Self-Assembled Polymer Nanocontainers – Stimuli Responsive Systems for Controlled Drug Release and Cooperative Catalysis (B19*)

• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2018 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 104405829

In joint efforts of the projects B01, B04 and B06, redox-responsive polymer nanocontainers have been prepared during the 2nd funding period by self-assembly of functional co-polymers on vesicle templates in aqueous solution. These systems have been successfully used for the delivery of hydrophilic cargo into cells and a subsequent efficient intracellular release. In the 3rd period, light-responsive nanocontainers will be assembled. Light as a trigger combines the advantages of a precise spatial and temporal manipulation and this approach represents an elegant way of introducing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic cargo into cells. A further objective is the preparation of colloidal capsules based on polymer decorated vesicles. The preparation of nanocapsules with densely packed colloidal nanoparticles in their shell holds great promise for the tailor-made synthesis of functional materials that will be applied as cooperative catalysts in synthesis.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 858: Synergetic Effects in Chemistry - From Additivity towards Cooperativity
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Volker Gerke; Professor Dr. Bart Jan Ravoo; Professor Dr. Armido Studer