RUI: Synthesis and Characterization of End-Functionalized Starches for Generating Functional Hybrid Polymers and Novel Self-Assembled Architectures

在这个由化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，圣地亚哥大学的Peter M. Iovine将开发新的化学物质来功能化淀粉基聚合物材料，并将其纳入更复杂的大分子结构中。淀粉因其丰富度、生物可降解性、生物相容性、结构多样性和分子识别特性而成为一种多用途的高分子材料平台。研究目标包括研究和优化导致click synthons安装的链端修饰反应，开发一类具有直链或支链淀粉侧链的新型天然合成杂化聚合物，以及合成和研究基于直链淀粉的自组装聚合物。更广泛的影响主要集中在对本科生和博士后研究人员的高质量指导上。除了这些核心成果之外，项目的影响还包括课程开发、社区外展活动以及对本科环境中跨学科研究的支持。聚合物是长链有机分子，在日常生活的许多方面都使用塑料，包括食品包装，汽车和航空航天运输的结构材料，以及轻质电子设备。聚合物可以分为天然存在的和合成的，这意味着它们是用可以追溯到石化产品的原材料合成的。本研究探索了混合聚合物的制备，由天然聚合物和合成聚合物的组合组成。更具体地说，本研究的重点是研究和利用淀粉这一丰富而廉价的原料作为杂化聚合物的天然成分。这些关于淀粉化学的基本知识可以为生物医学材料、个人护理产品和包装材料等许多可能的用途带来新技术。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Peter M. Iovine of the University of San Diego will develop new chemistries to functionalize starch-based polymeric materials and to incorporate them into more complex macromolecular architectures. Starch is a versatile polymeric materials platform due to its abundance, biodegradability, biocompatibility, structural diversity, and molecular recognition behavior. The research objectives include studying and optimizing chain end-modifying reactions that lead to the installation of click synthons, developing a new class of natural-synthetic hybrid polymer featuring amylose or amylopectin side chains, and synthesizing and studying amylose-based self-assembled polymers. The broader impacts focus primarily on the high quality mentoring of undergraduate and postdoctoral researchers. Beyond these core outcomes, the project impacts include curriculum development, community outreach activities, and the support of interdisciplinary research in the undergraduate environment.Polymers are long chain organic molecules and are found in many facets of everyday life that utilize plastics, including food packaging, structural materials for automotive and aerospace transportation, and lightweight electronic devices. Polymers can be classified as either naturally occurring or synthetic, meaning they have been synthesized using raw materials that can be traced back to petrochemicals. This research explores the preparation of hybrid polymers, consisting of a combination of both natural and synthetic polymers. More specifically, this research focuses on studying and utilizing starch, an abundant and cheap raw material, as the natural component of the hybrid polymers. Such fundamental knowledge about starch chemistry could lead to new technologies for biomedical materials, personal care products, and packaging materials, amongst many possible uses.