Biopolymer Networks

Modern life as we know it is in large part due to the polymers that are all around us - from plastics and petroleum, to cosmetics and food, to artificial limbs and adhesives. What we think of less often are the polymers that make life possible. Biological polymers-biopolymers-fill the insides of nearly all biological cells as well as the interstitial space that surrounds them. Networks of these ubiquitous polymers have been the subject of fervent investigation in fields as diverse as cellular and molecular biology, polymer physics, materials science, and chemical engineering, to shed light on the governing principles underlying soft and active matter systems, biological processes, and materials design optimization. This book has been written through the lens of all of these unique perspectives and goals of the rich interdisciplinary community.

This text provides an overview of biopolymer networks written for an interdisciplinary audience from undergraduates to seasoned principal investigators. 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. The book 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.