Polyisobutylene-Based Block Copolymers: Synthesis and Their Potential Applications

Dey, Asmita (2023) Polyisobutylene-Based Block Copolymers: Synthesis and Their Potential Applications. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (PhD thesis of Asmita Dey (19RS007)) 19RS007.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (22MB)

Abstract

Macromolecular engineering has been an eminent field of research for many years. Over the past few years, synthetic polymeric macromolecular scaffolds have enunciated the prospect of modulating macromolecular behaviour in a targeted fashion. A variety of new innovations with different effects on physicochemical parameters, biological activities, and macro-to-nanotechnologies were uncovered as a result of the efficient fabrication of macromolecules. The incorporation of properties of a variety of monomers in a single macromolecular architecture has received significant attention among researchers due to its wide range of scope for desired applications. Polyisobutylene (PIB) is an excellent polymer having unique properties like thermal and chemical stability, biocompatibility, biostability, etc.; making it a very important polymer globally and its demand is still increasing. But monomers having electron donating groups like isobutylene (IB), can only be polymerized by cationic polymerization. On the other hand, acrylate/methacrylate-based monomers can be polymerized by radical or anionic polymerization. Thus, different monomers have different reactivity profiles and they can not be polymerized by a single technique. In this milieu, block copolymer design and synthesis have emerged as a significant platform through a combination of polymerization techniques. Among several methods, we herein focus on a combination of polymerization via the site transformation method to produce PIB-based block copolymers, containing a segment from acrylate/methacylate- based monomers. A tremendous advancement has taken place employing PIB-based block copolymers. Keeping this in perspective, the major focus of this thesis is to investigate the unexplored potentials of PIB-based block copolymers in different applications. The amorphous nature of PIB was utilized for crystallinity modulation. Further, the major focus is especially given to the bioapplications which include delivery using well-defined polymeric architectures, biomolecular recognition, inhibition of insulin fibrils, and selective ion transport through artificial membranes. Also, the opportunities, existing challenges, and future prospects of PIB-based block copolymers are discussed. We believe that this endeavour will provide a comprehensive account of the applications of PIB-based block copolymers and would be beneficial for the ongoing endeavours in this emerging field of research.

Actions (login required)

View Item