RUI: Terpenes as Versatile Building Blocks for Multivalent Polymeric and Nanoparticle Systems

在这个由化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，圣地亚哥大学化学系的Peter M.Iovine教授正在将萜类构建块转化为可持续的聚合物和纳米颗粒。萜烯是一大类不同的天然化合物，由各种植物(特别是松树等针叶树)和一些昆虫产生。在这项研究中，该团队利用光将萜类化合物与DNA相互作用转化为特定的纳米结构。确定了这些聚合物构筑块与所得纳米颗粒的稳定性、pH依赖性和结构之间的结构-功能关系。该项目通过为本科生提供科学上强有力的培训机会，产生了更广泛的影响。参与的学生在小分子和聚合物合成、表征和纳米材料开发方面获得不同的培训。这项研究的内容也被纳入圣地亚哥大学现有的化学课程。本研究致力于由萜类化合物衍生的新型聚合物和纳米粒子体系的合成。这种方法的创新是双重的。首先，对萜烯和含萜烯的聚合物进行合成修饰，以使产品显示出官能团簇。然后，通过离子和/或非共价相互作用，将这些基于萜烯的构建块组装成定义的纳米结构，从而形成功能纳米颗粒。第一个重点是创建萜类衍生的聚阳离子聚合物，以及这些聚合物与DNA的络合作用以产生纳米颗粒(聚合物)。第二个推动力也始于功能萜烯，但重点是聚硼化而不是聚阳离子。一旦合成，多硼化的构建块就会与Lewis碱性聚合物形成络合物，从而产生一种新的富硼纳米颗粒(硼络合物)。萜类化合物的基本性质。对富硼纳米粒子进行了系统的研究，阐明了影响其组装的各种因素。该项目有可能扩大萜类化合物作为聚合物结构和纳米材料的可持续化学构建块的利用。开发的合成方法还可能影响可持续多元醇、表面活性剂、涂料和纳米复合材料等应用领域的发展。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Peter M. Iovine of the Department of Chemistry at the University of San Diego is transforming terpene building blocks into sustainable polymers and nanoparticles. Terpenes are a large and diverse class of natural compounds, produced by a variety of plants (particularly conifers such as pine trees) and by some insects. In this research, the team uses light to convert terpenes into defined nanostructures upon interaction with DNA. Structure-function relationships between these polymeric building blocks and the resultant nanoparticle stability, pH dependence and structure are determined. The project has broader impact by providing scientifically robust training opportunities for undergraduate students. Participating students acquire diverse training in small molecule and polymer synthesis, characterization, and nanomaterials development. Elements of this research are also incorporated into existing chemistry courses at the University of San Diego. This research is focused on the synthesis of new polymer and nanoparticle systems derived from terpenes. The innovation in the approach is two-fold. First, terpenes and terpene-containing polymers are synthetically modified such that the products display clusters of functional groups. These terpene-based building blocks are then assembled into defined nanostructures through ionic and/or non-covalent interactions leading to functional nanoparticles. The first thrust focuses on the creation of terpene-derived polycationic polymers and the complexation of these polymers by DNA to produce nanoparticles (polyplexes). The second thrust also starts with functional terpenes but focuses on polyborylation instead of polycationization. Once synthesized, polyborylated building blocks form complexes with Lewis basic polymers to produce a new class of boron-rich nanoparticles (boraplexes). The fundamental properties of terpene-derived. boron-rich nanoparticles are systematically investigated, and various factors that affect their assembly elucidated. This project has the potential to expand the utilization of terpenes as a sustainable chemical building block for polymer constructs and nanomaterials. The developed synthetic methodology could also impact development in application areas such as sustainable polyols, surfactants, coatings, and nanocomposites.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.