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Full-Text Articles in Chemistry
Polymer-Based Nanotherapeutics To Combat Difficult-To-Treat Bacterial Infections, Jessa Marie V. Makabenta
Polymer-Based Nanotherapeutics To Combat Difficult-To-Treat Bacterial Infections, Jessa Marie V. Makabenta
Doctoral Dissertations
The continuous emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a global health emergency, debilitating the capability to prevent and cure various infectious diseases that were once treatable. Antibiotic therapy is further rendered ineffective due to biofilm formation and the ability of bacteria to thrive and colonize inside mammalian cells. Given the diminishing efficacy of available antibiotics combined with the scarcity of new therapeutics entering the antibiotic pipeline, innovative treatment strategies are urgently in demand. Nanomaterial-based strategies offer ‘outside of the box’ approach for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Nanomaterials feature tunable physicochemical properties that can be carefully modified to …
Designing Polymer-Protein Complexes For Intracellular Delivery, Hazel Davis
Designing Polymer-Protein Complexes For Intracellular Delivery, Hazel Davis
Doctoral Dissertations
Previous work in the Tew group has demonstrated polymer cell-penetrating peptide mimics (CPPMs) as effective transporters of biological agents, including proteins and antibodies. These synthetic polymers non-covalently bind to cargo, offering a mechanism to deliver proteins in a way that does not alter protein secondary structure. However, correlations of the protein binding-delivery relationship or the role of polymer-protein complexation on intracellular activity of protein cargo are understudied. The work presented herein connects a fundamental understanding of polymer-protein complexation with intracellular internalization and cargo activity. Characterization and quantification of polymer-protein binding relationships were established using fluorescence quenching assays. In particular, the …
Design Of Resposive Oligomeric And Polymeric Interfaces For Sensing And Controlled Release Applications, . Manisha
Doctoral Dissertations
Nature has designed magnificent responsive systems by constructing several interacting molecular level networks for the recognition and propagation of chemical and biochemical information. One of the eminent characteristics of these systems is their capability to quickly transduce molecular scale recognition events into macroscopic or visually observable responses. Inspired by these systems present in nature, we became interested in developing artificial responsive systems with similar capabilities. This dissertation will feature four such systems that employ amphiphilic oligomers and polymers which were chosen as the scaffolds because of their high thermodynamic stability, low critical aggregation concentrations, convenient handles to incorporate functional group …
Electrospinning Fibers Via Complex Coacervation, Xiangxi Meng
Electrospinning Fibers Via Complex Coacervation, Xiangxi Meng
Doctoral Dissertations
Electrospun fibers are high-surface-area materials widely used in applications ranging from batteries to wound dressings. Typically, an electrospinning precursor solution is prepared by dissolving a high-molecular-weight polymer in an organic solvent to form a sufficiently entangled solution. Our approach bypasses the requirement for entanglements and completely avoids toxic chemicals by focusing on using an aqueous complex coacervates solution. Coacervates are a dense, polymer-rich liquid phase resulting from the associative electrostatic complexation of oppositely charged macroions. We were the first to demonstrate that liquid complex coacervates could be successfully electrospun into polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) fibers. A canonical coacervate system was formed …
Modification Of 2d Materials Utilizing Functional Polymer Interfacial Layers, Ryan Selhorst
Modification Of 2d Materials Utilizing Functional Polymer Interfacial Layers, Ryan Selhorst
Doctoral Dissertations
This dissertation describes the modification of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). These materials exhibit unique electronic properties, ranging from metallic to insulating, and can transport either electrons (n-type) or holes (p-type). Polymers containing electronically-active moieties offer a path to control the electronic properties of a 2D material without altering the inherent structure of the semiconductor. This dissertation focuses on the synthesis of polymers bearing chalcogen-rich or zwitterionic moieties to alter the electronic and solution properties of 2D materials. Chapter 2 describes polymers containing sulfur-rich tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and their effects as electroactive coatings on the TMDC molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). …
Protein Charge Anisotropy Mediated Self-Association And Phase Separation, Daniel P. Seeman
Protein Charge Anisotropy Mediated Self-Association And Phase Separation, Daniel P. Seeman
Doctoral Dissertations
Protein charge anisotropy results from the asymmetric distribution of charged residues on the exterior of a particular protein. Interactions between proteins and other macromolecules can be described in terms of attractive electrostatics; since electrostatic free energies, at optimal I, are on the order of kT, it is unlikely that such associations would result in desolvation, thus it is reasonable to consider such intermolecular attractions as being mediated by hydrated protein surfaces. Such interactions can be broken down in terms of a single protein interacting with a range of “binding partners”, including (1) protein-protein interactions, (2) protein-polymer interactions, and …
Design, Synthesis, And Bio Relevant Applications Of Zwitterionic Amphiphilic Macromolecular Assemblies, Rajasekhar Reddy Rami Reddy
Design, Synthesis, And Bio Relevant Applications Of Zwitterionic Amphiphilic Macromolecular Assemblies, Rajasekhar Reddy Rami Reddy
Doctoral Dissertations
Supramolecular nanoassemblies capable of reducing non-specific interactions with biological macromolecules, such as proteins, are of great importance for various biological applications especially for targeted drug delivery therapeutics. Recently, zwitterionic materials have been shown to reduce non-specific interactions with biomolecules, owing both to their charge neutrality and their ability to form strong hydration layer around zwitterions via electrostatic interactions. This dissertation focuses on design, synthesis, thorough characterization, and applications of zwitterionic amphiphilic dendrimers and polymeric materials. Firstly, A new triazole-based zwitterionic moiety was conceived and incorporated as the hydrophilic functionality in facially amphiphilic dendrons. Self-assembly characteristics and the structural and functional …
Visualizing And Controlling Charge Transport In Conjugated Polymer Networks And Films, Andrew Davis
Visualizing And Controlling Charge Transport In Conjugated Polymer Networks And Films, Andrew Davis
Doctoral Dissertations
VISUALIZAING AND CONTROLLING CHARGE TRANSPORT IN CONJUGATED POLYMER NETWORKS AND FILMS MAY 2014 ANDREW R. DAVIS, B.S., UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Kenneth R. Carter The desire for more commercially feasible flexible electronic plastics has led to the development of increasingly complex conjugated polymer architectures and device geometries. Through these efforts, tremendous advances have been made in the design and performance of electronic devices fabricated with solution-processable semiconducting polymers. However, none of these materials have yet reached commercial maturity, so the opportunity for their further exploration from both a …