Elizabeth Foreman is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Polymer Science at the University of Akron. She obtained a BS in Chemistry at Delaware Valley College, Pennsylvania in 2004. She joined Dr.Puskas’ group in December of 2004 as a PhD. Candidate.. Her research interests include the synthesis of arborescent Polyisobutylene-p-Methylystyrene Block copolymers using carbocationic polymerization and the surface functionalization of these materials for biomedical applications.

Surface Functionalization of Novel Biomaterials from arborescent Polyisobutylene-pMethylstyrene-OH : One of the biggest problems that occurs in all biomaterials is the calcification or “encrustation” of the surface of the material. The mechanism of this encrustation is not fully understood; however, it is thought that the surface properties of the material are critical. It has been believed that increasing the hydrophilicity of the surface helps to increase cell adhesion and optimum proliferation around the implant. This work involves surface functionalization by self-assembly of functionalized PIB-based biomaterials using a novel inimer (initiator-monomer), 4-(1,2-oxirane-isopropyl)-styrene.