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Self-assembly of boron cluster compounds and their coassembly with polymers
Ďorďovič, Vladimír ; Matějíček, Pavel (advisor) ; Adamczyk-Wozniak, Agnieszka (referee) ; Nunez Aguilera, Maria Rosario (referee)
This thesis focuses on the self-assembly of the boron cluster compounds and the coassembly of metallacaborane cobalt bis(dicarbollide), COSAN, with hydrophilic polymers. The research was motivated by the discovery of HIV inhibition by COSAN and its conjugates. Therefore, we decided to study in detail the behavior of boron cluster compounds in water. We demonstrated the amphiphilic character of several boranes and carboranes by the study of surface tension and self-assembly despite the absence of classical amphiphilic topology. The behavior of COSAN showed similarities with classical surfactants, such as SDS, whereas the behavior of smaller clusters with high charge density reminded of hydrotropes or chaotropes. Furthermore, we searched for the most suitable carriers of COSAN for drug delivery. Based on the earlier findings that COSAN interacts with both poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, and poly(2-oxazoline), POX, we prepared nanoparticles by mixing COSAN with block copolymers of various types of POX. Comparing linear and star-like block copolymers, we showed that the polymer architecture has a crucial role in the morphology of nanoparticles. In addition, we proved different selectivity of alkaline cations towards PEO and POX, resulting in the different structures of nanoparticles depending on the present...
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Design of boron cluster-containing nanostructuresin solution
Fernandez Alvarez, Roberto ; Matějíček, Pavel (advisor) ; Machalová Šišková, Karolína (referee) ; Cígler, Petr (referee)
Thesis The main objective of this thesis is the study of boron cluster compounds in solution, their interaction with polymers and the formation of nanostructures. Most of the work was focused around cobalt bis(dicarbollide) (COSAN) but the incorporation of carborane into polymers was also studied. The idea was to close the knowledge gap around the way COSAN aggregates and continue the line of the laboratory in leading this topic. Therefore, we performed in-depth analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry curves to determine the aggregation number at concentrations around the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Thus, the aggregation number obtained was an improvement over previous data obtained a much higher concentration. The use of acetonitrile as a cosolvent in the micellization process helped formulate a model describing how C-H bonds in the COSAN micelles are directed towards the inside of the micelle. Furthermore, COSAN was used as a model drug for loading nanocarriers composed of hydrophobic core and charged corona. The importance of this work relies on the creation of guidelines for drug loading into similar polymeric vectors in order to determine how the nanocarrier will be affected. With the help of coarse-grained simulations, we determined that changes in the hydrophobicity of the...
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Self-assembly of boron cluster compounds and their coassembly with polymers
Ďorďovič, Vladimír ; Matějíček, Pavel (advisor) ; Adamczyk-Wozniak, Agnieszka (referee) ; Nunez Aguilera, Maria Rosario (referee)
This thesis focuses on the self-assembly of the boron cluster compounds and the coassembly of metallacaborane cobalt bis(dicarbollide), COSAN, with hydrophilic polymers. The research was motivated by the discovery of HIV inhibition by COSAN and its conjugates. Therefore, we decided to study in detail the behavior of boron cluster compounds in water. We demonstrated the amphiphilic character of several boranes and carboranes by the study of surface tension and self-assembly despite the absence of classical amphiphilic topology. The behavior of COSAN showed similarities with classical surfactants, such as SDS, whereas the behavior of smaller clusters with high charge density reminded of hydrotropes or chaotropes. Furthermore, we searched for the most suitable carriers of COSAN for drug delivery. Based on the earlier findings that COSAN interacts with both poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, and poly(2-oxazoline), POX, we prepared nanoparticles by mixing COSAN with block copolymers of various types of POX. Comparing linear and star-like block copolymers, we showed that the polymer architecture has a crucial role in the morphology of nanoparticles. In addition, we proved different selectivity of alkaline cations towards PEO and POX, resulting in the different structures of nanoparticles depending on the present...
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