Presentation day

Thursday  1:30 PM

 

TITLE

Control over charge and charge density in micelles from ABC triblock terpolymers: effects on interaction with cells

 

Abstract

Block copolymers represent a unique class of materials for the generation of
nanostructured materials in different environments – mainly driven by the inherent immiscibility of unlike
building blocks.[1] Together with the incorporation of suitable building blocks this allows for straightforward
modifications reactions or (reversible) crosslinking of nanostructured materials.[2]
Here, our focus is put on precise control over charge balance in core-shell-corona micelles from ampholytic
ABC triblock terpolymers in aqueous media. We designed a small library of ABC triblock terpolymers based
on polyethers where blocks A and C are identical. Only block B differs regarding side chain, charge, or
solubility. With these materials at hand, we start exploring possibilities for co-assembly strategies towards
core-shell-corona micelles where charge, charge density, and composition of the shell can be purposefully
varied.[3] By this, we aim at controlling cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and potential ligand expression for sub
50 nm micelles.
[1] Schacher, FH; Rupar, PA; Manners, I; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 7898-7921; [2] Hörenz, C;
Rudolph, T; Barthel, MJ; Günther, U; Schacher, FH; Polym. Chem. 2015, in press (DOI:
10.1039/C4PY01434K); [3] Barthel, MJ et al.; Biomacromolecules 2014, 15, 2426-2439;