Peer-reviewed Studies
The UGA New Materials Institute conducts ongoing research to develop new materials and plastics replacements that completely break down and return to nature when discarded, and that are safe for people, animals and the planet.
We also conduct ongoing research to evaluate the types of plastics that have accumulated in our environment, their impact on our environment, and their potential impact on our health.
Some of our recent studies are below.
2024
Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration. Nature Communications, 2024, 15 (3338).
2023
A Biologically Degradable and BioseniaticTM Feedstock for the High-Quality 3D Printing of Medical Illustrations. Journal of Biocommunication, 2023, 47(2).
Balancing Melt Solubility and Morphology in Epitaxial Nucleation: The Case of Nicotinic Acid and Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate). ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2023, 5 (10), 8600-8607.
Poly(butylene glutarate) as a processing aid for hot-melt extrusion of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate). MRS Communications 13, 854–861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-023-00394-7
Beyond Lattice Matching: The Role of Hydrogen Bonding in Epitaxial Nucleation of Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) by Methylxanthines. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2023, 5(5), 3858-3865.
Balancing Melt Solubility and Morphology in Epitaxial Nucleation: The Case of Nicotinic Acid and Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate). ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2023, 5(10), 8600-8607.
Poly(butylene glutarate) as a processing aid for hot-melt extrusion of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate). MRS Communications, 2023. 1-8.
Beyond Lattice Matching: The Role of Hydrogen Bonding in Epitaxial Nucleation of Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) by Methylxanthines. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2023: Apr. 13, DOI 10.1021/acsapm.3c00494.
2021
Semi-aromatic Bio-based Polyesters Derived from Lignin and Cyclic Carbonates. RCS Green Chemistry, 2021: Nov. 5, DOI 10.1039/D1GC03135J.
Comparative Study of the Biological Degradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) Microbeads in Municipal Wastewater in Environmental and Controlled Laboratory Conditions. ACS Environmental Science and Technology, 2021: Aug. 12, DOI 10.1021/acs.est.1c00974.
Blends of Poly(butylene glutarate) and Poly(lactic acid) with Enhanced Ductility and Composting Performance. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2021: Feb. 25, DOI 10.1021/acsapm.1c00078.
2020
Distinct Mycoplasma pneumoniae Interactions with Sulfated and Sialylated Receptors. Infection and Immunity, 2020: Oct., DOI 10.1128/IAI.00392-20.
Photocross-linking Kinetics Study of Benzophenone Containing Zwitterionic Copolymers. ACS Omega, 2020: 5, 16, 9204–9211.
Optimizing Zwitterionic Coatings for Anti-fogging. Abrasion Resistant High-performance Eyewear. Smith, M. under the direction of Dr. Locklin. University of Georgia, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2020: 28025518.
Multipronged Approach to Combat Catheter-Associated Infections and Thrombosis by Combining Nitric Oxide and a Polyzwitterion: a 7 Day In Vivo Study in a Rabbit Model. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020: 12, 8, 9070–9079.
2019
Fully Synthetic Heparan Sulfate-Based Neural Tissue Construct That Maintains the Undifferentiated State of Neural Stem Cells. ACS Chemical Biology, 2019: 14, 9, 1921-1929.
SuFEx-based strategies for the preparation of functional particles and cation exchange resins. Chemical Communications, 2019: 55, 3891-3894.
2018
Ingested Micronizing Plastic Particle Compositions and Size Distributions within Stranded Post-Hatchling Sea Turtles. ACS Environmental Science and Technology, 2018: 52 (18).
The Chinese Import Ban and its Impact on Global Plastic Waste Trade. Science Advances, 2018: 4 (6).
Biodegradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) Plastic under Anaerobic Sludge and Aerobic Seawater Conditions: Gas Evolution and Microbial Diversity. ACS Environmental Science and Technology, 2018: 52 (10).
Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings that Exhibit both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties. ACS Omega, 2018: 3 (12), 17743-17750.
High-Performance Flexible Yarn for Wearable Piezoelectric Nanogenerators. Smart Materials and Structures. 2018: 27, 095018.
Sialylated Receptor Setting Influences Mycoplasma pneumoniae Attachment and Gliding Motility. Molecular Microbiology, 2018: 109 (6), 735-744.
Morphology, Structure, and Enhanced Intramolecular Conduction in Ultralong Conjugated Polymer Brushes. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2018: 122 (14), 7586-7596.
SuFEex Postpolymerization Modification Kinetics and Reactivity in Polymer Brushes. Macromolecules, 2018: 51 (2), 297-305.
2017
Production, Use, and Fate of All Plastics Ever Made. Science Advances, 2017: 3 (7).
Covalent Grafting of Antifouling Phosphorylcholine-Based Copolymers with Antimicrobial Nitric Oxide Releasing Polymers to Enhance Infection-Resistant Properties of Medical Device Coatings. Langmuir, 2017: 33 (45), 13105-13113.
A Multi-Defense Strategy: Enhancing Bactericidal Activity of a Medical Grade Polymer with a Nitric Oxide Donor and Surface-Immobilized Quaternary Ammonium Compound. Acta Biomaterialia, 2017: 58, 421-431.
A Versatile Methodology for Glycosurfaces: Direct Ligation of Nonderivatized Reducing Saccharides to Poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) Grafted Surfaces via Hydrazide Conjugation. Langmuir, 2017: 33 (35), 8821-8828.
The Formation and Evolution of Creased Morphologies Using Reactive Diffusion in Ultrathin Polymer Brush Platforms. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2017: 4, 1700084.
Ring-Walking of Zerovalent Nickel on Aryl Halides. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 2017: 13 (4), 1706-1711.
Evidence for the Phospholipid Sponge Effect as the Biocidal Mechanism in Surface-Bound Polyquaternary Ammonium Coatings with Variable Cross-Linking Density. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017: 9 (8), 7745-7751.
2016
A Review of the Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Coatings for Urinary Catheters. Acta Biomaterialia, 2016: 50, 20-40.
Thermal Conductance of Poly(3-methylthiophene) Brushes. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016: 8 (38), 25578-25585.
SuFex Click: New Materials from SOxF and Silyl Ethers. Chemistry—A European Journal, 2016: 22, 16348-16354.
Permanently Grafted Icephobic Nanocomposites with High Abrasion Resistance. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2016: 4, 11719-11728.
Multifunctional Surface Manipulation Using Orthogonal Click Chemistry. Langmuir, 2016: 32 (26), 6600-6605.
Surface Grafted Antimicrobial Polymer Networks with High Abrasion Resistance. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 2016: 2 (7), 1169-1179.
Nanostructured Soft Matter with Magnetic Nanoparticles. Advanced Functional Materials, 2016: 26, 3761-3782.
Engineering of Spin Injection and Spin Transport in Organic Spin Valves Using π‐Conjugated Polymer Brushes. Advanced Functional Materials, 2016: 26, 3999-4006.
2015
Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean. Science, 2015: 347 (6223).
Nanoscale Surface Creasing Induced by Post-Polymerization Modification. ACS Nano, 2015: 9 (11), 10961-10969.
SuFEx on the Surface: A Flexible Platform for Postpolymerization Modification of Polymer Brushes. Angewandte, 2015: 54, 13370-13373.
Degradable Polycaprolactone and Polylactide Homopolymer and Block Copolymer Brushes Prepared by Surface Initiated Polymerization With Triazabicyclodecane and Zirconium Catalysts. Langmuir, 2015: 31 (37), 10183-10189.
Magnetic-Field-Assisted Fabrication and Manipulation of Nonspherical Polymer Particles in Ferrofluidic-Based Droplet Microfluidies. Langmuir, 2015: 31, 8531-8534.
Functionalization of Reactive End Groups in Surface-Initiated Kumada Catalyst-Transfer Polycondensation. Macromolecular Symposia, 2015: 351, 27-36.
Direct Functionalization of Kevlar with Copolymers Containing Sulfonyl Nitrenes. Polymer Chemistry, 2015: 6, 3090-3097.
2014 and older manuscripts
Click here to review older manuscripts from the Locklin Group.