skip to content

Polymer Program Title

Thomas A. P. Seery

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Education

Ph.D. University of Southern California
A.B. Harvard University

Contact Information

Phone: (860) 486-1337
Email: seery@mail.ims.uconn.edu
Website: http://web.uconn.edu/chemistry/seery.htm

Research Interests

Synthesis of Well-Defined Polymer Structures

One of the goals of synthetic chemists is to acquire control over all degrees of structural complexity. One phase of our research utilizes organometallic catalysts to prepare well defined polymer structures. Molecular topology is one of the most difficult degrees of freedom to control. We are developing synthetic methodologies for the preparation of macrocyclic polymers that will utilize structured catalysts and incorporate the principle of topological control. Extensions of this methodology will lead to the preparation of macrocyclic catenanes and polymers with knotted topologies. These molecule will mimic topologies previously seen only in DNA.

We are also using these catalysts to produce structured surfaces. Organometallic catalysts are bound to a surface through an initiator group and polymerization is initiated directly from the surface. Current efforts involve the preparation of block copolymer brushes on gold surfaces and nanoparticles. Functionalization of the polymer endgroup and control of the helix sense for liquid crystalline isocyanate polymers pave the way for the preparation of a range of surfaces with molecular recognition and biocompatibility as properties we plan to control for a variety of applications in the biomedical industry.

Polymer Dynamics and Macromolecular Associations

Our second research thrust involves physical studies of the structure and dynamics of polymer molecules in solution and on surfaces. We are particularly interested in how these are modified by specific, strong interactions between molecules. We apply techniques of static and dynamic light scattering, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and transient electric birefringence to solutions of polymers with interacting pendant groups. These interactions result from a range of forces that include hydrogen bonds, electrostatic repulsions, Van der Waals attractions and hydrophobic effects.

The polymer systems of interest include: interacting protein fragments that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease; model solutions of polystyrene sulfonate in solvents of extremely high dielectric constant; conducting polymers that aggregate in solution hampering their processibility; and a respiratory enzyme associating with its cofactor during turnover.

Recent Publications

  1. Tian, J.; Seery, T. A. P.; Ho, D. L.; Weiss, R. A.; “Physically Cross-Linked Alkylacrylamide Hydrogels: A SANS Analysis of the Microstructure” Macromolecules; 2004 ;37 (26); 10001-10008
  2. Tian, J.; Seery, T. A. P.; Weiss, R. A.; “Physically Cross-Linked Alkylacrylamide Hydrogels: Phase Behavior and Microstructure” Macromolecules; 2004 ;37 (26); 9994-10000
  3. Thomas A. P. Seery, Mark Jordi, Rose Guino, and Dale Huber, “Characterization of Polymer Brushes on Nanoparticle Surfaces” in “Polymer brushes: From Synthesis to Functional Microstructures” in Polymer Brushes; Advincula, Rigoberto C., Brittain, B., Caster, K., Rühe, J. Eds.; Wiley-VCH: Wenheim, July 2004. pp 213-230
  4. Costanzo, P. J.; Patten, T. E.; Seery, T. A. P., “Synthesis, assembly mechanism, and sensor application of nanostructures comprised of biotinylated CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles”, Polymer Preprints (American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry) 2004, 45, 742.
  5. Costanzo, P. J.; Patten, T. E.; Seery, T. A. P., “Protein-Ligand Mediated Aggregation of Nanoparticles: A Study of Synthesis and Assembly Mechanism.” Chemistry of Materials 2004, 16, 1775-1785.
  6. Tian, J.; Seery, T. A. P.; Ho, D. L.; Weiss, R. A., “Small angle neutron scattering study of the microstructure of hydrophobically modified alkyl acrylamide hydrogels.”, Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 714-715.
  7. Amit Sehgal ad Thomas A.P. Seery, "Polyelectrolyte Self-diffusion: Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching of Sodium Poly(styrenesulfonate) in N-methyl Formamide" Macromolecules, 2003; 36, 10056-10062.
  8. U. Klueh, T. Seery, D.G. Castner, J.D. Bryers, D.L. Kreutzer, “Binding and Orientation of Fibronectin on Self Assembled Monolayers Using Immobilized Bacterial Adhesin Related Peptides”, Biomaterials, 2003, 24; 3877–3884

Polymer Program: 860.486.3582: polymer@ims.uconn.edu