Polymer Nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture 

Polymer and biopolymer-based nanomaterials with highly densified functional groups, tunable chemical functionalities, and controlled nano-conformation offer versatile platforms for advancing technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture and food systems, while enhancing food security and protecting planetary health. Our research integrates fundamental principles from polymer and biopolymer science, nanotechnology, and plant biology to creates new forms of polymer and biopolymer nanomaterials that enable pioneering technologies in precision delivery of active payloads in plants. The payloads of interest include small molecules, such as nutrients and hormones, and biomacromolecules, including proteins and nucleic acids, to promote desirable plant functions such as stress resilience, enhanced photosynthesis, stress sensing, and biomanufacturing. In parallel, we develop polymer- and biopolymer-based nanogels and nanofibrils using scalable nanofabrication techniques for cost-effective resource recovery and the removal of emerging contaminants from food and water systems.

The lab shares affiliations with Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering