Architecturally Diversified Miktoarm Star Polymers for Applications in Biology

Synthetic plastics in which one could easily tailor the overall structure and incorporate desired functions with ease continue to be at the forefront in research for biomedical applications. The synthetic challenges in constructing such complex structures could be overcome by introducing simple and high yield reactions which could help streamline their availability on a large scale, and thus help polymer industry in introducing these at an optimized cost. This proposal explores the design and synthesis of branched polymers commonly referred to as miktoarm stars using methodologies including anionic polymerization, ring opening etc. A variety of branched amphiphilic architectures with varied composition will be synthesized, and we shall examine their self-assembly in an aqueous medium to facilitate the delivery of lipophilic drugs to a diseased site.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ashok Kakkar

Student:

Partner:

Polymer Source Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University

Program: