The Grayson Group

The research in the Grayson group covers a range of fields, from fundamental exploration of polymer architecture, to investigations of their medical or materials applications:

Fundamental Studies of Macromolecular Architecture

      We have recently developed a technique in our labs which enables the production of cyclic polymers with previously unattainable control over purity, size, and functionality. Fundamental studies are continuing for both the synthesis of exotic architectures based on cyclics, and also for defining the properties of these materials.

Dendronized cyclic polymers: One example of a new polymer architecture that has developed from this technique is the dendronized cyclic polymer. By coupling the cyclization method with previously developed dendronization methods we have enable access to a unique class of molecules, which are predicted to have a “toroidal” shape at high dendritic generations. Studies are presently underway to elucidate the encapsulation properties of these molecules.

This project is funded by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and NASA

Transdermal Delivery

Amphiphilic nanoparticles offer a carrier that might enable the efficient transport of compounds through the stratum corneum of the skin. We are presently developing a modular approach to building amphiphilic macromolecule with control over size, shape, and surface properties in order to probe the utility of this approach for transdermal delivery of small molecular drugs, and transcutaneous delivery of antigens for vaccination.

This project is funded by the National Institute of Health, and the Louisiana Board of Regents

Cancer Therapy/Tumor Targeting

Recent studies have verified that the molecular weight and architecture of polymers can have a profound effect on their enhanced targeting to tumor tissue via the Enhanced Permiability and Retention (EPR) effect. With our development of efficient synthetic routes to complex molecular architectures, we plan on exploring in further detail the effect of molecular architecture on biodistribution and tumor targeting.

This project is funded by Tulane University

Hydrocarbon Remediation

Amphiphilic nanoparticle with a covalently linked micelle-like architecture offer the unique ability to solvate non-polar hosts in water, regardless of their concentration, because their micellar structure is not dependant upon a reversible assembly process. They therefore offer tremendous promise for the remediation of non-polar pollutants in open environments where rapid dilution complicates the use of traditional surfactants. Our group is presently investigating the feasibility of these non-traditional amphiphiles.

This project is funded by the American Chemical Society