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

在这个由化学系化学测量和成像计划资助的项目中，阿克伦大学的克里斯·韦斯德米奥蒂斯教授和他的团队将开发用于表征合成聚合物的新的质谱学技术。将对各种共聚物进行涉及碰撞激活和电子转移解离的串联质谱学研究，目的是阐明相应的裂解途径，并评估它们所揭示的关于共聚物微观结构和序列的信息。另一个目标是创建用于分析多组分聚合物混合物的界面分离/质谱学策略。具体地说，将研究用于表征两亲性混合物的相互作用的液相色谱，以及用于鉴定聚合物结构，特别是超分子聚合物的结构的离子迁移率质谱仪。计划中的研究的一个主要推动力是需要对阿克伦大学和俄亥俄州东北部的几家公司设计和生产的用于工业、临床和生物医学的新型高分子材料进行精确和灵敏的化学分析。该项目开发的方法将有助于为广泛的应用设计更好的、商业上可行的材料。此外，计划中的研究将在材料研究和质谱分析方面教育和培训本科生、研究生和研究生，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生，这两个领域是增加当地和全国就业机会的两个领域。

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.