Charles W. Scales
Education
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Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering August 2006 (Projected Date)
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Bachelor of Science, Chemistry (ACS) May 2001
Research Interests
● Synthesis and characterization of functional
monomers and (co)polymers
● Utilization of RAFT as a tool in the synthesis of functional, polymeric-bioconjugates and other
biologically active (co)polymers
● Application of polymeric bioconjugates in aqueous media
● Chemical modification and fluorescent labeling of synthetic (co)polymers
Current Research Activities
My research involves the synthesis, characterization, and application of novel, polymeric bioconjugates consisting of a RAFT-generated polymer known as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM) and single-stranded pieces of RNA known as “aptamers.” These aptamers are functional pieces of RNA or DNA that are capable of binding to target species in solution with very high specificity. Some of these pieces of DNA and RNA are also capable of mediating or accelerating biochemical reactions, thus giving them the name “ribozymes.”
In water, PNIPAAM homopolymers exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior, and as a result, can undergo a “coil-to-globule” transition when the solution temperature exceeds 32 °C. This “coil-to-globule” transition causes immediate aggregation and subsequent precipitation of PNIPAAM above 32 °C, thus making conjugation to valuable biological moieties (i.e. DNA, RNA, proteins, and therapeutics) extremely advantageous.
Much of my effort has been directed toward the attachment of PNIPAAM to RNA aptamers. Because of the chain-end functionality that RAFT polymerization affords, (i.e. terminal carboxylic acids), polymers synthesized by this process may be attached to RNA with excellent regio-specificity (i.e. the 5’ or 3’ chain-ends), and therefore, not interfere with the aptamer’s biological function.
Because our department is an approved NSF-MRSEC site for response-driven coatings and surfaces, and since I am a NSF-MRSEC Fellow, much of my research is done in collaboration with other research groups here and other universities. The MRSEC program has been extremely beneficial to my research because it permits and fosters the interdisciplinary environment needed to reach my specific research objectives.
Recent Publications
Convertine, Anthony J.; Ayres, Neil; Scales, Charles W.; Lowe, Andrew B.; McCormick, Charles L. Facile, controlled, room-temperature RAFT polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide. Biomacromolecules 2004, 5(4), 1177-80.
Vasilieva, Yulia A.; Thomas, David B.; Scales, Charles W.; McCormick, Charles L. Direct Controlled Polymerization of a Cationic Methacrylamido Monomer in Aqueous Media via the RAFT Process. Macromolecules 2004, 37(8), 2728-2737.
Poe, Garrett D.; Jarrett, William L.; Scales, Charles W.; McCormick, Charles L. Enhanced Coil Expansion and Intrapolymer Complex Formation of Linear Poly(methacrylic acid) Containing Poly(ethylene glycol) Grafts. Macromolecules 2004, 37(7), 2603-2612.
Scales, Charles W.; Myrick, Leslie J.; Sumerlin, Brent S.; Lowe, Andrew B.; McCormick, Charles L. Synthesis of terminally functionalized, (Co)polymers via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and subsequent immobilization to solid surfaces with potential biosensor applications. Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2004, 90, 36-37.
Presentations/Posters
Vasilieva, Yulia
A.; Scales, Charles W.; Thomas, David B.; Ayres, Neil; McCormick, Charles L. Controlled
polymerization of neutral and cationic methacrylamides in aqueous media by
RAFT. Abstracts
of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting,
Scales, Charles W.; Myrick, Leslie J.; Sumerlin, Brent S.; Lowe, Andrew B.; McCormick, Charles L. Synthesis of terminally functionalized, (Co)polymers via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and subsequent immobilization to solid surfaces with potential biosensor applications. Abstracts of Papers, 227th ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA, United States, March 28-April 1, 2004.
Sumerlin, Brent S.; Stroud, Paul A.; Lowe, Andrew B.; Scales, Charles; McCormick, Charles L. Modification of gold films with water-soluble (co)polymers prepared via aqueous RAFT. Abstracts of Papers, 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, March 23-27, 2003.
Collaborators
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