Project Info
Synthesis and charactarization of polyion complex micelles formed from single/double stranded nucleic acids and gradient copolymers
Ramya Kumar
ramyakumar@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
The goal is to control the spatial distribution of anionic and cationic groups along copolymer backbones to tune binding affinity with anionic charged nucleic acids of varying strandedness and lengths. The resulting polyion complex micelles (PICMs) will be characterized via SLS, DLS, FRET, and their stability in salt and serum evaluated. We will compare PICMs formed from block copolymers and gradient copolymers. This polymer will apply reversibly deactivated radical polymerization, specifically reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), to produce well-defined polymers and tunable interactions with nucleic acids and proteins.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Not applicable.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00767
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01794
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365920302558
Primary Contacts:
Jessica Lawson jllawson@mines.edu
Ramya Kumar ramyakumar@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
None required. Some chemistry, molecular biology, and LabView coding may be helpful.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
~8-12 hours per week.
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
polymer synthesis, air-free technique, Schlenk line, semi-batch polymerization, characterization using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, static light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, gel electrophoresis. The student will work closely with an NSF graduate research fellow. The student will gain unique insights into applying to and succeeding in graduate school as an independent researcher.
MENTORING PLAN
The student will work closely with a graduate student to learn basic laboratory skills and safety. Then, the student will be allowed to work more independently using the training they have received. Student will participate in group meetings.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Freshman