Bio-inspired nanoscale materials: Design, synthesis and self-assembly behaviors of functional amphiphilic block copolymers and their impact on ionic crystal growth

Amphiphilic compositions of biological materials are key to their complex functions. Inspired by these materials and based on their structure-property relationships, the design, synthesis and characterization of functional synthetic macromolecules were conducted via controlled radical polymerization methodologies, such as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Emphasis was placed on the development of facile synthetic methodologies to allow for the incorporation of regioselective physico-chemical functionalities in multi-block copolymers. Self-assembly behaviors of such block copolymers in bulk, aqueous and non-aqueous conditions and also the thermo-responsive properties of block copolymers containing semicrystalline domains were evaluated. The ability of those nanostructures to exert influence on bio-mimetic calcium carbonate mineralization was investigated. These results have provided better comprehension of the properties of nanostructures resulting from amphiphilic multi-block copolymers and their interactions with ionic molecular and macromolecular species in condensed heterogeneous aggregates.