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

CBET 1437831/1437767胶束是一种微小的自组装胶囊，可以为各种技术应用定制，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来微调，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。这个合作项目探索了嵌段共聚聚合物胶束的结构以及嵌段共聚聚合物的运动。通过结合先进的分析方法，研究人员将确定胶束包裹的化合物如何影响胶束结构和运动，以及胶束与其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制定胶束，用于药物输送、先进的润滑、石油开采、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、共溶剂和微囊化药物分子对嵌段共聚胶束结构和动力学的影响。目标模型添加剂(四氢呋喃和阿霉素)将被用来揭示这些添加剂对胶束结构和动力学的影响。利用小角中子散射和多峰核磁共振研究了添加剂-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埋化合物释放速率的影响。这些技术的结合将提供关键胶束尺寸和高度特定的动力学信息的综合图景，包括自由单分子交换动力学、嵌段和聚合链动力学、胶束扩散过程、详细的溶剂动力学和添加剂进出胶束的交换，以及裂变和融合速率。

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.