Lors de ces travaux de thèse, des unités monomériques appelées unimères ont été synthétisées et utilisées pour le développement de polymères métallo-supramoléculaires (MSPs). Ces unités se composent (i) d’un bloc central: 2,5-dithiénylphosphole, (ii) dA’un chélate : 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-4'-yl (tpy) et (iii) de connecteurs variés assurant la jonction entre le bloc central et le chélate. Les propriétés physico-chimiques de ces unimères ont été mesurées afin d’établir des relations structures/propriétés. Par exemple, l’unimère ne comportant pas de connecteurs entre l’unité central et le chélate présente un maximum d’absorption fortement décalé vers le rouge par rapport à l’unimère bis(tpy)terthiophène. Cette observation montre que la délocalisation électronique est accrue dans ces systèmes et permet de couvrir un large domaine spectral. L’introduction de connecteurs (éthynediyle, éthynediyle-thiophène-2,5-diyle, éthynediyle-1,4-phénylène) entre le bloc central et le chélate a un effet mineur sur l’écart HO-BV et sur la position des maxima d'absorption. Puis tous les unimères synthétisés ont été mis en présence de différents ions métalliques (Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ et Zn2+) pour former les MSPs correspondants. Ce phénomène de polymérisation a été étudié en détail en utilisant les spectroscopies d’absorption, d’émission et la chromatographie d’exclusion stérique. Ainsi, cette polymérisation présente 3 étapes : (i) la formation des dimères U-M-U, (ii) la prolongation de chaine de polymères qui atteint un une longueur maximale pour le ratio 1/1 ion métallique/unimère; (iii) terminaison réalisée avec des ions métalliques lorsque ces ions sont présent en excès. Les propriétés optiques de ces nouveaux polymères ont également été étudiées montrant qu’elles dépendent fortement de la nature de l’ion métallique utilisé. / New π-conjugated building blocks (unimers) for metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs), whose comprise: (i) substituted phosphole ring surrounded by two thiophene rings as the central block, (ii) 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-4'-yl (tpy) end-groups as ion-selectors, and (iii) different linkers inserted between the central block and tpy end-groups, are described. Chemical and physical properties of those unimers were studied with attention on correlation between properties and structure of unimers. For example the unimer without linkers shows the UV/vis absorption maximum red shifted about 60 to 100 nm compared to bis(tpy)terthiophenes, which proves that replacing of the thiophene with phosphole unit significantly enhances the delocalization of electrons within the unimer molecule and significant area of absorption spectra can be covered. Introduction of linkers (ethynediyl, ethynediyl-thiophene-2,5-diyl, ethynediyl-1,4-phenylene) has a minor effect on the bandgap energy. All prepared unimers underwent self-assembling process with various metal ions (Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+) resulting into metallo-supramolecular polymers. Three stages of the assembly of unimers into related MSPs were observed and characterized by absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography: 1) formation of dimer species: U-M2+-U (U stands for unimer); 2) prolongation of polymer chain to reach the maximum length at equimolar ratio of unimer and metal ions; 3) end-capping of polymer chains and their partial decomposition at stoichiometric excess of ion couplers. Optoelectronic properties of newly formed metallo-supramolecular polymers were investigated and choice of the metal ions was shown to be of crucial importance. / V rámci této disertační práce byly připraveny stavební bloky (nazývající se unimery) pro tvorbu konjugovaných metalo-supramolekulárních polymerů (MSPs), které ve své struktuře obsahují: (i) substituovaný fosfolový kruh obklopený dvěma thiofenovými cykly jako centrální blok, (ii) 2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4'-yl (tpy) jako koncovou skupinu pro navázání iontů, a (iii) různé spojky mezi uvedeným centrálním blokem a tpy skupinou. Chemické a fyzikální vlastnosti těchto unimerů byly prostudovány s důrazem na korelaci mezi vlastnostmi a strukturou unimeru. Například unimer bez přídavných spojek vykazuje posun UV/vis absorpčního maxima do červené oblasti o 60 až 100 nm v porovnání s bis(tpy)terthiofenem, což značí, že nahrazením thiofenu fosfolem se značně zvyšuje delokalizace elektronů v molekule unimeru a může být pokryta značná část spektra. Začlenění spojek (ethynediyl, ethynediyl-thiofen-2,5-diyl, ethynediyl-1,4-fenylen) do struktury unimeru má jen malý vliv na šířku zakázaného pásu, a tedy pozici absorpčního maxima. Všechny připravené unimery byly podrobeny procesu samo-seskupování s různými kovovými ionty (Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ a Zn2+) za vzniku organokovových polymerů. Tři stadia provázející proces samo-seskupování byla pozorována pomocí absorpční a fluorescenční spektroskopie a gelové permeační chromatografie (SEC): 1) tvorba dimerů U-M2+-U (U = unimer), 2) prodlužování polymerních řetězců a dosažení maximální délky při ekvimolárním poměru unimeru a kovových iontů, 3) vazba kovových iontů na koncové terpyridinové skupiny a rozklad polymerního řetězce na kratší při stechiometrickém přebytku kovových iontů. Optické vlastnosti nově připravených organokovových polymerů byly prozkoumány a ukázalo se, že velmi závisí na vybraném kovovém iontu.

New π-conjugated building blocks (unimers) for metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs), whose comprise: (i) substituted phosphole ring surrounded by two thiophene rings as the central block, (ii) 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-4'-yl (tpy) end-groups as ion-selectors, and (iii) different linkers inserted between the central block and tpy end-groups, are described. Chemical and physical properties of those unimers were studied with attention on correlation between properties and structure of unimers. For example the unimer without linkers shows the UV/vis absorption maximum red shifted about 60 to 100 nm compared to bis(tpy)terthiophenes, which proves that replacing of the thiophene with phosphole unit significantly enhances the delocalization of electrons within the unimer molecule and significant area of absorption spectra can be covered. Introduction of linkers (ethynediyl, ethynediyl-thiophene-2,5-diyl, ethynediyl-1,4-phenylene) has a minor effect on the bandgap energy. All prepared unimers underwent self-assembling process with various metal ions (Co2+ , Cu2+ , Fe2+ , Ni2+ and Zn2+ ) resulting into metallo-supramolecular polymers. Three stages of the assembly of unimers into related MSPs were observed and characterized by absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography: 1)...

Block copolymers have been extensively applied in diverse fields including packaging, electrolytes, delivery devices, and biosensors. Multiple investigations have been carried out on polymeric materials for cargo delivery purpose to understand how they behave over time. Block copolymer micelles (BCMs) have demonstrated superiority to deliver cargo, especially in drug delivery due to their encapsulation of hydrophobic agents. This dissertation will mainly study BCMs for potential applications in cargo delivery. Methods to study BCMs, including NMR spectroscopy, relaxometry and diffusometry, can provide valuable molecular information, such as chemical structure, translational motion, inter- or intramolecular interaction, dynamics, and exchange kinetics. Therefore, this dissertation describes applications of versatile NMR methods to reveal the fundamental behaviors of block copolymer self-assemblies, such as their dynamic stability, cargo partitioning, polymer chain exchange, and chain distribution in solution. We have investigated two BCM systems. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) is a model system to study BCM dynamic stability. PEO-PCL can self-assemble into spherical micelles at 1% w/v in D2O-THF-d8 mixed solvents. We used NMR diffusometry to quantify diffusion coefficients and populations of micelles and unimers (i.e. free polymer chains in solution) over a range of temperature (21 – 50 °C) and solvent composition (10 – 100 vol % THF-d8). By mapping the micelle-unimer coexistence phase diagrams, we are able to enhance our ability to understand and design micelle structure and dynamics. Moreover, we can also probe the chain exchange kinetics between micelles using a new technique we developed – time-resolved NMR spin-lattice relaxation (T1) or TR-NMR. This technique is an analog to time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), which can monitor specific signal intensity changes caused after mixing of isotope-labeled micelle solutions. A second system, Pluronic® F127 (PEO99PPO69PEO99) is a test system to study BCM structure and dynamic changes upon drug uptake. Pluronic® F127 is a commercial copolymer that can solubilize different hydrophobic drugs in micelles. We successfully encapsulated three model drugs into Pluronic® F127 BCMs and investigated the effects of polymer concentration and drug composition on drug partitioning fractions. Also, we proposed to design and synthesize a series of block copolymers with varied glass transition temperatures in core-forming blocks. Using NMR diffusometry, we have measured the existing unimer concentrations in micellar solutions and correlated these results with chain mobility and internal chemical composition. Lastly, we have extended our expertise in NMR and polymers into the study of ion-containing polymer systems (polyelectrolytes). A critical problem in polymer science is the inability to reliably measure the molecular weight of polyelectrolytes. We are developing methods to solve this problem by using NMR diffusometry, rheology, scattering, and scaling theories to accomplish general molecular weight measurements for polyelectrolytes. In short, this dissertation describes studies to provide more perspectives on structural and dynamic properties at various time and length scales for polymeric materials. NMR measurements, in combination with many other advanced techniques, have given us a better picture of soft matter behaviors and provided guidance for synthesis and processing efforts, especially in block copolymer micelles for delivery purposes. / Doctor of Philosophy / Block copolymers have been extensively applied in diverse fields in packaging, electrolytes and nano-scale drug delivery carriers. In the area of cancer treatment, only a limited number of drug nanocarriers have been approved for clinical applications. Therefore, it is very important to understand the principles behind drug delivery for targeted purposes. There have been many studies on polymeric delivery carriers but their behaviors have not been completely understood. Therefore, we have tremendous interest in unraveling the mysteries in those polymeric systems. Among a multitude of techniques to study block copolymer materials, the NMR method serves as a potent tool for its non-destructive, chemical-specific and isotope-selective merits. NMR can provide basic information about block copolymer self-assembly and other polymeric properties, such as chemical structure, molecular interactions and diffusion coefficients of species of interests. Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 have investigated different classes of polymeric materials, mainly block copolymer micelles, for their structure and stability, exchange kinetics of polymer chains or cargo, and translational properties. Greater understanding about the fundamental properties of these polymeric systems, is essential for enabling new applications and new research areas.