Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Project Summary
Many potential drug compounds suffer from a lack of solubility in aqueous environments making delivery into the body quite challenging. One delivery technique is the use of a polymeric micelle where the drug is encapsulated in a hydrophobic core but solubilised by the hydrophilic corona. The aim of this project would be to synthesise a series of star amphiphilic block copolymers and to use them to form micelles for the delivery of a fluorescent sensor compound into cells. Changes in block structure and block length will be investigated with regard to micelle morphology as well as sensor loading within the micelle.
Expected outcomes, applications and/or benefits
The student will be involved in synthesizing a library of star polymers using controlled free radical polymerisation. They will then take these polymers and examine their efficiency as thermo-responsive sensors over a range of temperatures using instrumental techniques such as fluorescence. This project will involve the synthesis, purification and characterisation of both small-molecule (e.g. multi-functional initiators) and polymeric materials. Students will gain synthetic skills in organic chemistry and chromatography and instrumental experience with compound and polymer characterisation (NMR, SEC, DLS, MS, IR, fluorescence, UV/vis etc).
Required student skills/experience
Students require an undergraduate GPA of 5.5 or better and should have a minimum of chemistry as a minor within their degree. Interests in polymer or synthetic organic chemistry would be preferable.
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scholarship
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Keywords
- drug, compounds, amphiphilic, cell
- Contact
- Contact the supervisor for more information
Dr James Blinco
Dr Kathryn Fairfull-Smith
Professor Steven Bottle
