Honors College Theses

Publication Date

4-25-2014

Major

Chemistry (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Hans-Joerg Schanz

Abstract

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has shown the ability to improve compatibility when used in combination with cell-free hemoglobin in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. It has been demonstrated that the covalently bonded PEG increases the hydrodynamic radius of the hemoglobin and hence generates a physical barrier while slowing down the oxygen delivery of the strongly oxidative hemoglobin. In this context, I have been working on the development of synthetic pathways to incorporate PEG into monomers and polymers through both direct modification of (7-oxa)norbornene derivatives and post polymerization modification. Starting from the (7-oxa)norbornene anhydride derivatives, we have developed pathways to cationic and uncharged monomers which can be polymerized via Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) using Grubbs 1st and 3rd generation-type Ru-alkylidene complexes. These complexes are known to produce ROMPolymers with high molecular weight control. In this context, we also developed a chain transfer agent to introduce a functional end group into the polymer which will enable the covalent binding of the polymer to the hemoglobin protein.

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