Tuning Aqueous Micellar Gels and Nanoparticle-Containing Hybrid Micellar Gels of Thermosensitive Hydrophilic Block Copolymers

调节热敏亲水性嵌段共聚物的水性胶束凝胶和含纳米颗粒的混合胶束凝胶

• 批准号: 1206385
• 负责人: Bin Zhao
• 金额: $ 36.17万
• 依托单位: University of Tennessee Knoxville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2017-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1206385&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Tuning; Aqueous; Micellar; Gels; Nanoparticle

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Aqueous micellar gels of stimuli-responsive hydrophilic block copolymers have attracted growing interest in recent years due to the intriguing in situ sol-gel transitions induced by environmental triggers. These physical gels have great potential in many technological applications. This project is aimed at developing strategies to tune structures and properties of aqueous micellar gels of doubly thermosensitive block copolymers and of aqueous hybrid micellar gels of thermosensitive block copolymers and nanoparticles. A series of well-defined multi-responsive hydrophilic block copolymers and polymer brush-grafted nanoparticles ("hairy nanoparticles") will be synthesized by using "living"/controlled radical polymerization techniques. The responsive properties of these block copolymers and hairy nanoparticles in aqueous solutions will be examined. The sol-gel phase diagrams of thermosensitive block copolymers in low/moderate concentration ranges in the absence and presence of hairy nanoparticles will be determined, and the gel structures will be elucidated. A wide range of characterization techniques will be employed in this research, including light scattering, rheometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron microscopy. The knowledge gained from this research will provide a basis for the design of a new class of multi-responsive block copolymer micellar gels and hybrid micellar gels with tunable structures and properties for technological applications. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This project involves creating special categories of water-soluble gels that form micelles and nanoparticles. These new materials will be designed to respond to a variety of external stimuli and could have potential applications for sustained and triggered release of substances. Moreover, this research project provides a solid platform for training graduate and undergraduate students to synthesize and characterize a variety of new molecules and nanostructures by a broad range of techniques and to design stimuli-responsive soft and hybrid materials. Students will have an opportunity to gain a deep understanding of relationships among synthesis, structures, and properties. The PI will continue his effort to develop and enrich a laboratory component for the introductory polymer chemistry course in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The PI will also be active in helping science teaching in K-12 education. He and his graduate students will work with local high school teachers and students in his laboratory through summer programs to develop laboratory experiments for their chemistry classes.

技术摘要：由于环境触发因素引起的有趣的原位溶胶-凝胶转变，刺激响应性亲水性嵌段共聚物的水性胶束凝胶近年来引起了越来越多的兴趣。这些物理凝胶在许多技术应用中具有巨大潜力。该项目旨在开发策略来调整双热敏嵌段共聚物的水性胶束凝胶以及热敏性嵌段共聚物和纳米颗粒的水性杂化胶束凝胶的结构和性能。通过使用“活性”/受控自由基聚合技术，将合成一系列明确的多响应亲水性嵌段共聚物和聚合物刷接枝纳米颗粒（“毛状纳米颗粒”）。将检查这些嵌段共聚物和毛状纳米颗粒在水溶液中的响应特性。将确定在不存在和存在毛状纳米颗粒的情况下低/中等浓度范围内的热敏性嵌段共聚物的溶胶-凝胶相图，并阐明凝胶结构。这项研究将采用多种表征技术，包括光散射、流变测定、荧光光谱、小角 X 射线散射、差示扫描量热法和电子显微镜。从这项研究中获得的知识将为设计新型多响应嵌段共聚物胶束凝胶和具有可调结构和性能的技术应用混合胶束凝胶提供基础。非技术摘要：该项目涉及创建特殊类别的水溶性凝胶，以形成胶束和纳米颗粒。 这些新材料将被设计为响应各种外部刺激，并可能在物质持续和触发释放方面具有潜在的应用。 此外，该研究项目为培训研究生和本科生通过广泛的技术合成和表征各种新分子和纳米结构以及设计刺激响应的软质和混合材料提供了坚实的平台。 学生将有机会深入了解合成、结构和性质之间的关系。 PI 将继续努力开发和丰富田纳西大学诺克斯维尔分校化学系高分子化学入门课程的实验室部分。 PI 还将积极帮助 K-12 教育中的科学教学。他和他的研究生将通过暑期项目与当地高中教师和学生在他的实验室合作，为他们的化学课开发实验室实验。