Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Characterization of Polymer Composition, Structure, and Architecture

在这个由化学部门化学测量和成像项目资助的项目中，阿克伦大学的Chrys wesdemotis教授和他的团队将开发新的质谱技术来表征合成聚合物。包括碰撞激活和电子转移离解在内的串联质谱研究将在各种共聚物上进行，目的是阐明相应的断裂途径，并评估它们揭示的共聚物微观结构和序列的信息。进一步的目标是创建用于多组分聚合物混合物分析的界面分离/质谱分析策略。具体地说，将研究相互作用液相色谱法对两亲共混物的表征，以及离子迁移率质谱法对聚合物结构，特别是超分子聚合物结构的鉴定。阿克伦大学和俄亥俄州东北部的几家公司为工业、临床和生物医学用途而设计和生产的新型大分子材料需要精确和敏感的化学分析，这是计划研究的主要推动力。在这个项目中开发的方法将有助于设计更好的、商业上可行的材料，用于各种各样的应用。此外，计划中的研究将教育和培训本科生、研究生和研究生研究人员，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生，从事材料研究和质谱分析，这两个领域将增加当地和全国的就业机会。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Chrys Wesdemiotis of the University of Akron and his group will develop new mass spectrometry techniques for the characterization of synthetic polymers. Tandem mass spectrometry studies involving collision-activated as well as electron-transfer dissociation will be performed on a variety of copolymers with the goal to elucidate the corresponding fragmentation pathways and evaluate the information they reveal about copolymer microstructure and sequence. A further goal is to create interfaced separation/mass spectrometry strategies for the analysis of multi-component polymer mixtures. Specifically, interactive liquid chromatography will be examined for the characterization of amphiphilic blends, and ion mobility mass spectrometry for the identification of polymer architectures, in particular the structures of supramolecular polymers. A major impetus for the planned studies is the need of precise and sensitive chemical analyses for the new macromolecular materials designed and produced for industrial, clinical, and biomedical use at the University of Akron and several corporations in Northeast Ohio. The methods developed in this project will help to engineer better, commercially viable materials for a wide variety of applications. In addition, the planned research will educate and train undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate researchers, including students from underrepresented groups, in materials research and mass spectrometry analysis, two areas of increasing employment opportunities both locally and nationally.