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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Functional Hydrophilic Polymers For Solution Assembly And Non-Viral Gene Therapy, Rachel A. Letteri
Functional Hydrophilic Polymers For Solution Assembly And Non-Viral Gene Therapy, Rachel A. Letteri
Doctoral Dissertations
This thesis examines functional hydrophilic polymers designed in linear and comb architectures and that carry functional moieties in the context of solution assembly and non-viral gene therapy. Specifically, polymers containing cations, zwitterions, and reactive groups are investigated as non-viral gene therapy reagents and at oil-water interfaces on droplets. Cations facilitate complexation of nucleic acids and interaction with cellular and nuclear membranes, while zwitterions impart stimuli-responsive solution properties and biocompatibility. Reactive groups, including alkenes, alkynes, and benzylic methylenes, permit post-polymerization modification leading to tunable polymer properties in solution and at interfaces. This work expands the knowledge base related to solution, interfacial, …
Supramolecular Strategies For The Generation Of Nanoparticle Assemblies And Biomolecular Thin Films, Bradley P. Duncan
Supramolecular Strategies For The Generation Of Nanoparticle Assemblies And Biomolecular Thin Films, Bradley P. Duncan
Doctoral Dissertations
The conceptual framework of supramolecular chemistry elucidates a powerful set of strategies for chemists to generate functional nanomaterials based on intermolecular forces. My research focused on tuning the molecular interactions of nanoscale components to create larger structures with enhanced properties. In one approach, I developed and optimized an additive-free, nanoimprint lithography-based methodology to generate stable thin films from a variety of proteins. The generalized process retains intrinsic properties of the protein as demonstrated by selective cellular adhesion. The heat and pressure of the nanoimprinting process induces slight structural reorganization of the peptide side chains to yield highly stable films held …