Collaborative Research: Dynamics and Self-Assembly in Block Copolymer Micelles for Tailored Cargo Delivery

CBET 1437831/1437767胶束是微小的自组装胶囊，可以定制各种技术应用，包括将药物分子携带到体内的特定位置以及清理环境泄漏。胶束可以由两种连接的聚合物链组成的分子组成，称为嵌段共聚物。胶束行为可以通过改变嵌段共聚物的分子结构进行微调，从而有目的地设计内部化合物（如药物）的摄取量和释放速率。这个合作项目探讨了嵌段共聚物胶束的结构以及嵌段共聚物的运动。通过结合先进的分析方法，研究人员将确定胶束封装的化合物如何影响胶束结构和运动，以及胶束与周围环境之间的化合物交换。这些信息将帮助科学家和工程师精确地配制胶束，用于药物输送、高级润滑、石油提取、个人护理产品和其他行业的新应用。本项目旨在系统地研究小分子添加剂、助溶剂和包封的药物分子对嵌段共聚物胶束结构和动力学的影响。有针对性的模型添加剂（四氢呋喃和阿霉素）将被用来揭示这种添加剂对胶束结构和动力学的影响。小角中子散射和多模态核磁共振将用于研究添加剂-聚合物相互作用对胶束平衡结构、聚合物链和胶束动力学以及包封化合物的释放速率的影响。这些技术的组合将提供一个全面的画面的关键胶束尺寸和高度具体的动态信息，包括自由单聚物交换动力学，嵌段和聚合物链动力学，胶束扩散过程，详细的溶剂动力学和交换添加剂的胶束，和裂变和融合的速率。

CBET 1437831/1437767Micelles are tiny self-assembled capsules that can be customized for a variety of technological applications, including carrying drug molecules to a specific location inside the body as well as cleaning up environmental spills. Micelles can be composed of molecules made of two kinds of linked polymer chains, called block copolymers. Micelle behaviors can be finely tuned by changing the molecular structure of the block copolymers, and thus purposely designing the uptake amounts and release rates of interior compounds (such as drugs). This collaborative project explores the structure of block copolymer micelles as well as the block copolymer motions. By combining advanced analysis methods, the investigators will determine how the micelle-encapsulated compounds affect micelle structure and motions, and the exchange of compounds between micelles and their surroundings. This information will help scientists and engineers precisely formulate micelles for new applications in drug delivery, advanced lubrication, oil extraction, personal care products and other industries.This project aims to systematically examine the effects of small molecule additives, co-solvents, and encapsulated drug molecules, on the structure and dynamics of block copolymer micelles. Targeted model additives (tetrahydrofuran and doxorubicin) will be employed to uncover the influence of such additives on micelle structure and dynamics. Small angle neutron scattering and multi-modal nuclear magnetic resonance will be used to investigate the effects of additive-polymer interactions on micelle equilibrium structure, polymer chain and micelle dynamics, and release rates of encapsulated compounds. The combination of these techniques will provide a comprehensive picture of key micellar dimensions and highly specific dynamical information including free unimer exchange kinetics, block and polymer chain dynamics, micelle diffusion processes, detailed solvent dynamics and exchange of additives in and out of micelles, and rates of fission and fusion.