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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R29260/01
Title: Controlled-Structure Water-Soluble Copolymers of Biomedical Relevance Via Aqueous ATRP
Principal Investigator: Armes, Professor SP
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Sussex
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2001 Ends: 30 November 2004 Value (£): 168,780
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Chemical Biology Drug Formulation & Delivery
Materials Characterisation Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The Sussex Polymer Group are world leaders in the development of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP) for the efficient polymerisation of hydrophilic monomers in aqueous media. We wish to exploit this expertise for the synthesis of a wide range of novel, controlled-structure copolymers of biomedical relevance. These include phosphorylcholine methacrylate-based copolymers, glycerol methacrylate-based copolymers, glycomethacrylatebased copolymers, fully-branched analogues of PEO-PPO diblock and triblock copolymer surfactants; sulfate-based copolymers. Synthetic approaches to diblock and triblock copolymers include use of well-defined macro-initiators, sequential monomer addition and the use of commercially available bifunctional initiators. These copolymers will be evaluated in terms of their biocompatibility, their propensity for forming well-defined micelles via reversible self-assembly and their ability to modify the crystal habit of inorganic materials such as barium sulfate. Characterisation techniques include: proton NMR spectroscopy (for copolymer compositions and monitoring micelle formation); aqueous GPC (for molecular weight distributions); dynamic light scattering (far micelle sizing); electron microscopy (for micelle sizing and barium sulfate particle morphology). Four UK-based companies (Unilever Research, Avecia, Biocompatibles International and Laporte Performance Chemicals) and two UK academics (Prof. A. W. Lloyd and Dr. F. C. Meldrum) are potential beneficiaries of this research programme (see Letters of Support).
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Organisation Website: http://www.sussex.ac.uk