Dynamic Energy Transfer Between Polymer Nanocomposites in Supramolecular Microbeads

Bioinspired materials have proven to be effective platforms for the investigation and understanding of complex biological processes such as cell signaling, communication, and catalysis. Short-chain amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) have been shown to self-assemble photonic cofactors into nanocomposites mimicking photosynthetic light-harvesting and energy transfer with remarkable efficiency. We will present research that advances upon intra-nanocomposite energy transfer, toward dynamic, inter-nanocomposite energy transfer in supramolecular assemblies. Photonic ABC nanocomposites are organized in alginate microbeads using microfluidics approaches. Herein, we will report on developments toward dynamic, supramolecular energy transfer in alginate-polymer multi-scaled composites; particularly on abilities to: 1) create monodisperse alginate microbeads; 2) control organization of ABC nanocomposites inside alginate microbeads, and; 3), demonstrate inter-nanocomposite energy transfer. Composites and assemblies are characterized via fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electron microscopies. These studies are designed to be proof-of-principle in developing robust, multi-scaled, supramolecular materials capable of dynamic cell-like communication.