Macromolecular Nano-Carriers from Star Polymers produced via RAFT Polymerization

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Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization will be utilized for the formation of star polymers with controlled molecular weights, narrow polydispersities, and predetermined microstructures. New plurifunctional star shaped RAFT agents will be designed and tested in order to arrive at star polymers with high microstructural homogeneity. Controlled RAFT star polymerizations leading to star homo and star block copolymers will be studied with respect to their mechanism especially focusing on the interpenetration of linear and star polymeric coils, which is a crucial step for the overall process. The experimental studies will be supported by modeling of the star polymerizations using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The star polymeric material will subsequently be employed as template for tailored polymeric nano carriers for the transportation of agents through media of opposite polarity. Amphiphilic star block copolymers will be constructed such that the outer sphere of the star polymer may form a crosslinked shell and that the inner region contains polymeric arms with opposite polarity to the shell. After removal of the central core moiety, a nano capsule with dangling polymeric chains inside will be obtained, with both the inner region and the overall capsule size being tunable via the controlled polymerization process. The molecular uptake characteristics of these core shell structures will be studied in detail.