Prof. Ph.D. Christine Papadakis

Courses and Dates

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Amphiphilic polymeric conetworks are mechanically more stable than pure hydrogels and are used in contact lenses. They swell both in water and organic solvents, which qualifies them for cleaning purposes. Using star block copolymers as building blocks, highly ordered gels with high toughness are obtained. In the proposed master thesis, the star block copolymers as well as the resulting conetworks shall be investigated in organic solvents using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. The candidate should be interested in experimental work as well as in data analysis and molecular interpretation.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Christine Papadakis

pH-responsive Polymermizellen für den Wirkstofftransport

In aqueous solution, amphiphilic block copolymers form core-shell micelles with the hydrophobic blocks forming the core and the hydrophilic blocks the shell. Such micelles find numerous applications for uptake, transport and release of hydrophobic substances. “Smart” systems may be created if the shell-forming block is pH-responsive, i.e. its degree of charge is controlled by pH. These can be used for the delivery of DNA. In the proposed master thesis, triblock terpolymers featuring a hydrophobic, a pH-responsive and a water-soluble block shall be studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering. The candidate should be interested in experimental work as well as in data analysis and molecular interpretation.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Christine Papadakis

Proteinbasierte Nanoteilchen für den Wirkstofftransport

Protein-based nanocarriers are of great interest for the encapsulation and release of hydrophobic bioactive substances, e.g. medical drugs, upon application of stimuli, such as ionic strength and pH. Such nanoparticles may be prepared from proteins and polyelectrolytes that form complexes by electrostatic interactions. By subsequent heating, the disulfide bonds between the proteins within the nanoparticles are stabilized. This preparation method yields robust nanoparticles that can swell or deswell upon changes of pH and ionic strength and retain the multifunctionality of the incorporated proteins. In the project proposed, the nanoparticles shall be characterized in terms of their size and internal morphology in dependence on the building blocks and upon change of pH or ionic strength. At this, a combination of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) will be used. The candidate should be interested in experimental work as well as in data analysis and molecular interpretation.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Christine Papadakis

Schaltbare molekulare Flaschenbürsten

Molekulare Flaschenbürsten bestehen aus einer Hauptkette, an die polymere Seitenarme dicht gepropft sind. Diese können als Träger für Wirkstoffe verwendet werden. Sind die Seitenarme temperatur-schaltbare Polymere, hat deren Konformationsänderung einen großen Einfluss auf die Größe und Form der gesamten Bürste. In der Bachelorarbeit sollen Lösungen solcher Bürsten in Abhängigkeit von der Temperature mit dynamischer Lichtstreuung untersucht werden. Nach einer Literaturrecherche sollen Proben präpariert werden und die Messungen und die Datenanalyse durchgeführt werden. Für weitere Informationen melden Sie sich bitte bei Prof. Christine Papadakis, papadakis@tum.de.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics Education

Supervisor: Christine Papadakis