Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 7-28-2026
Abstract
The thermoresponsive polymers elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) have served as a programmable bioseparation tool for applications in nanoparticle capture due to biocompatibility and tunable properties. This work investigates how the polymer composition of ELP and PNIPAM coacervates influences their phase behavior, structural morphology, and nanoparticle recruitment. In addition, the influence of interfacial interactions in nanoparticle recruitment using Tween 80 as a mechanistic probe was also investigated. Different mixtures of ELPs E1.40, E1.80, and E3 with PNIPAM14 and PNIPAM20 were used to characterize their phase behavior and analyze structural morphology using turbidity measurements and microscopy, respectively. Nanobead recruitment using coacervates of E1.40 and E3 was investigated with bare streptavidin beads, ELP-coated beads, and PEG-coated beads. Microscopy data demonstrate that all bead types exhibited inter-coacervate trapping with E1.40 coacervates, while all bead types exhibited coacervate engulfment with E3 coacervates. The addition of Tween 80 changed the coacervate morphology and recruitment behavior, suggesting that interfacial interactions contribute to nanoparticle recruitment.
Keywords
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), nanoparticle recruitment, phase behavior, coacervates, interfacial interactions
Sponsors
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Chemical Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Chemical and Biological Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Nick Carroll
Second Committee Member
Gabriel P. López
Third Committee Member
Telmo Diez Pérez
Recommended Citation
Bhakta, Sanjna A.. "Investigating Nanoparticle Capture by Condensed Phase Coacervates and Their Mixtures." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cbe_etds/137
Comments
The material in this thesis is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers CBET-2048051, EF-2318897, and EFMA-2421209. The opinions and conclusions contained herein are those of the author and not necessarily that of the NSF's.