Silicone-modified glycogen

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Mirexus is developing innovative technology to exploit their key product, a natural glycogen dendrimer produced from corn (CG for corn glycogen). The product, monodisperse poly(saccharidic) nanoparticles of about 70 nm in diameter in water, are highly hydrophilic, and have a very interesting suite of properties. One characteristic that the CG does not possess is partial or complete hydrophobicity. This makes very difficult the formulation of the CG into any oil-based products. There are many potential markets for partly or completely hydrophobically-modified saccharides, including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and, particularly, cosmetics. The research addressed in this proposal seeks to create such materials and to investigate their properties against the needs of different markets. Silicones are a class of biocompatible polymers that have low surface energy. As a consequence, when grafted to hydrophilic materials, like CG, surface active materials result that are much easier to formulate into oil-based carriers and emulsions. In this project, we will develop methodologies to permit different quantities and types of silicone to be grafted to CG. The properties of the resulting materials will be established and structure/property relationships determined. With this information, it will be possible to select different types of silicone/CG graft copolymers for use in various applications, including cosmetics. Our sponsor, Mirexus, will provide CG and, more importantly, access to instruments and expertise in their facility in Guelph. Together, we will examine the ability to scale up selected silicone/CG formulations. Thus, HQP will be exposed to the development of new materials by various synthetic methods, characterization of the products, and determination of the utility of these materials for various applications. HQP will include a research associate and a graduate student.