hope this visibility will expand the reach of our research and open doors to new collaborations that lead to transformative therapies for blood-related diseases.”

DISCOVERIES IN BLOOD CLOTTING RESEARCH
Liu’s research explores fundamental questions about how fluid forces in circulating blood influence clotting at the molecular and cellular scale. By integrating advanced supercomputing simulations with whole-blood experiments, his team investigates how proteins and cells interact in the flow of blood affected by disease or injury, an area that has traditionally been difficult to probe with conventional research methods.

His work has revealed surprising insights about the role of red blood cells in blood clotting regulation. His recent studies show that blood clotting proteins operate like tiny mechanical switches, toggling on or off in response to precisely controlled mechanical forces generated by the collective motion of red blood cells.

“Our findings show that red blood cells — once thought of merely as passive carriers of oxygen — also play an active role in regulating these ‘tiny switches’ that control blood clotting through intricate fluid-mechanical forces,” Liu said.

ADDRESSING CRITICAL HEALTH THREATS
A major focus of Liu’s research is von Willebrand factor (VWF), a large protein essential to clot formation. Studying VWF helps address two major health threats. Excessive levels or hyperactivity of VWF can cause occlusive clots, which completely block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes, the leading cause of death in people older than 65. Deficiencies or abnormalities in VWF are also a problem and can lead to bleeding disorders or the failure to form clots during major blood loss, a leading cause of death in people younger than 45.

The integration of computational modeling with experimental validation that characterizes Liu’s research methodology represents the cutting-edge interdisciplinary approach that defines modern biomedical engineering. His work demonstrates how engineering principles can provide fundamental insights into biological processes that directly impact human health outcomes.

ABOUT THE AWARD
The Eberhard F. Mammen Award, established in 2009 by publisher Thieme, honors the legacy of Professor Eberhard Mammen, who significantly advanced this field and the journal for over 30 years. The award highlights innovative research and emerging talent in hemostasis and thrombosis research.

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Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will pioneer advanced composite materials and manufacturing technologies critical for future space missions through a $5 million grant from NASA.

“Imagine while on a space mission having the ability to print sensors, radiation shields or even functional tissues as the mission progresses,” said Professor Subramanian Ramakrishnan from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. “This capability could change the space exploration paradigm, making missions more sustainable and adaptable to unforeseen challenges.”

The NASA grant was given to researchers from seven institutions. Florida A&M University will administer the grant on behalf of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Researchers will partner with faculty at Florida State University, including Richard Liang from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Emily Pritchard from the FSU Office of the Provost. They will also work with Satyanarayan Dev from FAMU and Margaret Samuels from the Goddard Space Flight Center. Each has expertise in developing a system that can produce precise sensor patterns, integrating sensing materials and electrodes in a single step.

Ramakrishnan’s team mainly focuses on creating innovative materials. They are developing unique 2D materials called MXenes and metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles to develop special inks for 3D printing in space.

“These advanced inks are used to print everything from sensors that detect gases and strain, to antennas, radiation shielding and flexible electronic circuits,” Ramakrishnan said. “They are especially important for 3D printed materials used on space missions.”

In-space manufacturing (ISM) aims to transform how we create components for space. The vision is to empower astronauts to manufacture what they need in orbit, making missions more sustainable and efficient rather than relying on materials and tools sent from Earth.

These distinctive materials have exceptional structural, physical and chemical properties, making them perfect for various applications, including energy storage, sensors, optoelectronics and even biomedical uses. They are crucial for space exploration but also have unique properties for specialized materials on Earth.

INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
Ramakrishnan’s group wants to utilize lunar and Martian soil — also known as regolith — to create special inks that can be 3D printed into functional structures for future missions to Mars and the Moon.

“This system has the critical capability for us to complete the manufacturing of precise sensor patterns (both sensing materials patterns and electrode and connection patterns) in a single step to ensure high-quality of device integration and on-demand design and manufacturing,” Ramakrishnan explained.

The researchers have developed a new technique called electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. This method uses electric fields to precisely print nanoparticles, which can be used to create flexible electronic sensor applications.

“By combining this printing technique with laser curing we can rapidly manufacture the sensors and speed up the manufacturing process,” Ramakrishnan said. “This streamlined approach is crucial for future space missions, especially when working on the International Space Station (ISS).”

NEXT-GENERATION PRINTING
In addition to the NASA grant, Ramakrishnan is leading a project funded by a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support purchasing specialized equipment designed for 3D printing on curved surfaces. Florida A&M University acquired an advanced nScrypt 6-axis 3D printing system that can create intricate designs tailored to various shapes, especially for applications in aerospace and medical devices.

“We are experimenting with innovative ink formulations and techniques,” Ramakrishnan said. “The equipment is helping us produce new and exciting next-generation sensors for NASA.”

The state-of-the-art printer can precisely dispense materials, allowing researchers to develop complex structures that conform to different surfaces.

BIOMATERIALS FOR SPACE
Co-Director and Assistant Professor Jamel Ali from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the college is leading research efforts to understand how human cells self-assemble in microgravity environments, such as those found on the Moon and Mars. His group is looking into the behavior of 3D-printed tissues in space to enhance therapeutic cell expansion and regenerative medicine. He works with collaborators, including researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, who work closely with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on these pioneering projects.

His research group works with biomaterials and non-biomaterials to create guidelines that address the unique challenges of 3D printing on curved surfaces. This work could lead to innovations that go well beyond space exploration. They plan to incorporate electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing techniques to develop semiconducting nanomaterials tailor-made for NASA’s needs.

IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
The potential outcomes of the research extend far beyond NASA missions. The novel sensors, tissues and organs that have been developed could revolutionize fields like biomedicine and materials science, providing solutions that address pressing health challenges and contributing to the advancement of technology in various sectors.

With NASA’s backing and the integration of cutting-edge research practices, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of space exploration. This initiative represents a critical step in fostering sustainable operations for exploration missions, ensuring we can harness technology to meet our needs in real time.

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Adhesives are everywhere, from the tape used in households to the bonding materials in vehicles and electronics. The search for stronger, more adaptable adhesives is ongoing and may come down to adding a dash of salt to two special polymer ingredients known as polyzwitterions, or PZIs.

New research from a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering team led by Hoyong Chung, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, shows a new way to create adhesives by using the natural attraction between positively and negatively charged materials. The work was recently published in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

“We want to create stronger and more versatile adhesives using a strategy involving electrostatic interactions,” Chung said. “Our research centers around two special polymers, known as PZIs, with the goal of getting them to bond more effectively.”

The research team was interested in how the shape of the polymer affects its stickiness, comparing bottlebrush polymers (which have branches coming off the main chain) to straight-chain (linear) polymers. These two differently shaped polymers can be engineered to improve their adherence properties.

One of the study’s key findings is that by simply adding sodium chloride — table salt — the strong but brittle polymers are transformed to be strong and flexible. Most adhesives are either strong or can stretch a lot, but it’s difficult to find adhesives that do both. The amount of salt is key to making the adhesive strong but stretchy.

“The initial key to our discovery lies in the sophisticated and precise design and synthesis of multifunctional polymers,” Chung said. “This new polymer could have wide-reaching impacts across several industries, offering a way to tailor the toughness and flexibility of adhesives with precision. The finding challenges previously held beliefs about adhesion and salt.”

Chung and his team’s discovery lays the groundwork for creating better industrial adhesives and highlights the importance of electrostatic interactions in developing new materials. The findings provide a promising step in their goal of crafting ideal adhesives for a myriad of uses. The study will continue, focusing on developing biomedical tissue adhesives with drug delivery, imaging and disease diagnosis functions.

Chung collaborated on this study with Biswajit Saha, a postdoctoral researcher at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Jacob Boykin, a graduate student. Saha is the first author on the publication.

“Our discovery shows that adding salt could be a key to making an adhesive that is both strong and flexible,” Saha said. “We believe that the study provides a steppingstone toward the long-term goal of developing ideal adhesives.”

The research was funded through Florida A&M University by a $763,457 four-year grant from the National Science Foundation.

For more information about the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, visit eng.famu.fsu.edu.

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The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) has named two Florida State University faculty members part of its 2024 class of “Rising Stars.”

The Rising Star Awards honor researchers whose contributions to their field show great potential for meeting future challenges. Ken Hanson, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Daniel Hallinan, associate professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, were recognized at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 1-2 in Orlando.

Hanson studies the design, synthesis and characterization of molecules that absorb and emit light. His research group develops these new molecules for use in specific applications, such as solar cells, photomechanical polymers, photocatalysis and sensors. Recent work includes research into the impact and control of structures at organic-inorganic interfaces and the detection of artificial intelligence use on multiple-choice chemistry exams.

“It is an honor to be included on a list with such outstanding researchers from Florida universities,” Hanson said. “I also really appreciate the efforts of the ASEMFL to increase the visibility and impact of the research being conducted in Florida and I can only hope to continue to impact and support such efforts.”

Hallinan researches polymers at the nanoscale and electrolytes — substances that conduct electricity through the movement of ions, but not through the movement of electrons. His work has applications in developing new materials for lithium-ion batteries, advancing polymer membranes for sustainable energy technologies and other uses.

“It is quite an honor to have my research recognized by National Academy Members, who are the greatest minds in science, engineering and medicine,” Hallinan said. “This award is a motivational boost to redouble my efforts to answer novel questions, to discover new materials for greater energy sustainability and to continue training the next generation of engineers in research excellence.”

Hanson and Hallinan are among 19 faculty members honored this year by ASEMFL as rising stars. Other faculty come from Palm Beach Atlantic University, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of North Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida and University of South Florida.

“ASEMFL recognizes the importance of new investigators whose work shows great promise in addressing critical issues towards ensuring the growth and success in its mission,” says Angela Laird, the ASEMFL secretary and a Distinguished University Professor at Florida International University. “These Rising Stars have made significant contributions to science, engineering and medicine and are on the cusp of consideration for full membership in ASEMFL. Through the Rising Stars program, ASEMFL hopes to engage with mid-career researchers more actively throughout the State of Florida, anticipating that these individuals will provide valuable insight for how to grow the society and ensure its continued relevance for current and future generations.”

The academy also inducted Professor of Nursing Lisa Hightow-Weidman, Professor of Physics Stephen Hill and Professor of Physics Laura Reina into this year’s class of ASEMFL members.

ASEMFL was established in 2018 to support science, engineering and medical research in Florida. The organization works to inform Floridians of current and future science, engineering and medicine issues and address associated challenges. The organization provides unbiased expertise for issues that concern the state and helps facilitate scientific interactions.

To be selected for membership, faculty must live or work in Florida and be a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, or be nominated by an ASEMFL member and have an outstanding record of accomplishments and recognition.

Visit asemfl.org for more information about the organization.

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