Project Summary

· Synthesis of novel well-defined linear and four-armed star homo- and amphiphilic star block copolymers, and their quantitative end-functionalization, one with terminal aldehyde groups and the other with terminal hydrazide groups.

· Full characterization of all polymers in point 1 above, in terms of their molecular weight and composition, and the aqueous self-assembly properties (amphiphilic copolymers).

· Formation of dynamic covalent amphiphilic polymer conetworks (dcAPCN) by mixing pairs of complementarily end-functionalized star polymers in the appropriate solvent (mostly water).

· Use of rheology to determine gel formation times, cross-link lifetimes and self-healing efficiency of the dcAPCNs.

· Determination of the degrees of swelling of the dcAPCNs (mostly) in water.

· Determination of the mechanical properties of the formed dcAPCNs (stress and strain at break, and Young's modulus).

· Examination of the self-healing ability, reversibility and recyclability of the dcAPCNs.

· Investigation of the self-assembly behavior of the dcAPCNs in D2O using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS, with the aid of the Berlin team).

· Langevin dynamics model for predicting the self-assembling behavior (morphology) and mechanical properties of the dcAPCNs.

· Evaluation of the electrochemical stability and ion conductivity of the PVDF-tetraPEG-based gel electrolytes (Louvain team).

· Evaluation of cytotoxicity of the dcAPCNs using a mammalian cell line, attachment of the cells within the dcAPCN, and response of the cells to the stretching of the dcAPCN matrix.

· Derivation of relationships between the swelling, mechanical, self-healing, reversibility, electrochemical stability, ion conductivity, and biocompatibility properties of the dcAPCNs and the structure of their constituting star polymers.