Team:Exeter/Applications
From 2012.igem.org
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- | + | <p>Could it be possible to produce polysaccharides that have specific hydrophobic/phillic domains that would self-assemble when introduced to water. We believe this could be possible and if it were, imagine what you could use it for! Could it be used to create a small bridge over water or perhaps a quick release raft? And if you could make it into a raft, why not aim a bit bigger and mould a boat or even a cruise liner!</p> | |
- | <p> | + | <p>If you’ve never been in a situation where you have required the ability to travel over a stretch of water and perhaps need a more practical use using a rubbery material displaying interesting elastic properties then look no further!</p> |
- | + | <p>The self-healing abilities of certain types of supramolecular elastomers arise due to their intermolecular interactions. We think this could be improved upon using research into polysaccharides, to create a glue, gel or paint like product which could be easily sprayed or coated onto materials which need protecting. These could include covering a vehicle to make it effectively “scratch proof” or producing a thinner film to cover screens, like those found on smart phones, which come under a constant barrage of attacks daily from keys and coins!</p> | |
- | + | <p>Still not satisfied?</p> | |
- | + | <p>We mentioned earlier, in the medical section, the potential of building upon the uses of polysaccharides that have amazing properties when involved with impacts, but could we go further still? Could we create a material that was so finely woven and had so many layers that it could not only stop a bullet but could also distribute the energy involved so the user felt nothing? If a bullet could be stopped by this type of material could a bomb blast be absorbed too? And what about falling with a broken shoot, could a special sky diving suit be made that rendered parachutes obsolete?</p> | |
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Revision as of 11:17, 19 September 2012
Polysaccharides appear in every corner of the natural world, they have multiple applications in nature ranging from protection to energy storage. Not surprisingly humanity has taken advantage of their diversity and by doing so created a vast range of materials and applications where polysaccharides can today be found. These include the obvious uses in paper and wood to the less well known abilities of some polysaccharides, such as Chitin to behave as a sterile clotting agent in plasters. We invite you to take a brief look at what we believe could one day be possible if a system to design bespoke polysaccharides existed. |