Multifunctional Hybrid Nanomaterials: Development to Biomedical Applications

在聚合物和树状大分子化学的主题下，这个研究项目的目标，包括三个项目，是创造在纳米医学中使用的新型大分子。基础科学研究是开发实际应用材料的基础。通过这个研究项目，我们的短期目标是合理设计新的结构，研究它们独特的性能，从长远来看，利用它们作为构建块来制造用于生物医学应用的新型纳米材料。第一个项目的目标是创造一类定义良好的新型金属聚合物。虽然已经报道了各种各样的金属聚合物，但基于n -杂环螃蟹烯（NHCs）的金属聚合物非常罕见。这与NHCs与许多金属离子形成强键的事实形成鲜明对比。在我们的方法中，我们将合成各种基于nhc金属配合物的金属聚合物，如Au和Ag。然后，我们将使用这些新材料作为新型前体，用于合成具有可控尺寸和成分的纳米颗粒，从而为干燥输送应用提供微调的光电性能。在第二个项目中，我们将介绍晶体线性-枝晶嵌段共聚物（bcp）作为纳米材料工程的新型自组装构建块。虽然在一定程度上报道了非晶线状树突状bcp的合成和自组装，但目前还没有具有晶段的线状树突状bcp的例子。使用这类新开发的bcp，我们将形成具有长血液循环时间的纳米材料，同时能够有效地与生物系统相互作用。第三个项目的重点将是设计和合成基于高氟化树状大分子的纳米材料。与氟化线性聚合物不同，文献中只有少数报道展示了氟化树状大分子。利用我们的新氟化树状大分子，它们深入的自组装研究可以为纳米医学开辟令人兴奋的机会。除了用作药物传递载体外，我们还将在19F磁共振成像中研究这些材料作为固有活性纳米结构。提议的研究计划是在功能聚合物，树突状聚合物和纳米材料领域的前沿。这一创新计划的成果将对国内和国际材料化学的高度增长领域做出高影响力的贡献。通过这个项目，高素质的人才将接受有机、无机和材料合成和表征技术的广泛培训，并将接触到与生物和计算化学家的广泛合作机会，所有这些都将是培养他们未来职业所需技能的必要条件。

Under the general theme of polymer and dendrimer chemistry, the objective of this research program, consisting of three projects, is to create new classes of macromolecules that converge in their use in nanomedicine. Research in fundamental science is the basis for development of materials for real world applications. Through this research program, our short-term goal is to rationally design new structures and study their unique resulting properties, and, in the long-term, use them as building blocks to fabricate novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The first project aims to create a new class of well-defined metallopolymers. Although a wide variety of metallopolymers have been reported, those based on N-heterocyclic crabenes (NHCs) are very rare. This is in sharp contrast with the fact that NHCs have been shown to form strong bonds to many metal ions. In our approach, we will synthesize a variety of metallopolymers based on NHCmetal complexes with metals such as Au and Ag. We will then use these new materials as novel precursors for the synthesis of nanoparticles with controlled dimensions and compositions and, hence, fine-tuned optoelectronic properties for dry delivery applications.In the second project, we will introduce crystalline linear-dendritic block copolymers (BCPs) as new self-assembling building blocks for nanomaterial engineering. Although the synthesis and self-assembly of amorphous linear-dendritic BCPs is reported to some extent, there are no examples of linear-dendritic BCPs with crystalline segments. Using this newly-developed class of BCPs, we will form nanomaterials that have long blood circulation times while, at the same time, are capable of effectively interacting with biological systems. The focus of the third project will be the design and synthesis of nanomaterials based on highly-fluorinated dendrimers. Unlike fluorinated linear polymers, there are only handful reports showcasing fluorinated dendrimers in the literature. Using our new fluorinated dendrimers, their in-depth self-assembly study can open exciting opportunities in nanomedicine. Besides their use as drug delivery vehicles, we will also investigate these materials as inherently-active nanostrutures in 19F magnetic resonance imaging. The proposed research program is at the cutting edge of functional polymer-, dendrimer-, and nanomaterials fields. Outcomes of this innovative program will make high-impact contributions to the highly-growing field of materials chemistry, nationally and internationally. Through this program, highly qualified personnel will receive extensive training in organic, inorganic, and materials synthesis and characterization techniques, and will be exposed to extensive collaboration opportunities with bio- and computational chemists, all of which will be essential to develop necessary skillset for their future careers.