Born in the small Panamanian city of Santiago, Carlos Medina Jimenez knew from an early age that in order to become the type of engineer he wanted, he’d need to journey far from home. That dream led him 2,400 miles north to the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME), where he’s now tapping into one of engineering’s most mercurial and sought-after materials—zwitterionic polymers.
Its name drawn from the German word for two (Zwei), zwitterionic polymers are a type of polyelectrolyte, or charged polymer, that are unique for their ability to hold both a positive and negative charge in each piece of their molecular chain. That attribute makes the polymers particularly effective at repelling unwanted microbial organisms—a helpful feature for several industries that rely on anti-fouling technology. Potential applications include bacteria-resistant coatings for biomedical implants, dirt-repelling coatings for water desalination membranes, or hull coatings on marine vessels.
Medina, a fourth-year PhD student mentored by Professor Matthew Tirrell, was turned onto zwitterionic polymers when he joined Pritzker Molecular Engineering. To him, the material presents a tempting intellectual challenge, one that—if he can solve it—might unlock profoundly beneficial technologies for society at large.
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This story was first published by UChicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.
