Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Glycodendrons Through Small Molecule and Linear Polymer Models
This thesis focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of glycopolymer-dendron thiol-ene coupling reactions with the long-term goal of increasing biocompatibility of near infrared (NIR) fluorophores for bioimaging applications. A design of experiments was used with small molecule model compounds to determine the parameters for successful thiol-ene click reactions that would lead to success of more complicated amphipathic polymer-polymer coupling reactions. The first chapter provides an introductory overview of the importance and applications of glycopolymers, bioimaging, and Janus dendrimersomes. The second chapter presents the synthetic methods for creating a glucose-functionalized glycopolymer with an acrylamide backbone, the exploration of thiol-ene coupling reaction conditions for small molecules and glycopolymers/dendrons, and a description of the characterization methods utilized. In chapter three, the effectiveness of the synthetic routes and results from the characterization methods are discussed. Chapter five covers the conclusions of this thesis as well as future work needed to reach the overall goal of creating biocompatible Janus glycodendrimersomes for bioimaging applications.
glycopolymer, glycodendron, janus dendrons, RAFT, thiol -ene click
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