Dualfunktional polymer brushes and dualfunktional polymer nanoreactors

The design of new systems featuring multi-functionalities represents a key strategy in meeting complex challenges in various domains including chemistry, medicine, environmental sciences, and technology. The present thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of new nanoreactors and polymeric brushes.
Polymer brushes were used to improve the surface properties of interfaces by attachment to a solid supported surface. For that purpose, PEG polymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The polymeric brush was assembled on a gold surface using the grafting method. In this way the polymeric brush provides dual functionality as it is involved both in surface passivation and provides selective binding sites.
In a second project, nanoreactors, we described protein-containing polymer nanoreactors with dual functionality designed for peroxynitrite degradation and oxygen transport. The vesicles were successfully prepared using PMOXA- PDMS- PMOXA tri blockpolymers. Hemoglobin (Hb) was encapsulated in the nanoreactors. It was used as a model protein because of its ability to provide the dual function of oxygen transport and peroxynitrite degradation. We proved that Hb keeps its functionality following encapsulation. The insertion of channel proteins into the polymeric membrane of the vesicle allowed the passage of various compounds that served for the assessment of in situ Hb activity.
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