Russell J. Composto
Professor
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Bioengineering (BE)
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE)
Research Expertise: Polymers | Material Interfaces | Biomaterials
Russ is involved in polymer science and biomolecular engineering research. His interests extend to polymer surfaces and interfaces, adhesion and diffusion, and nanocomposite polymer blend and copolymer films. Russ's biomaterials work centers around manipulating the surface of polymers to elicit control over protein adsorption, as well as cell adhesion, orientation, and function, and he has an active research program at the interface of polymer science and biomolecular engineering, which combines block copolymer self-assemble as a basis for orienting stiff biological molecules.
Member of:- Nano/Bio Interface Center (NBIC)
- Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME)
- Penn Center for Energy Innovation
Affiliations: Graduate Group Chair, MSE
Education:
PhD Materials Science and Engineering 1987 - Cornell University
MS Materials Science 1984 - Cornell University
BA Physics 1982 - Gettysburg College
Recent Publications 
- Hyaluronan and dextran modified tubes resist cellular activation with blood contact, Eckmann, D.M. | Tsai, I.Y. | Tomczyk, N. | Weisel, J.W. | Composto, R.J., Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2013
- Topological entanglement length in polymer melts and nanocomposites by a DPD polymer model, Karatrantos, A. | Clarke, N. | Composto, R.J. | Winey, K.I., Soft Matter, 2013
- Dispersion of polymer-grafted nanorods in homopolymer films: Theory and experiment, Frischknecht, A.L. | Hore, M.J.A. | Ford, J. | Composto, R.J., Macromolecules, 2013
- Temperature dependence of polymer diffusion in MWCNT/PS nanocomposites, Tung, W.-S. | Clarke, N. | Composto, R.J. | Winey, K.I., Macromolecules, 2013
- Strategies for dispersing, assembling, and orienting nanorods in polymers, Hore, M.J.A. | Composto, R.J., Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 2013