<p> Poly(N-isopropylacrylamides) and copolymers of N-(isopropylacrylamide) and N(tetrahydrofurfurylacrylamide) bearing cholesterol substituents were prepared and their
solution properties in water and in methanol were studied by dynamic light scattering,
turbidity measurements and by fluorescence spectroscopy. These polymers were obtained
in two steps: 1) preparation of a reactive polymer; and 2) coupling of cholesterol to the
reactive polymer. In one case the reactive group (N-hydroxysuccinimide) was introduced
at one chain end, in the other case, the same group was introduced randomly along the
polymer chain. Reaction of an amino-terminated cholesteryl derivative with the reactive
polymers led to modified polymers in which cholesterol was attached either to one chain
end or to a small number of monomer units along the polymer chain. In the latter case,
copolymers bearing pyrene and cholesterol were prepared as well. The copolymers were
characterized by 1H NMR, IR and UV spectroscopy and their molecular weights were
determined. </p> <p> Studies of the cholesterol-bearing polymers in aqueous solution by dynamic light
scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy provided evidence for the formation of
polymeric micelles via association of the cholesterol groups. Fluorescence probe and
label experiments, using pyrene as a chromophore, gave strong indication that the micelle
formation is controlled primarily by the cholesterol groups and only to a lesser extent by
the architecture and composition of the polymer. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/19281 |
| Date | 02 1900 |
| Creators | Zhang, Jing |
| Contributors | Winnik, F. M., Chemistry |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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