Overview
Topic status: In progress
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 (a profluorescent nitroxide) 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.
The student will be involved in synthesizing a library of poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid) star polymers using controlled free radical polymerisation. They will then take these polymers and micellise them in water solutions and see how changing variables such as block length effects the morphology of the micelles formed. Loading of the sensor compounds would also be attempted with quantification possible through UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Expected outcomes
It is expected that the student would gain experience working in a synthetic organic/polymer chemistry laboratory. 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).
Duration of project
8 weeks, start time is flexible (Dec 2011 or Jan 2012)
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scholarship
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor for enquiries.
Dr Kathryn Fairfull-Smith
Dr James Blinco
