Squaramide-based supramolecular polymers : from self-assembly to in vivo application

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is

to develop and study a robust and adaptable scaffold for supramolecular polymer

self-assembly in water. For this purpose, I rely on the use of squaramides to

provide directional interactions in order to drive the formation of one-dimensional aggregates through self-assembly. The interplay of hydrogen-bonding and aromaticity in the monomer self-assembly process is explored in the squaramide unit, by examining the consequence of aromatic gain on this process. Additionally, by systematic modification of the monomer structure, a library of supramolecular structures with different morphologies is developed and their use as future drug nanovehicles is studied in an in vivo model involving zebrafish embryos.