Hua, Zan (2018) Synthetic nucleobase-containing acrylamide polymers and their applications in aqueous solutions. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the synthesis and self-assembly of nucleobase-containing acrylamide amphiphiles and investigates their self-assembly behaviors and potential applications in aqueous solutions.

In Chapter 1, the synthesis and self-assembly of block copolymers are briefly introduced. Then the effect of H-bonding interactions on self-assembly behaviours is highlighted. Finally, an overview of the synthesis, self-assembly and applications of synthetic nucleobase-containing polymers is presented.

Chapter 2 investigates the effect of complementary nucleobase interactions within micellar cores on the morphologies of self-assemblies in aqueous solutions. Self-assemblies with different core sizes of thymine are fabricated and their morphological transitions with introducing complementary copolymers are studied as well.

Chapter 3 systematically explores the pathway-dependent and complementary chain-selective morphological transitions of micelles with a thymine core. In addition, the complementary H-bonding within micellar cores is utilized to prepare a series of worms with different lengths and widths in aqueous media.

Chapter 4 builds on the knowledge obtained in the previous Chapters. A series of mixed corona micelles are fabricated through a simple supramolecular ‘grafting-to’ approach. By introducing protein ligands and environment-sensitive fluorophores at the end of corona, the reveal and concealment of functional groups on the micelle surface through heating and cooling are investigated.

Chapter 5 reveals the synergetic H-bonding and thymine photodimerization give a novel polymer fluorescent dots. A number of factors are investigated on the observed fluorescent properties, including the effect of blocking H-bonding interactions and changing the degree of core-crosslinking.

Finally, Chapter 6 summarizes the conclusions of Chapters 2-5 and provides some insights and outlines for the future work

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Amphiphiles -- Synthesis, Acrylamide, Self-assembly (Chemistry), Block copolymers -- Synthesis, Solution (Chemistry), Micelles, Nanoparticles
Official Date:	February 2018
Dates:	Date Event February 2018 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Chemistry
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	O'Reilly, Rachel K.
Sponsors:	University of Warwick ; China Scholarship Council
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	293 leaves : illustrations, charts
Language:	eng

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