Exploiting the self-assembly of functional, biocompatible silicones

表面活性分子(表面活性剂)的自组装在从清洁应用(如肥皂)到生物的各个领域中都是一个关键过程-细胞膜由表面活性剂双层组成。有机硅表面活性剂具有优异的性能，但用途有限，因为没有有效的方法来制备显性结构，也不了解什么结构可以满足给定的需求。 我的研究重点是使用我们开发的三种不同的策略来创建显式的基于有机硅的新表面活性剂：来自硼催化缩合反应(Piers-Rubinsztajn反应)的3D树枝，柠檬酸修饰的有机硅，以及基于有机硅的超级润湿剂。系统地分析这些分子的表面行为，包括自组装，作为结构的函数，将允许开发将结构与表面活性联系起来的预测规则。 利用预测规则设计的具有适当结构的表面活性剂将被用来作为高表面积金属(金、铂、钯)形成的模板，这些金属应该在催化中发挥作用，并对弹性体进行改性，以提高其在生物材料应用中的有效性，包括植入式医疗设备。这些材料本身是有意义的，但这项工作更重要的结果将是继续培养所有学术水平的高素质人员(HQP)，并在与加拿大相关的研究课题中进行科学发现，出版物和专利都证明了这一点。

The self-assembly of surface-active molecules (surfactants) is a key process in domains ranging from cleaning applications (e.g., soaps) to biology - cell membranes are comprised of surfactant bilayers. Silicone-based surfactants have exceptional properties, but have only seen limited utility because there are no effective routes to the preparation of explicit structures and no understanding of what structure would fulfill a given need. My research is focused on creating explicit new surfactants based on silicones using three distinct strategies that we have developed: 3D dendrons from boron-catalyzed condensations (Piers-Rubinsztajn Reaction), citrate acid-modified silicones, and superwetters based on silicones. Systematic analysis of the surface behaviors, including self-assembly, of these molecules, as a function of structure, will permit the development of predictive rules linking structure to surface activity. Surfactants with appropriate structures, designed using the predictive rules, will be used to template the formation of high surface area metals (gold, platinum, palladium) that should see utility in catalysis, and to modify elastomers to improve their utility in biomaterials applications, including for implantable medical devices. These materials are of interest in their own right, but the more important outcome of this work will be the continued production of highly qualified personnel (HQP) at all academic levels, and scientific discovery within research topics relevant to Canada as demonstrated by both publications and patents.