Investigation of Synthesis and Characterization of Polyester Polypiperazine Polyurthane Metallopolymer

Date of Award

2022

Degree Name

M.S. in Chemistry

Department

Department of Chemistry

Advisor/Chair

Justin Biffinger

Abstract

Engineering bio fabricated human tissues is a frontier for biomedicine and toxicology research. Current methods for fabricating tissue models struggle to replicate the complex architecture of tissues which are formed through biological processes. Tissue development is influenced by dynamic biophysical and biochemical signals of tissue-specific extracellular matrices (ECM). These signals lead to the regulation of pathways such as gene expression, migration, and assembly. In this work metal-coordinating piperazine-polyesters were targeted for synthesis that should lose structural integrity when exposed to green-blue light. Ru (II) metallopolymer materials were evaluated for their ability to form fibers via- electrospinning and 5-10 µm thick films via spin coating. These materials would ultimately be "degrade on demand" scaffolding for bioengineering applications. All polymers and starting materials were synthesized from monomers and characterized with 1D and/or 2D NMR, IR, TGA, DSC. The number average and weight average molecular weights were determined by 1H NMR or gel permeation chromatography (GPC), respectively. Ru (II) complex formation was verified by absorption spectroscopy for each polyester. Finally, I successfully spin coated each polymer onto glass and ZnSe substrates. However, fibers were not able to synthesized, which was determined that the molecular weight of the polymer was too low for electrospinning with our current capabilities.

Keywords

Chemistry, Polyester Polypiperazine Polyurethane, Metallopolymer, Ruthenium Coordination, Polypiperazine, Organocatalysts

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2022, author

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