Vanesa Bordegé

Amphiphilic polymers bearing gluconolactone moieties: synthesis and long side-chain crystalline behavior.

The synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic polymers bearing gluconolactone moieties has been described. In a first step, an unprotected glycomonomer 2-[({[4-(d-gluconamid-N-yl)butyl]amino}carbonyl)oxy]ethyl acrylate, HEAG, has been synthesized. Posterior, this glycomonomer has been copolymerized with methyl methacrylate at different compositions and the kinetic behavior has been also studied calculating the monomer reactivity ratios by Kelen-Tüdös extended equation. In addition, the long side-chain crystalline behavior of these carbohydrate-based copolymers with high composition of glycomonomer has been examined by using conventional and modulated differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements. At the same time, the phase separation behavior of carbohydrate-based copolymers with lower HEAG content has been determined by their glass transition temperature measurements. Finally, the thermal stability of all these amphiphilic copolymers has been evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis.

Honeycomb structured porous interfaces as templates for protein adhesion

We prepared breath figure patterns decorated with a statistical glycopolymer, (styrene-co-2-{[(D-glucosamin-2-N-yl)carbonyl]oxy}ethyl methacrylate, S-HEMAGl). The preparation of the glycopolymer occurs in one single step by using styrene and S-HEMAGl. Blends of this copolymer and high molecular weight polystyrene were spin coated from THF solutions leading to the formation of surfaces with both controlled functionality and topography. AFM studies revealed that both the composition of the blend and the relative humidity play a key role on the size and distribution of the pores at the interface. The porous films shows the hydrophilic glycomonomer units are oriented towards the pore interface since upon soft annealing in water, the holes are partially swelled. The self-organization of the glycopolymer within the pores was additionally confirmed both by reaction of carbohydrate hydroxyl groups with rhodamine-isocyanate and by means of the lectin binding test using Concanavalin A (Con A).