@article{bang_verster_hong_pal_velev_2024, title={Colloidal Engineering of Microplastic Capture with Biodegradable Soft Dendritic "Microcleaners"}, volume={3}, ISSN={["1520-5827"]}, DOI={10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03869}, abstractNote={The introduction of colloidal principles that enable efficient microplastic collection from aquatic environments is a goal of great environmental importance. Here, we present a novel method of microplastic (MP) collection using biodegradable hydrogel soft dendritic colloids (hSDCs). These dendritic colloids have abundant nanofibrils and a large surface area, which provide an abundance of interfacial interactions and excellent networking capabilities, allowing for the capture of plastic particles and other contaminants. Here, we show how the polymer composition and morphology of the hSDCs can impact the capture of microplastics modeled by latex microbeads. Additionally, we use colloidal DLVO theory to interpret the capture efficiencies of microbeads of different sizes and surface functional groups. The results demonstrate the microplastic remediation efficiency of hydrogel dendricolloids and highlight the primary factors involved in the microbead interactions and adsorption. On a practical level, the results show that the development of environmentally benign microcleaners based on naturally sourced materials could present a sustainable solution for microplastic cleanup.}, journal={LANGMUIR}, author={Bang, Rachel S. and Verster, Lucille and Hong, Haeleen and Pal, Lokendra and Velev, Orlin D.}, year={2024}, month={Mar} }
 @article{bang_bergman_li_mukherjee_alshehri_abbott_crook_velev_hall_you_2023, title={An integrated chemical engineering approach to understanding microplastics}, volume={1}, ISSN={["1547-5905"]}, DOI={10.1002/aic.18020}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={AICHE JOURNAL}, author={Bang, Rachel S. and Bergman, Michael and Li, Tianyu and Mukherjee, Fiona and Alshehri, Abdulelah S. and Abbott, Nicholas L. and Crook, Nathan C. and Velev, Orlin D. and Hall, Carol K. and You, Fengqi}, year={2023}, month={Jan} }
 @article{roh_williams_bang_stoyanov_velev_2019, title={Soft dendritic microparticles with unusual adhesion and structuring properties}, volume={18}, ISSN={["1476-4660"]}, DOI={10.1038/s41563-019-0508-z}, abstractNote={The interplay between morphology, excluded volume and adhesivity of particles critically determines the physical properties of numerous soft materials and coatings 1-6 . Branched particles 2  or nanofibres 3 , nanofibrillated cellulose 4  or fumed silica 5  can enhance the structure-building abilities of colloids, whose adhesion may also be increased by capillarity or binding agents 6 . Nonetheless, alternative mechanisms of strong adhesion found in nature involve fibrillar mats with numerous subcontacts (contact splitting) 7-11  as seen in the feet of gecko lizards and spider webs 12-17 . Here, we describe the fabrication of hierarchically structured polymeric microparticles having branched nanofibre coronas with a dendritic morphology. Polymer precipitation in highly turbulent flow results in microparticles with fractal branching and nanofibrillar contact splitting that exhibit gelation at very low volume fractions, strong interparticle adhesion and binding into coatings and non-woven sheets. These soft dendritic particles also have potential advantages for food, personal care or pharmaceutical product formulations.}, number={12}, journal={NATURE MATERIALS}, author={Roh, Sangchul and Williams, Austin H. and Bang, Rachel S. and Stoyanov, Simeon D. and Velev, Orlin D.}, year={2019}, month={Dec}, pages={1315-+} }