| Alzheimer's Disease claims approximately 65,800 victims each year. At present, it is estimated that 4.5 million Americans and 26 million people world wide are believed to have Alzheimer's Disease. The research presented here is the development of a novel route of polymer synthesis whereby a biomimetic multivalent Sialic acid polymer is created for the competitive binding and toxicity attenuation of beta-amyloid, a major component of senile plaques associated with the disease. The chemistry makes use of an organic phase crosslinker attachment to a carbohydrate backbone, followed by an aqueous phase free radical photopolymerization. Proof of crosslinker attachment is presented as is a kinetic model of polymerization that is capable of determining appropriate rate constants for the polymerization based on the data that is being modeled. This work represents a first step in the design of new materials for the use in Alzheimer's disease. |
