Honors Theses
Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Nathan Hammer
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis involves the computational and spectroscopic exploration of the linear dendritic block copolymer, poly(L-lactide)-poly(amido-amine), (PLA-PAMAM), under different environmental conditions using Raman spectroscopy, in hopes to utilize it in future effective and cost-efficient drug delivery systems. Janus dendrimers, a material made up of two different dendrimer portions, are currently being studied in great detail, as they possess many attractive features for materials scientists looking to develop ways for drugs to be delivered in more efficient manners than currently available to physicians. The instrumentation used to conduct this thesis is a high resolution Raman spectrometer. Computationally, Gaussian 09 was employed to model PLA-PAMAM, and to compare and explain the experimental data. Raman spectroscopic data was also taken on PAMAM-boc, which is the hydrophilic portion of the PLA-PAMAM structure. Spectra were recorded on the neat molecules alone, surrounded by a drop of water, aggregated in water, and aggregated in a pH solution of 9.6. Because of the potential use of PLA-PAMAM as a drug delivery system in the body, understanding the effects of its interactions with water and similar environments with an acidic or basic pH is important to development of effective drug delivery systems. A pH of 9.6 was chosen because delivery methods through the eyes are a potential mode of entry, and the eyes are more basic than a normal pH of 7. The results and discussion found in this thesis help elucidate shifts in vibrational spectra as PAMAM-boc and PLA-PAMAM are placed in different environments, specifically water and a pH solution of 9.6.
Recommended Citation
Harknett, Gretchen, "An Analysis of Stimuli Responsive Biomaterials using Raman Spectroscopy and Computational Studies" (2017). Honors Theses. 356.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/356
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