Date of Award
5-2007
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Legacy Department
Chemistry
Committee Chair/Advisor
SUN, YA-PING
Abstract
Due to their unique electronic, optical, catalytic and mechanical properties, nanomaterials (nanoparticles and nanotubes) have been attracting much attention over the past decades. In this dissertation, polymeric nanoparticles bearing derivatized D-mannose and galactose molecules were prepared via dispersion polymerization and their interactions with various bacterial cells were studied. The results show that there are strong adhesin-specific interactions of the nanoparticles with E. coli cells, resulting significant nanoparticles-madiated cell agglutination.
Poly(ethylene glycol)-coated magnetic polymer nanoparticles were synthesized through miniemulsion polymerization by using macromonomer as both a comonomer and a surfactant. The resulting magnetic polymer nanoparticles were successfully used for bio-detection and as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents.
The functionalization of carbon nanomaterials was also studied. Carbon nanotubes and vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCFs) were functionalized and solubilized with nylon 6 by using the grafting-from strategy in a two-step process. These nylon functionalized carbon nanomaterials were systematically characterized and used for the fabrication of polymer/carbon composite fibers by electrospinning method.
Recommended Citation
Qu, Liangwei, "FUNCTIONALIZED NANOMATERIALS: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND APPLICATIONS" (2007). All Dissertations. 64.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/64