Thesis defence
Title :
Synthesis of novel responsive-tri(hydroxypropyl)phosphonium-based polyelectrolyte hydrogels for controlled drug release
Abstract :
In recent decades, responsive polyelectrolytes have attracted significant interest driven by a surge in research dedicated to the development of new technologies and smart applications at the biological level, energy storage devices, water treatment, and so on. Polyelectrolytes are macromolecular materials composed of repeating units capable of dissociating in ionizing solvents such as water, yielding highly charged polymeric chains with either positive or negative charges. These materials can respond dynamically to the action of various stimuli (pH, ionic strength, light, temperature, electrical potential, etc.). Among them, phosphonium-based polyelectrolytes remain underexplored despite their superior underlying properties compared to their ammonium counterparts. Within this work, innovative phosphonium-based polyelectrolyte or mixed polyelectrolyte hydrogels, notably trihydroxypropylphosphonium-based materials, were synthesized and characterized through a systematic investigation of the structure-property relationships. Thus, several structural parameters and radical polymerization formulations and conditions were investigated to elucidate their impact on the formation of the hydrogels and their final properties. The potential applications of these intelligent polyelectrolyte hydrogels were investigated in terms of their conduction, antibacterial, and drug loading/release properties using model therapeutic compounds, highlighting very promising results. Studies on structure-property relationships have also evidenced some interesting features and behaviors (i.e., swelling, loading, conduction, etc.) associated with specific structural parameters (monomer type, crosslinker type, linker size, etc.) that have a significant impact on the final studied properties. This work provides a fundamental understanding and insight into the synthesis and properties of innovative phosphonium-based polyelectrolyte or mixed polyelectrolyte hydrogels, laying the groundwork for future studies and paving the way for their use in the development of smart materials and controlled drug delivery systems.
The board of members are :
Christine BRESSY, Université de Toulon, MAPIEM,
Thomas TRIMAILLE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, IMP
Hélène VAN DER BERGHE, Université de Montpellier, IBMM
Trang PHAN, Aix Marseille Université, ICR
Jean-Manuel RAIMUNDO, Aix Marseille Université, CINaM
Michel CAMPLO, Aix Marseille Université, CINaM