There is an increasing demand for materials that are physically robust, easily recovered, and able to perform a wide variety of chemical functions. By combining hard and soft matter synergistically, organic-inorganic hybrid materials are potentially useful for a number of applications (e.g. catalysis, separations, sensing). In this respect, organic/ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) hybrids have attracted considerable attention, with an increasing emphasis on complex organic moieties achieved through multi-step reactions and polymerizations. It is on this front that we have focused our work, specifically in regard to polypeptides. Polypeptides are well suited organic components for hybrids as they provide a wide range of possible side chain chemistries (NH2, -SH, -COOH, -OH, etc.), chirality, and have conformations that are known to be responsive to external stimuli (pH, electrolytes, solvents, etc.). Our work has shown that N-carboxyanhydride chemistry offers a facile single step approach to the incorporation of dense polypeptide brushes in OMS. Modifying the initiator loading, pore size, pore topology, and monomer identity significantly impacted the properties of the obtained composites and peptide brush layers. Extending this work, a synthesis paradigm for preferentially grafting poly-L-lysine to the external and internal surfaces of SBA-15, a widely used OMS material, was developed. We observed that the pores of these hybrids could be opened and closed by the reversible swelling of the polypeptide layer. Similarly, novel bifunctional hybrids were synthesized by grafting polypeptides to the external surface of monodisperse OMS spheres that contain a thiol-functionalized core. The accessibility of the internal thiols to a fluorescent dye shows the potential of these hybrids for applications such as controlled uptake/release.

Les dendrimères greffés de L-lysine (DGL) sont des matériaux aux applications potentielles variées (agents antibactériens, antifongiques, ?). Ces dendrimères greffés sont obtenus selon un procédé original mis au point au laboratoire, basé sur la polymérisation des N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) de Llysine. Le travail effectué au cours de cette thèse a pour objectif d'explorer les différents modes de modification des DGL et d'en évaluer la faisabilité. Pour ce faire, dans une première partie, nous avons détaillé le processus de synthèse et de polymérisation en milieu hétérogène des NCA. Cela nous a permis, ensuite, en modulant la nature de l'agent d'amorçage de la polymérisation des NCA, d'examiner la possibilité d'introduire de nouvelles fonctionnalités (fluorophore, bras de liaison adapté à la ligation) sur la première génération de DGL. Cela a nécessité, en amont, la synthèse d'un bras espaceur hétérobifonctionnel de type polyéthylène glycol. Par la suite, une ligation de type oxime entre les nouveaux DGL de 1ère et de 2e génération et une molécule modèle a été réalisée afin de valider cette approche. Enfin, nous avons pu démontrer que ces dendrimères greffés pouvaient être fonctionnalisés en surface par divers substrats (sucre, guanidine, acide aspartique, acide succinique) leur conférant de nouvelles propriétés et ouvrant ainsi un vaste champ d'application pour ces macromolécules. / L-lysine Dendrigraft (DGL) are materials with various potential applications (antibacterial, antifungal, ...). These dendrigrafts are obtained by an original process, developed in our laboratory, based on the polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) of L-lysine. The work carried out during this thesis was aimed at exploring different methods of modification of DGL and assessing their feasibility. In the first part, we detailed the process of synthesis and polymerization of NCAs in a heterogeneous medium. This allowed us then by modulating the initiator of NCA polymerization to introduce new features (fluorophore, spacer adapted to the ligation) on the first generation of DGL. This required, upstream, the synthesis of a heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol type spacer. Subsequently, an oxime ligation between the new 1st and 2nd generation of DGL and an aldehyde model has been conducted to validate this approach. Finally, we demonstrated that these dendrigrafts could be functionalized on the surface by various substrates (sugar, guanidine, aspartic acid, succinic acid) giving them new properties and opening up a wide scope of applications for these macromolecules.

Synthetic glycopeptides have attracted much interest in the biomedical field due to their structural similarities to the natural glycopeptides or glycoproteins. It is still difficult to synthesize glycopeptides with greater efficiency and ring opening polymerization remains an effective way to do so. Proteoglycans are a special class of glycoproteins with glycosaminoglycan chains. In this study, I tried to do controlled ring opening polymerization of Hyaluronic acid derivatives with smaller to higher molecular weight while avoiding side reactions. It is challenging to work with higher molecular weight molecules and do a click reaction in water effectively. Making nanopolymers with a desired size, studies of the characteristics, and how to build nanocarriers for drug delivery application was the focus of this work. Polymeric characteristics, e.g., modification and polymer formation were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance technique; Particle size was studied by dynamic light scattering and the loading of rhodamine B encapsulated into the polymer was measured by confocal imaging technique.

Thesis advisor: Jeffery A. Byers / Thesis advisor: Petter Zhang / This thesis discusses the development of a surface-initiated N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization system from a redox-switchable catalyst for polyamide synthesis and further efforts towards the synthesis of polypeptide-based materials through the integration of NCA synthesis and its polymerization. In Chapter one, the most used methods to obtain polypeptide-based materials as well as their significant limitations are introduced. A new strategy is presented to access the polypeptide-based materials based on the integrated catalysis under spatial and temporal control. In Chapter two, a strategy to allow the attachment of a redox-switchable NCA polymerization catalyst on surface of titania for the synthesis of polyamide brushes will be demonstrated. Investigations about the kinetics of this surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization will be presented by carrying out the reaction in batch and under flow. Chapter three will discuss efforts towards achieving the integration of NCA synthesis and NCA polymerization, which includes an additional anchoring method to support polymerization catalyst and compatibility tests between the two separate reactions. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Synthese und den Eigenschaften von linearen und verzweigten amphiphilen Polypeptid-Blockcopolymeren. Die Frage nach dem Einfluss der Topologie und Konformation der Blockcopolymere auf die supramolekularen und kolloidalen Eigenschaften bildete einen wichtigen Aspekt bei den Untersuchungen. Die Blockcopolymere wurden nach einem mehrstufigen Reaktionsschema durch Kombination von anionischer und ringöffnender Polymerisation von Aminosäuren-N-Carboxyanhydriden (NCA) synthetisiert. Die Untersuchung der Polypeptid-Blockcopolymere hinsichtlich ihres Aggregationsverhaltens in fester Phase sowie in verdünnter wässriger Lösung erfolgte mittels Streumethoden (SAXS, WAXS, DLS) sowie abbildender Methoden (TEM). Durch Einsatz der Blockcopolymere als polymere Stabilisatoren in der Emulsionspolymerisation wurden Oberflächen funktionalisierte Latizes erhalten. Als Beispiel für eine pharmazeutische Anwendung wurden bioverträgliche Polypeptid-Blockcopolymere als Wirkstoff-Trägersysteme in der Krebstherapie eingesetzt. / This work describes the synthesis and characterization of linear and branched polypeptide block copolymers having amphiphilic character. The studies focused on the impact of the block copolymers' conformation and architecture on the supramolecular and colloidal properties. The polypeptide block copolymers were prepared in a multi-step process involving the anionic synthesis of (poly)amino-functional polymers (polystyrene and polybutadiene) which where used as macroinitiators for the ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) of protected a-aminoacids. Supramolecular structures of the block copolymers in the solid state as well as in diluted aqueous solution were investigated using scattering (SAXS, WAXS, DLS) and microscopic (TEM) methods. Both linear and branched polypeptide block copolymers were used as polymeric stabilizers in the emulsion polymerization of styrene to yield polypeptide-decorated latexes. Biocompatible block copolymers were used as drug-delivery systems in lymphatic cancer therapy.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Synthese und den Eigenschaften von doppelthydrophilen Blockcopolymeren und ihrer Anwendung in einem biomimetischen Mineralisationsprozeß von Calciumcarbonat und Bariumsulfat. Doppelthydrophile Blockcopolymere bestehen aus einem hydrophilen Block, der nicht mit Mineralien wechselwirkt und einem zweiten Polyelektrolyt-Block, der stark mit Mineraloberflächen wechselwirkt. Diese Blockcopolymere wurden durch ringöffnende Polymerisation von N-carboxyanhydriden (NCA′s) und a-methoxy-ω-amino[poly(ethylene glycol)] PEG-NH2 als Initiator hergestellt.<br /> Die hergestellten Blockcopolymere wurden als effektive Wachstumsmodifikatoren für die Kristallisation von Calciumcarbonat und Bariumsulfat Mineralien eingesetzt. Die so erhaltenen Mineralpartikel (Kugeln, Hantel, eiförmige Partikel) wurden durch Lichtmikroskopie in Lösung, SEM und TEM charakterisiert. Röntgenweitwinkelstreuung (WAXS) wurde verwendet, um die Modifikation von Calciumcarbonat zu ermitteln und die Größe der Calciumcarbonat- und Bariumsulfat-Nanopartikel zu ermitteln. / This work describes the synthesis and characterization of double hydrophilic block copolymers and their use in a biomimetic mineralization process of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate.<br /> Double hydrophilic block copolymers consist of a hydrophilic block that does not interact with minerals and another hydrophilic polyelectrolyte block that strongly interacts with mineral surfaces. These polymers were synthesised via ring opening polymerisation of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA), and the first hydrophilic block a-methoxy-ω-amino[poly(ethylene glycol)] PEG-NH2 was used as an initiator.<br /> The prepared block copolymers were used as effective crystal growth modifiers to control the crystallization of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate minerals. The resulting mineral particles (spheres, dumbbells, egg-like particles) were characterised by light microscopy in solution, by SEM, and by TEM. X-Ray scattering measurements (WAXS) were used to prove the modification of Calcium Carbonate particles and to calculate the size of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate nanoparticles.