Scaffold Design for Photogrowable Nanonetworks and Pre-Evaluation for Orthogonal Nanoparticle Expansion

Simple item page
dc.contributorWidger, William R.
dc.contributorSirrieh, Rita
dc.contributorHarth, Eva M.
dc.contributor.authorDe Vita Sifontes, Giovanna V.
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-11T14:40:44Z
dc.date.available2022-07-11T14:40:44Z
dc.date.issued2021-12-03
dc.description.abstractA substantial part of polymer chemistry focuses on the formation of block copolymers for functionalization. These polymers possess a wide range of characteristics based on how they are constructed and polymerized. Recently, the focus in this field has shifted to the formation of nanoparticles. Harth’s research group has led the way in creating photogrowable nanonetworks (PGNNs). There is an inherent difficulty in conducting orthogonal expansion polymerizations once a PGNN is formed. The challenge of PGNN is to conduct controlled polymerizations that expand either from the scaffold or crosslinker without affecting each other or any end groups. This project covers the formation of various scaffolds for PGNNs with varying properties, and pre-evaluation polymerization reactions involving symmetrical trithiocarbonate crosslinkers to conduct orthogonal polymerizations on nanoparticles involving these scaffolds and crosslinkers. Scaffolds were constructed using reversible-addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, or atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The preliminary reactions that tested the crosslinkers were performed with catalyst ZnTPP under green light and with methyl acrylate as the monomer. Several control reactions were performed to examine the orthogonality of the nanonetwork polymerizations. The construction of the scaffolds provided three different designs for expansion methods and different attachment methods for the crosslinkers. Evaluation tests performed on the crosslinkers demonstrated that orthogonal polymerization can be achieved on a PGNN. This project contributed to the formation of three different design scaffolds for future PGNNs and controlled reactions that demonstrate orthogonal expansion of the individual components of photogrowable networks.
dc.description.departmentBiology and Biochemistry, Department of
dc.description.departmentHonors College
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/10515
dc.language.isoen
dc.relation.ispartofSenior Honors Theses
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectnanoparticles
dc.subjectnanonetworks
dc.subjectscaffolds
dc.subjectcrosslinkers
dc.subjectpolymer chemistry
dc.subjectorthogonal polymerization
dc.subjecttrithiocarbonates
dc.subjectRAFT
dc.subjectPET-RAFT
dc.subjectATRP
dc.subjectPGNN
dc.subjectphotogrowth
dc.subjectnanoparticle expansion
dc.subjectchain extension
dc.subjectend group removal
dc.subjectblock copolymers
dc.subjectnetworks
dc.subjectbiochemistry
dc.titleScaffold Design for Photogrowable Nanonetworks and Pre-Evaluation for Orthogonal Nanoparticle Expansion
dc.typeHonors Thesis
dc.type.dcmiText
dcterms.accessRightsThe full text of this item is not available at this time because the student has placed this item under an embargo for a period of time. The Libraries are not authorized to provide a copy of this work during the embargo period.
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
thesis.degree.levelBachelors
thesis.degree.nameBachelor of Science

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
DeVitaSifontes_Giovanna_Thesis2021.pdf
Size:
1.64 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

2021-2022 Senior Honors Theses