Our research projects are in three major areas: biomedical, surfactant solutions and advanced materials. In the biomedical area, we investigate surface chemical aspects of polymer adsorption on contact lenses in relation to biolubrication and comfort in the eyes. We also study transdermal diffusion of local anesthestics.

In various engineering processes such as cleaning, lubrication or dispersions, the adsorption of surfactants at the interface is very important. The molecular aggregates of surfactants are commonly known as micelles. We have shown that the lifetime of micelles is related to their stability. The more stable micelles lead to decreased flux when a new surface is created. Thus, we have shown that the micelle stability significantly influences the foaming, droplet size in emulsions, wetting of textile fibers, and the rate of solubilization of oil in detergent solutions.

Nanoparticles of superconductors and magnetic materials can be produced using microemulsion processing. Here, the micro droplets of water can be used as microreactors. Two identical microemulsions containing different reactants are mixed together so as to produce nanoparticles upon collision and coalescence of micro droplets. The precipitation reaction leads to the formation of nanoparticles in these microreactors. We have further shown that such nanopowders when used as the raw material can produce high density superconductors which exhibit superior levitation due to greater Meissner effect. The magnetic flux does not go through such dense superconductors. We have further shown using electron microscopy that the grain-size is considerably larger in the nanoparticle derived samples as compared to the conventionally prepared samples. The research of our group has been supported by the National Science Foundation and Electric Power Research Institute as well as by several industrial companies (Alcon Laboratories, Alcoa, Kimberly-Clark, Kraft, Procter & Gamble Company).