The research presented in this thesis focuses on the synthesis of three amphiphilic block copolymer systems containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks. The polymer systems were developed for use in biomedical applications. The first of these is a series of poly(ethylene oxide-b-oxazoline) (PEO-b-POX) diblock copolymers for use in the progress towards novel nonviral gene transfer vectors. Poly...

To develop a general model of polysaccharide-peptide vaccine, we have investigated the efficiency of linear peptides derived from protein SR, and adhesin of the I/II protein antigen family of oral streptococci, to act as carriers for two T cell-independent polysaccharides: serogroup f polysaccharide from Streptococcus mutans OMZ 175 (poly f) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan. Peptide 3 (YEKEP...

Herein, we compared the microphase-separation behavior and mechanical properties of cellulose- amylose-based block copolymers (BCPs). Various cellooligosaccharide triacetate-b-poly(?-decanolactone)-b-cellooligosaccharide triacetates (AcCeln-b-PDL-b-AcCelns), which are cellulose-based ABA-type BCPs, with PDL molecular weights approximately 5, 10, 20 kg mol–1 volume fractions 0.65, 0.77, 0.87, we...

Early/memory and plasma B-cell lines and fibroblasts were analyzed for their ability to use a 5' proximal (variant) versus a 3' distal (constant) poly(A) site, in the absence of a competing splice, from a set of related constructs. The proximal:distal poly(A) site use (P:D ratio) of the resulting cytoplasmic poly(A)+ mRNA is a measure of poly(A) site strength. In this context the immunoglobulin...

The innate immune system utilizes pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect the invasion of pathogens and initiate host antimicrobial responses. Recently, it was reported that human cancer cells also expressed PRRs, and responded to cytosolic nucleic acids via the production of type I interferon and apoptosis in susceptible cells. However, the definite nucleic acids senses in different can...

Earning their stripes: A hierarchical assembly of micelles composed of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP), were made by combining controlled evaporative self-assembly of the confined PS-b-P4VP toluene solution in a cylinder-on-Si geometry with spontaneous self-assembly of micelles. This method gave microscopic stripes of nanometer-sized PS-b-...