Silicone-modified glycogen

Mirexus正在开发创新技术，以开发他们的关键产品--一种从玉米中生产的天然糖原树枝状大分子 (CG为玉米糖原)。该产品为单分散聚(糖基)纳米颗粒，直径约70 nm，在水中 高度亲水性，并且有一套非常有趣的特性。CG不具备的一个特征是部分或完全疏水性。这使得CG很难配制成任何以石油为基础的产品。有很多 部分或全部疏水修饰的糖类的潜在市场，包括营养食品、药品 尤其是化妆品。这项提案中涉及的研究试图创建这样的材料并调查其 针对不同市场的需求的物业。 有机硅是一类表面能低的生物相容聚合物。因此，当嫁接到 亲水性材料，如CG，表面活性材料更容易配制成油基载体和 乳剂。在这个项目中，我们将开发方法，允许不同数量和类型的硅胶接枝到 CG。将确定所得到的材料的性质，并确定结构/性质关系。有了这个 信息中，将有可能选择不同类型的有机硅/CG接枝共聚物用于各种应用， 包括化妆品。 我们的赞助商Mirexus将提供CG，更重要的是，他们将在Guelph的设施中获得仪器和专业知识。 我们将共同考察扩大选定有机硅/CG配方的能力。因此，HQP将暴露在 通过不同的合成方法开发新材料，产品的表征和效用的测定 这些材料可用于各种用途。HQP将包括一名研究助理和一名研究生。

Mirexus is developing innovative technology to exploit their key product, a natural glycogen dendrimer produced from corn (CG for corn glycogen). The product, monodisperse poly(saccharidic) nanoparticles of about 70 nm in diameter in water, are highly hydrophilic, and have a very interesting suite of properties. One characteristic that the CG does not possess is partial or complete hydrophobicity. This makes very difficult the formulation of the CG into any oil-based products. There are many potential markets for partly or completely hydrophobically-modified saccharides, including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and, particularly, cosmetics. The research addressed in this proposal seeks to create such materials and to investigate their properties against the needs of different markets. Silicones are a class of biocompatible polymers that have low surface energy. As a consequence, when grafted to hydrophilic materials, like CG, surface active materials result that are much easier to formulate into oil-based carriers and emulsions. In this project, we will develop methodologies to permit different quantities and types of silicone to be grafted to CG. The properties of the resulting materials will be established and structure/property relationships determined. With this information, it will be possible to select different types of silicone/CG graft copolymers for use in various applications, including cosmetics. Our sponsor, Mirexus, will provide CG and, more importantly, access to instruments and expertise in their facility in Guelph. Together, we will examine the ability to scale up selected silicone/CG formulations. Thus, HQP will be exposed to the development of new materials by various synthetic methods, characterization of the products, and determination of the utility of these materials for various applications. HQP will include a research associate and a graduate student.