Ezat Khosravi
Durham University, UK
Title: Functionalization and grafting of carbohydrates and synthesis of temperature responsive polymers
Biography
Biography: Ezat Khosravi
Abstract
The lecture describes a novel and versatile method for the modification of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) to prepare biocompatible and biodegradable materials to be used as personal products. The process of Click reactions involving azide-alkyne cycloaddition was used to impart neutral (ester) and ionic (carboxylic acid and 1ry amine) functionalities on HEC. Sequential Click reactions were also used to successfully synthesize polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) grafted HEC containing neutral (ester) and ionic (carboxylic acid and 1ry amine) functionalities. Furthermore, The Click Coupling technique was utilized for grafting onto HEC; PLA (as hydrophobic segments) and PEG (as hydrophilic segments). The temperature responsive materials with low critical solution temperatures (LCST) in the physiological range (30-40 oC) attract much attention due to their potential biomedical and drug delivery applications. The lecture will also discuss the synthesis and characterization of a novel temperature responsive water-soluble glycopolymer based on trehalose via copper wire-catalyzed click-polymerization. The investigation of the cloud point of the aqueous solution of glycopolymer by optical microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy will also be discussed. The LCST of the glycopolymer was found to be within physiological range of about 39 oC, known as fever temperature. The full characterization of all the products as well as the intermediates by NMR, MS, IR, SEC, TGA and DSC will be presented.