PERSONNEL

DESCRIPTION

Research activities of the Laboratory of Organic Chemical Technology are focused on physicochemical studies of water-soluble polymers. These studies are usually combined with chemical synthesis, related either with the preparation of synthetic polymers and graft copolymers, or with the chemical modification of natural polymers, mainly of polysaccharides, with the purpose of the development of products with special physicochemical properties and behavior. In the past, we have worked on the study of interactions of water-soluble polymers with surface active agents, while we have also dedicated many efforts in the study and understanding of the formation of interpolymer complexes between weak polyacids, as poly(acrylic acid), and Lewis polybases, as polyethyleneoxide or polyacrylamide.

Our research activity was later oriented in the synthesis of graft copolymers for the formation of colloidal nanoparticles, through their interaction either with weak polyacids, or with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. In certain cases, systems of natural polymers grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), have been proposed as thermothickening agents, with probable uses in drug delivery.

Today, it is realized a work of studying the interactions of the protein bovine serum albumin with cationic polyelectrolytes, and another one with the synthesis and study of graft copolymers of sodium alginate with PNIPAM.

BASIC INSTRUMENTATION

Instrument of static and dynamic light scattering, Automated micro viscometer, PH meter, UV/Vis spectrophotometer, Luminescence spectrometer.

PROJECTS - RESULTS

Studies on hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes.

Study of the interactions of water-soluble polymers with surface active agents.

Synthesis and study of graft copolymers of carboxymethylcellulose with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as thermothickening agents.

Synthesis of graft copolymers and formation of soluble interpolymer complexes with weak polyacids, and or polybases.

Systems with physical gel behavior, responsive to pH changes.

Interactions of graft polyelectrolytes with bovine serum albumin.

Formation of nanocolloidal particles, through graft copolymers, either by Coulombic interactions between polyelectrolytes, or by hydrogen-bonding interactions. Also, with interactions with bovine serum albumin.