Nanomaterials: Block Ionomer Complexes Alexander Kabanov, University of Nebraska Medical Center

DMR-0071682 (now DMR 0513699)

J. Phys. Chem. B. 2004, 108(33):12352-12359

Z = [-]/[+] < 0.3

Z = [-]/[+] > 1.8

PScore

IPEC

corona

PMANa

IPECPS

core

corona

PEVP

Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Complexes are synthesized in two steps. First, polystyrene-block-poly(N-ethyl-4-vinyl-pyridinium bromide) (PS-b-PEVP) PS-b-PEVP is dispersed in water, resulting in the micelles with insoluble PS core and cationic PEVP corona. Second, the micelles are reacted with poly(sodium methacrylate) (PMANa), resulting in the polyion complex micelles having the PS core surrounded by the insoluble layer of neutralized polyions (IPEC) and the lyophilizing shell of the polyion that is present in excess (Z = PMANa]/[PEVP]). The shell is either cationic (PEVP) if the polycation is in excess (Z < 0.3) or anionic (PMANa) if the polyanion is in excess (Z > 1.8). When Z values are intermediate 0.3 < Z < 1.8 the micelles precipitate. Overall, reacting the polyelectrolyte micelles with oppositely charged linear polyelectrolytes represents a simple and effective method of modification of polyelectrolyte micelles and synthesis of micellar dispersions of polyelectrolyte complexes.

Education

Under this grant, two graduate students are pursuing their Ph.D. degrees: Mr. Kevin Oh (5th year) and Mr. Pavel Chelushkin (3rd year); One student, Mr. Sergei Solomatin defended PhD in Feb. 2005 and joined the Stanford University as a postdoc. A new postdoc has been recruited from University of Tokyo (Nov. 2005).

Outreach• Presented on Nanotechnology for Cancer

at the 2005 MiniMedical School (http://www.unmc.edu/minimed/cancer/).

• Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine (CDDN) approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in Oct. 2004

• An agreement with Moscow State University (MSU) signed to exchange students and scientists

• Host a minority student under Summer Research Enrichment Program Mrs. Kimberly Bernard, an NIH BRIN student Mr. Michael Jacobsen and a foreign student from MSU, Mrs. Dariya Alakhova.

• Launch and maintain a nanomedicine group and CDDN websites (http://nanomedicine.unmc.edu; http://cddn.unmc.edu)

Nanomedicine group moved to a newly constructed Durham Research Center in Spring 2004

Nanomaterials: Block Ionomer Complexes Alexander Kabanov, University of Nebraska Medical Center

DMR-0071682 (now DMR 0513699)