Applied Chemistry

Biography

Biography: Alexander Zaichenko

Abstract

Developed synthesis and properties of polymeric surfactants (PS) and self-assemblies (SA), micelles and nanoparticles (NPs), of desired size and functionality is discussed. Combined radical and non-radical methods of the synthesis of primary oligomer-precursors containing end or side reactive groups and their using for assemblage of PS of block and/or comb-like structures were studied. Proposed approaches are based on polymerization of functional monomers including unsaturated peroxides in the presence of functional chain transfer agents. That provides controlling oligomer-precursor chain length and entering reactive side and end groups. The oligomer-precursors were used for construction of PS via: - polymerization providing formation of comb-like or block-copolymers using oligomer-precursors with side or end peroxide groups as macroinitiators, respectively; - polymerization providing formation of block-copolymers using oligomer-precursors with end hydroxyls (PEGs, polyoxazolines, perfluorine alcohols) as RedOx macroinitiators with Ce4+ salt; - attachment of the blocks of distinct branching and functionality using oligomer-precursors with epoxide, amino, hydroxyl end groups as reagents. Novel oligomer-precursors and PS of variable architectures, controlled lengths of blocks and side branches were studied using GPC, spectroscopy, and colloidal-chemical techniques. PS form SA of different degree of self-organization, size and morphology in liquids of various polarities that are specific nanocontainers for solubilization of water-insoluble substances and nanoreactors for nucleation and functionalization of magnetic, luminescent and scintillation NPs. TEM, DLS, SAXS, RAMAN and luminescent spectroscopy were used for study of SA and NPs. The developed functional nanostructures were successfully tested as vehicles for drug and nucleic acid delivery and as physically detectable cell labels.