PROJECTS OF RUSSIAN FOUNDATION FOR BASIC RESEARCH

05-03-32865-a 
«Polymer gels with regulated nanostructure responsive to external stimuli»              
(2005-2007)

The microphase separation was found in hydrogels of hydrophobically modified poly(acrylic
acid). It was shown that the size of hydrophobic regions arising as a result of microphase
separation decreases at increasing content of charged groups, which is due to the
strengthening of electrostatic repulsion. For the first time, the influence of the ability of
charged groups to migrate along the chains on the gel nanostructure was studied. It was
shown that the size of hydrophobic regions in microphase separated gels with migrating
charged groups is significantly larger than in the gels with the same content of fixed charged
groups. This can be explained by the fact that the migration of charged groups permits to
decrease the electrostatic repulsion in the system.

05-03-08117-ofi_à
«Design and development of novel polymeric drug carrier and of anti-tuberculosis
therapeutic on its basis»                                                                                                    
(2005-2006)

A novel polymeric drug carrier - nanoclusters of hydrophobically modified chitosan and new
highly effective anti-tuberculosis therapeutic on its basis were developed. The active
component of the therapeutic is pyridazino[4,3-b]indole derivative GS-1 synthesized by us. It
demonstrates a significant antimycobacterial activity in vitro comparable to that of basic
first-line anti-tuberculosis therapeutics like isoniazid and rifampicin, at the same time it is
also quite effective against drug-resistant strains of mycobacteria, which makes the
elaborated system exclusively promising for the treatment of multiple-drug-resistant
tuberculosis.

08-03-00978-a
«"Smart" hydrogels responsive to hydrocarbons»                                                          
(2008-2010)

A new type of physical gels, in which long cylindrical micelles of surfactant play the role of
network subchains, was prepared on the basis of hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide
and different viscoelastic surfactants. It was shown that due to polymer component the gels
keep high values of viscosity and elasticity moduli up to higher temperatures. Due to
surfactant cylindrical micelles the gels are responsive to hydrocarbons: the addition of
hydrocarbon induces the transformation of the gel into a liquid with low viscosity close to
that of water. These gels are promising for the practical application as one of the main
components of fracturing fluids in oil recovery.

09-03-13559-ofi_ts
«Fundamental aspects in elaboration of antimycobacterial therapeutic with high
performance on polymeric carrier»                                                                                   
(2009-2010)

The project is directed to the development of novel anti-tuberculosis therapeutic based on
original anti-tuberculosis agents effective against multiple-drug-resistant strains of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and polymeric carriers that ensure the targeted delivery of
therapeutics directly to the location of the tubercle bacilli. As polymeric carriers for
antitubercular drugs chitosan nanogels cross-linked by sodium tripolyphosphate with the
size of ca. 100-200 nm were used taking into account the fact that macrophages «trap»
foreign objects of this size. To search for new antitubercular drugs the modification of leader
compound in the series of pyridazino-indoles was made by introduction of lipophilic
substituents in position 8 of benzene ring, as the analysis of literature data shows that this
modification should lead to the substantial increase of the bioavailability and of the
antitubercular activity of the compound.

11-03-12168-ofi-m-2011
«New nanocomposites on the basis of conventional polymeric material»                      
(2011-2012)

In this project we used an original approach to improve the thermal properties of low-cost
epoxy resins by incorporation of silica nanoparticles surface-modified by different functional
groups affecting the type of interactions between nanoparticles and polymer matrix. As a
result we obtained the optically transparent nanocomposites possessing a higher glass
transition temperature (by 40 0C) in comparison with the neat epoxy resin. So pronounced
increase of the glass transition temperature was achieved due to the use of anhydride-
modified nanoparticles, which can form covalent bonds with polymer matrix playing the role
of multifunctional hardener.

11-03-01260-a
«Responsive hydrogels of novel type»                                                                               
(2011-2013)

The project is directed to the study of a new type of “smart” polymer hydrogels, in which one
part of subchains is formed by hydrophobically modified polysaccharide and another part of
subchains - by long wormlike micelles of surfactant. For the first time, the effect of added
nanoparticles on the properties of these gels will be studied at the conditions, when the
nanoparticles cross-link the micellar chains thus strengthening the hydrogel.


PROJECTS OF MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Project P 1343
«Design of new functional polymeric systems for modern applications»                    
(2009-2011)

The project is aimed at the preparation and the study of two new types of gels possessing
the required functional properties for two particular applications: targeted drug delivery and
enhanced oil recovery.


Project P 867
«Preparation of innovative multifunctional polymeric systems for medical
applications»                                                                                                  
(2010-2012)

The project is aimed at the preparation of «gel-in-the-gel» systems on the basis of nontoxic
biocompatible and biodegradable polymers of natural origin for the application as drug
carriers. In such systems, simultaneously several types of nanogels with different drugs can
be incorporated thus making the system multifunctional.


Project P 1346
«Preparation of solutions with controlled viscoelastic properties on the basis of
surfactant and colloidal particles»
(2010-2012)

The project is directed to the experimental study of the influence of clay particles on the
behavior of viscoelastic solutions of surfactant.


Project 02.740.11.5185
«Joint theoretical and experimental study of self-assembled networks composed of
micellar and polymeric chains for the application in oil recovery»                                                     
(2010-2011)

The project is aimed at theoretical and experimental study of the behavior of networks
composed of micellar and polymeric chains that possess a unique property to be destroyed
entirely at the contact with hydrocarbons (oil), which makes them very promising for the
application as one of the main components of fracturing fluids in oil recovery.


Project 02.740.11.0643
«Synthesis of new biocompatible graft-copolymer with biodegradable backbone for
the application in medicine and study of its aggregation in selective solvent by
experimental and theoretical methods»
(2010-2012)

The project is aimed at the preparation of new biocompatible graft-copolymer with
biodegradable backbone and of stable nanoparticles based on it for the application in
medicine and at the detailed study of their properties by experimental and theoretical
methods.


PROJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTMENTS

«Viscoelastic surfactants for oil recovery»
(2008-2009)

«Study of the properties of gels formed by micellar chains promising for oil
recovery»                                                                                                        
(2009-2010)


PROFECTS WITH SCHLUMBERGER COMPANY

«Application of new liquids in oil and gas industry»                                                        
(2007-2008)

«Polymers with innovative properties»
(2008-2009)

«Study of micro-/nanobubbles mixtures and analysis of their properties»                     
(2009-2010)

«Development of method for micro/nanobubble mixture stabilization at normal and
reservoir conditions»
(2010-2011)


PROJECT OF THE KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(KAUST) (SAUDI ARABIA)

Contract KUK-F1-034-13
«”Smart” networks»
(2009-2012)

The project is aimed at the preparation and the study of two types of “smart” networks: (1)
networks sensitive to hydrocarbons on the basis of viscoelastic surfactants and associating
polymers and (2) magnetoresponsive networks formed by viscoelastic surfactant and
magnetite nanoparticles.

Russian version
Laboratory of Associating Polymers and Colloids