William E. Collins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Phone: 202-806-4595
Email: [email protected]

Research Topics
Polymer Science, Biomaterials, Surface Science, Biosensors

Summary of Recent Research
Dr. Collins has applied his background in polymer science to a number of projects. For instance, his biomaterials research has been recently was awarded a five-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of NIH to collaborate with the Food and Drug Administration. This research emphasizes the mechanisms whereby candidate biomaterials elicit clot formation and detachment, both processes representing rejection by the body. It has been demonstrated that poly(ethylene oxide)- or phospholipid-functionalized polymer synthetics are among the most promising biomaterials for blood-contacting applications. Dr. Collins's NIH grant investigates the poly(ethylene oxide)-functionalized biomaterials, in an attempt to relate mechanisms of clot formation to long-term biocompatibility.

In an earlier collaboration, he investigated phospholipid-functionalized polymers. Though phospholipid groups decreased the characteristics inducing clot formation, the decrease was too small to influence biocompatibility. Dr. Collins has applied his biomaterials training to characterize biodegradable polymers, biomaterials that are synthesized by bacteria and can thus also be degraded by micro-organisms. Accordingly a novel source for bacterial polyesters still forms poly(b-hydroxyalkanoate), which avidly crystallizes. Also, he has used to his background in transport phenomena and polymer rheology to investigate atherosclerosis. Thus the hemodynamics of lipoprotein transport in branched arteries was modeled, indicating steep concentration gradients in the porous walls of arteries. Regions of localized lipoprotein transport were observed, as expected.

Finally, Dr. Collins has been awarded a NASA grant to undertake a project in more traditional polymer science, the modification of resins to be used in composites to build deep space structures. These include multi-element space-borne mirrors.

Recent Publications
MZ Darbeau, WE Collins, and R J Lutz, "Simulated Lipoprotein Transport in the Lumen and Wall of Branched Arteries," submitted to the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs Journal, vol. 45, 1999.

EA Angu, RC Cameron, SK Pollack, and WE Collins, "Underwater Captive Bubble Technique on Curved Surfaces of Blended Polydimethylsiloxanes," accepted by the Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 1999.

EA Angu, RC Cameron, SK Pollack, and WE Collins, "Vitronectin Adsorption onto Novel Phospholipid-Like Siloxane Blends," Transactions of the Society of Biomaterials, vol. 25, p. 54, 1999.

WE Collins, MZ Darbeau, and RJ Lutz, "Macromolecular Transport in Branched Arteries," American Society of Artificial Internal Organs Journal, vol. 45, p. 164, 1999.

FO Ayorinde, KA Saeed, E Price, A Morror, SK Pollack, WE Collins, F McInnis, and BE Eribo, "Bacterial Production of Poly(?-Hydroxybutyrate) from Saponified Vernonia galamensis Oil by Alcaligenes eutrophus," Journal of the Industrial Microbiology And Biotechnology, vol. 21, p. 46, 1998.

WE Collins, "Extending TAPPS Applications in Chemical Engineering Education," Proceedings of the Fall 1998 Regional Conference of the Middle Atlantic Section of the American Society Engineering Education, p. 158.

WE Collins, MZ Darbeau, and RJ Lutz, "Simulation of Macromolecular Transport in Branched Arteries," Extended Abstracts for the 1998 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Conference, 89a.

TM McGuthry-Banks, FO Ayorinde, BE Eribo and WE Collins, "Phase Transitions of a Bacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoate from a Novel Source" Proc. National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, vol. 25, p. 69, 1998.

WE Collins, "Protein Separation with Flow-Through Chromatography," Separation and Purification Methods, vol. 26, p. 215, 1997.