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

在这个由化学系高分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，圣地亚哥大学的Peter M.Iovine将开发新的化学方法，使淀粉基聚合物材料功能化，并将它们整合到更复杂的大分子结构中。淀粉因其丰度、生物降解性、生物相容性、结构多样性和分子识别行为而成为一种多功能的高分子材料平台。研究目标包括研究和优化导致点击合成子安装的链末端修饰反应，开发一类新型的以直链或支链淀粉侧链为特征的天然-合成杂化聚合物，以及合成和研究直链淀粉基自组装聚合物。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，该项目的影响还包括课程开发、社区外展活动以及对本科生环境中跨学科研究的支持。聚合物是一种长链有机分子，存在于日常生活的许多方面，使用塑料，包括食品包装、汽车和航空航天运输的结构材料，以及轻型电子设备。聚合物可分为天然聚合物和合成聚合物，这意味着它们是使用可追溯到石化产品的原材料合成的。这项研究探索了杂化聚合物的制备，包括天然聚合物和合成聚合物的组合。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材料，作为杂化聚合物的天然成分。这些关于淀粉化学的基础知识可能会导致生物医学材料、个人护理产品和包装材料等许多可能的用途的新技术。

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.