Inter-American Materials Collaboration: Mexico/United States

这次美洲材料合作将由美国聚合物界面和高分子组装中心(CPIMA)的IBM-Almaden的Curtis Frank和Craig Hawker，以及墨西哥Tijuana技术研究所(ITT)的A.Licea-Claverie和下加利福尼亚自治大学(Baja)的J.Cornejo-Bravo领导的小组聚集在一起。该项目旨在开发新的合成方法和表征技术，用于制备和研究定义明确的智能材料。活性自由基聚合技术是合成结构和构型可控的聚合物的平台，可对两种不同的刺激做出反应：温度和pH。详细探讨了结构特征，如通过形成嵌段共聚物来分离响应单元，以及链结构的性质(线性、接枝、星形和网络结构)。此外，我们还研究了由线型、接枝型和星型结构在溶液中由温度或pH驱动的可逆超分子结构的形成。一个更根本的挑战是了解这些刺激反应材料的结构、性质和功能之间的关系。在此基础上，研究了药物和其他小分子从凝胶、星形物质、聚合物-药物复合体或超分子结构(例如聚合物胶束)的受控释放。一个充满活力和跨学科的教学和推广计划是这个项目的一个重要特点，并极大地扩展了建立在这些科学基础上的合作关系。在CPIMA开发的聚合物化学和材料研究方面的教育和教学专业知识被转移到ITT和BAJA，而本科生、研究生和博士后学者在这三个机构进行研究建立了一个独特的合作环境。此外，本科生和毕业生接触到国际学术与学术和工业与学术相结合的环境，提供了一种令人振奋的研究体验。该奖项由材料研究部、国际科学和工程办公室以及数学和物理科学局的多学科活动办公室提供支持。

This Inter-American Materials Collaboration brings together groups led by Curtis Frank, Stanford University, and Craig Hawker, IBM-Almaden, at the Center for Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA) in the US, and A. Licea-Claverie, Instituto Tecnologico de Tijuana (ITT), and J. Cornejo-Bravo, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (BAJA), in Mexico. The project aims to develop new synthetic approaches and characterization techniques for the preparation and study of well-defined smart materials. Living free radical polymerization techniques are developed as a platform for the synthesis of polymers with controlled structure and architecture that respond to two different stimuli: temperature and pH. Structural features, such as the separation of the responsive units via the formation of block copolymers, and the nature of the chain architectures (linear, grafted, stars, and networks) are explored in detail. Furthermore, the reversible temperature- or pH-driven formation of supramolecular structures in solution from the linear, grafted, and star architectures are studied. A more fundamental challenge is to understand the relationships among structure, property, and function for these stimuli-responsive materials. Based on this understanding, the controlled release of drugs and other small molecules from gels, stars, polymer-drug complexes, or supramolecular structures (e.g. polymeric micelles) is examined. A vigorous and interdisciplinary teaching and outreach program is a critical feature of this project and significantly extends the collaborative relationships built on these scientific foundations. Educational and teaching expertise in polymer chemistry and materials research that has been developed in CPIMA is transferred to both ITT and BAJA, while the exposure of undergraduates, graduates, and post-doctoral scholars to research at all three institutions establishes a unique collaborative environment. In addition, exposure of undergraduates and graduates to a combined international academic-academic and industrial-academic setting provides an invigorating research experience. This award is supported by the Division of Materials Research, the Office of International Science and Engineering, and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.