Novel Macromolecular Architectures via a Combination of Cyclodextrin Host/Guest Complexation and RAFT Polymerization

In this thesis, Bernhard Schmidt describes his research into two fields in the chemical sciences: supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry. Schmidt first investigates cyclodextrins (CDs), which are well known for the formation of supramolecular host/guest complexes with hydrophobic molecules in aqueous solution. Schmidt then also examines reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a well-suited toll for the synthesis of water-soluble end-functionalized polymers. The author skillfully combines both concepts as a powerful tool to access reversibly forming macromolecular architectures. The novel methods and architectures presented in this work are highly interesting from both a fundamental point of view as well as a basis for the design of efficient drug release systems. The work in this thesis has led to a number of publications in top peer-reviewed journals.

Bernhard V.K.J. Schmidt graduated in chemistry at the Technical University Darmstadt in 2009 with focus on polymer science. He accomplished his diploma thesis in the group of Prof. Matthias Rehahn followed by a short stay at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Science in Postdam in the group of Dr. Jean-François Lutz, where he worked on sequence controlled polymerization and single polymer chain folding. For his doctoral studies he joined the group of Prof. Christopher Barner-Kowollik at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and graduated in 2013. His research work consisted mainly of the formation of supramolecular architectures governed by cyclodextrin complexes and stimuli responsive polymers. Currently he is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Santa Barbara in the group of Prof. Craig Hawker as a German Academic Exchange Service fellow.