Post-doc (M/F) in rheology and soft matter

The experimental approach will rely on advanced rheophysical, microscopy, and microfluidic techniques, as well as on the use of natural polymers derived from biomass (pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose), whose properties will be carefully controlled.

The ionic gelation of polysaccharides, their mechanical reinforcement by cellulose and hemicellulose, as well as the enzymatic remodeling of these gels will be investigated using:
 

• Rheometry, with a measurement cell allowing controlled mass transfer (ions / enzymes), in order to establish the relationships between chemical reactions and the dynamic evolution of the gel's rheological properties.
• Confocal microscopy / microfluidics / microrheology, to link the structural remodeling of the gel to the reaction kinetics occurring within the material.

The identified gelation and structuring mechanisms will then be tested with the aim of producing biomimetic objects inspired by plant cells, such as microcapsules or fibers, using microfluidic approaches.
 

References:
Guilbert, E., de Loubens, C., Vilotte, A., Schmitt, C., Gunes, D., & Bodiguel, H. (2024). Spontaneous Structuration of Biohydrogels by Membrane‐Free Osmosis. Advanced Functional Materials, 34(34), 2400888.

Vilotte, A., de Loubens, C., Gunes, D. Z., Schmitt, C., & Bodiguel, H. (2022). Hydrodynamic spinning of protein fractal aggregates into core–shell fibers. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 4(6), 4075–4080.