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Stimuli-Responsive Polymersomes And Surface Functionalized Dendrimersomes: Platforms For Biomedical Applications, J Trevor Mcintosh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) and dendrimers are known to self-assemble in aqueous solution to form a number of aggregate morphologies. These different architectures are largely a function of the hydrophilic volume or weight fractions of the different components of the polymer system. One possible morphology is a vesicle, also referred to as a polymersome or dendrimersome when BCPs or dendrimers, respectively, are used. Vesicles are multi-functional, supramolecular, bilayer assemblies, whose potential for stimuli-responsiveness and surface functionalization make them promising materials for a variety of biomedical applications. This thesis demonstrates the use of UV-sensitive block copolymers forming photodegradable vesicles, as well …