Abstract
Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units connected by covalent chemical bonds. Biopolymers are a class of polymers produced by living organisms, which exhibit both biocompatible and biodegradable properties. The behavior of a biopolymer in solution is strongly dependent on the chemical and physical structure of the polymer chain, as well as external environmental conditions. To improve biopolymers in the direction of higher performance and better functionality, understanding of their physicochemical behavior and their response to external stimuli are of great importance. Rheology, rheo-small angle light scattering, dynamic light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation were utilized in this thesis to investigate the properties of hydroxyethyl cellulose and its hydrophobically modified analogue, as well as dextran, hyaluronan, and mucin under different conditions such as temperature, solvent, mechanical stress and strain, and radiation. Different novel hydrogels were prepared by using various chemical cross-linking agents. Specific features of these macromolecules provide them to be used as ‘functional’ materials, e.g., sensors, actuators, personal care products, enhanced oil recovery, and controlled drug delivery systems.
List of papers
| Paper I. Maleki, Atoosa; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena, and Nyström, Bo: Effect of shear on intramolecular and intermolecular association during cross-linking of hydroxyethylcellulose in dilute aqueous solutions. J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 1239-12336, 2005. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/jp0514271 |
| Paper II. Liu, Zhengjun; Maleki, Atoosa; Zhu, Kaizheng; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; and Nyström, Bo: Intramolecular and intermolecular association during chemical cross-linking of dilute solutions of different polysaccharides under the influence of shear flow. J. Phys. Chem B 112, 1082-1089, 2008. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/jp076497h |
| Paper III. Maleki, Atoosa; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Knudsen, Kenneth D.; and Nyström, Bo: Dynamical and structural behavior of hydroxyethylcellulose hydrogels obtained by chemical gelation. Polym. Int. 55, 365-374, 1978. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.1978 |
| Paper IV. Maleki, Atoosa; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena, and Nyström, Bo: Effect of Ph on the behavior of hyaluronic acid in dilute and semidilute aqueous solutions. Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo. The paper is not available in DUO. |
| Paper V. Maleki, Atoosa; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena, and Nyström, Bo: Characterization of the chemical degradation of hyaluronic acid during chemicak gelation in the presence of different cross-linker agents. Carbohy. Res. 342, pages 2776–2792, 2007. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2007.08.021 |
| Paper VI. Maleki, Atoosa; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena, and Nyström, Bo: Anomalous viscosity behavior in aqueous solutions of hyaluronic acid. Polym. Int. 59, 217-226, 2007. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-007-0760-2 |
| Paper VII. Maleki, Atoosa; Lafitte, Géraldine; Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena; Thuresson, Krister, and Nyström, Bo: Effect of pH on the association behavior in aqueous solutions of pig gastric mucin. Carbohy. Res. 343, 328–340, 2008. The paper is not available in DUO. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2007.10.005 |