Biopolymer Networks

This reference text provides a broad overview of biopolymer networks written for an interdisciplinary audience of cellular and molecular biologists, soft matter and polymer physicists, materials scientists, and chemical engineers. It opens with an introduction to biopolymers and their networks, followed by an overview of important polymer physics theories and concepts, experimental tools to measure network properties, and computational analysis techniques to characterize and interpret data. The book follows with a description of model biopolymer networks-from design to rheology-before embarking on a discussion of novel network designs and their emergent physical properties, including topologically-novel polymers, composites, active matter, and liquid-liquid phase separation. It closes with a community-led perspective on key open questions and grand challenges, and how we may come together to advance understanding of biopolymer networks and their utility in diverse applications.

Key Features

• Written to be highly interdisciplinary, suitable for relevant audiences in physics, biophysics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and materials science from the level of undergraduates to senior principal investigators.
• Highlights both foundational works as well as recent important findings, with a focus on recurring unifying themes and key open questions.
• Provides detailed descriptions of experimental methods for measuring mechanics, structure, and dynamics of biopolymer networks, including underlying principles, key components, important design and implementation considerations, advantages and disadvantages, and pro tips.
• Includes comprehensive discussion of computational analysis methods to characterize dynamics, rheology and structure of biopolymer networks, including underlying principles, algorithms, deliverables, limitations, and optimization considerations.
• Provides beginner’s guide to working with biopolymers and their networks and engineering networks to have specific properties
• Discusses networks of topologically-novel polymers as well as blends and composites of multiple distinct biopolymers.
• Provides comprehensive discussion of active, responsive and otherwise out-of-equilibrium biopolymer networks, including networks driven by molecular motors and enzymes as well as networks that undergo liquid-liquid phase separation.
• Features input from the community on the future of the field, grand challenges for applications in biology and materials science, and recommendations for collaborative endeavours to advance understanding of biopolymer networks and their applications.