Organized responsive soft matter: films and colloids

纳米技术影响着我们的日常活动，包括医疗保健。诊断工具以及医学成像或药物配方依赖于聚合物纳米颗粒，以保护其负载免受恶劣的体内环境的影响。我们最近发现聚甜菜碱可以绕过胞吞作用使细胞膜移位，从而导致高药物摄取。这一成功鼓励我们加深对聚甜菜碱与细胞膜相互作用的基本理解，使用模型磷脂囊泡和界面。具体来说，我们将评估聚甜菜碱链的拓扑结构（线性、环状、星形）对其被细胞膜吸收的影响。模拟和一些实验表明链拓扑在药物传递中的重要性，但这个主题大多未被探索。制备拓扑纯聚合物是困难的。凭借我们之前成功合成环状和星型非离子聚合物的经验，我们已经做好了克服这一挑战的准备。

Nanotechnology affects our daily activities, including medical care. Diagnostics tools as well as medical imaging or drug formulations rely on polymer nanoparticles that protect their load against the harsh in-vivo environment. We recently discovered that poly(betaines) can translocate the cell membrane, bypassing endocytosis, which results in high drug uptake. This success encouraged us to deepen our fundamental understanding of the interactions of poly(betaines) with the cell membrane, using model phospholipids vesicles and interfaces. Specifically, we will assess the effects of the topology (linear, cyclic, star-like) of the poly(betaine) chains on their uptake by the cell membrane. Simulations and a few experiments indicate the importance of chain topology in drug delivery, but the topic is mostly unexplored. The preparation of topologically pure polymers is difficult. With our previous experience in the successful synthesis of cyclic and star nonionic polymers, we are well prepared to overcome the challenge.