Mechrez Guy Ph.D.
Researcher
- Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences
- Food Sciences
- Volcani Institute, ARO HaMaccabim Road 68, P.O 15159 Rishon LeZion, 7505101 Israel
- +972-505749449
- +972-3-9683990
Biography
Guy Mechrez earned his Ph.D. in polymer science under Prof. Moshe Narkis at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Prof. Ester Segal from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering in the Technion, focusing on the development of CNT/polymer nanocomposites and their implementation for bio-catalytic filtration systems and supercapacitors. After completing his PhD in 2014, he joined Shamir Optical Industry, serving as the manager of the coating and materials R&D team. At the end of 2015, he joined the Department of Food Science at the Volcani Center, ARO, Israel. At the Volcani Center, he leads a research group focusing on polymer science, nanomaterials, soft matter, and colloidal science. The expertise of his research group lies in the areas of particle-stabilized emulsions and polymer nanocomposite science, spanning the length scale from the nano to the macro regime. Emphasis is placed on elucidating structure-property relationships of colloidal particles and polymeric nanocomposites at fluid and gas interfaces, as well as the design of Janus amphiphilic particles and novel materials derived from them.
By utilizing our fundamental understanding of polymer and colloidal science, with a particular emphasis on particle-stabilized emulsions (Pickering emulsions), we apply this knowledge to address challenges in agriculture and food applications. Our research includes the development of biological degradation mechanisms for plastics and bioplastics, DNA delivery into plant cells via protein nanoparticles, and therapeutic material delivery from plants to cancer cells. We also focus on developing hybrid living materials for agriculture, as well as creating superhydrophobic, anti-biofouling, and smart surfaces. Additionally, our group works on advancing vaccine formulations, biopesticide solutions, and chemical sensors for a wide range of applications.
Education
-
2014 - 2008
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, direct program, at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Title of thesis: Highly – Tunable Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Nanostructures: A New Approach for Controlled Structure and Properties Supervision by: Prof. Moshe Narkis and Prof. Ester Segal.
Research Interests
Our research combines polymer and material science with colloid science. The group focuses on applying the knowledge acquired for the development of functional materials for agriculture and food applications. Our goal is to apply our expertise in nanomaterials, polymers, emulsions, and colloids to the development of biological degradation mechanisms for plastics and bioplastics, DNA delivery into plant cells via protein nanoparticles, delivery methods of therapeutic active materials from plants to cancer cells, the development of hybrid living materials for agriculture based on single-cell encapsulation techniques, superhydrophobic, anti-biofouling, and smart surfaces for agriculture, the development of vaccine formulations, and biopesticide formulations, alongside the development of chemical sensors.
Our Publications: https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?user=SIdHZ8QAAAAJ&hl=iw
Research Areas
- Biological degradation mechanisms for plastics and bioplastics.
- DNA delivery into plant cells via protein nanoparticles.
- Delivery methods of therapeutic active materials from plants to cancer cells.
- Development of hybrid living materials for agriculture based on single-cell encapsulation techniques
- Superhydrophobic, anti-biofouling, and smart surfaces for agriculture.
- Development of vaccine formulations.
- Development of biopesticide formulations.
- Development of chemical sensors.