Functional Polymer Composites for Clinical and Engineering Challenges
| dc.contributor.author | Kropp, Gillian Ameila | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Schulz, Michael | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Matson, John | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Bartlett, Michael David | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Esker, Alan R. | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Chemistry | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-29T09:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-29T09:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-01-28 | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | This dissertation presents the design and development of novel polymers engineered to outperform widely used commercial materials across a range of demanding applications. The central theme of this work is the deliberate tuning of polymer structure, identity, and architecture to achieve targeted functional and mechanical properties—such as resilience in extreme environments, antimicrobial activity, and selective drug capture. Through several projects and collaborations, these efforts resulted in first-generation materials that offer potential improvements for technologies spanning aerospace propulsion, neurosurgery, and infectious disease prevention. The first half of the dissertation (Chapters 2–5) focuses on the synthesis and control of flexible, rubber-like polymers for high-resolution 3D printing, inspired by the widely used solid-propellant binder hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene. The insights gained from this work enabled the creation of materials capable of being printed into complex, compliant geometries suitable for soft biomedical applications. The second half (Chapters 6–9) shifts from fundamental structure–property relationships to the design of materials for specific medical technologies. These advances include a chemotherapy drug–capture agent, an antimicrobial catheter coating, and a neurosurgical adhesive for sealing dura mater defects. Developed in collaboration with clinicians at Carilion Clinic, these projects highlight how chemists can tailor material properties by incorporating design principles and clinical constraints provided by physicians. Together, these studies demonstrate how molecular-level polymer engineering can translate into practical solutions for pressing healthcare challenges and support the development of the next generation of advanced functional materials. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:45545 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/141030 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Biofilm | en |
| dc.subject | Surgical Adhesives | en |
| dc.subject | Additive Manufacturing | en |
| dc.subject | Antimicrobial Catheters | en |
| dc.title | Functional Polymer Composites for Clinical and Engineering Challenges | en |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Chemistry | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |