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     COLLOQUIUM OF THE COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE CENTER
AND THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, & COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES
                            (CSI 898-Sec 001)
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        Solvophobically-driven self-assembly: kinetics and structures 
                          from novel amphiphiles

                       Margarita Herrera-Alonso
             Department of Materials Science and Engineering
                Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

In analogy to proteins and viruses, we study the intra and intermolecular
self-assembly of polymer-based amphiphiles leading to constructs with unique
physical properties for use as drug/imaging agent delivery vehicles.
Specifically, we are interested in the design, synthesis, and solvophobic
collapse of graft and dendrimeric amphiphiles that will result in unimolecular
assemblies and particles with patterned surfaces, respectively.  In the former
case we seek to control the conformational transitions of the backbone to
produce multi-stimuli responsive materials.  In the latter case we study the
influence of molecular structure and assembly kinetics on particle
formation/structure, and control over chemical surface heterogeneity.

                       Monday, April 23, 2012
                               4:30 pm
                    Room 301, Research I, Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at http://www.cmasc.gmu.edu/seminar/schedule.html