THE USE OF POLYMER UNZIPPING FOR THE DETECTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE AGENTS
Abstract
This report discusses the feasibility of detecting biologically active agents by their initiation of the depolymerization of certain polymers in a rapid unzipping chain mechanism. Continued work on polymers of n-heptaldehyde indicated that these polymers were promising for use in detection. The uncapped type of polymer is far less stable than the capped type, and the unzipping of the latter might be initiated by the destruction of capping groups by biologically active agents, such as phosphorylating compounds. The earlier preparation of an acetate-capped polymer of heptaldehyde has been repeated successfully. This polymer has been found to have about the same degree of stability at room temperature in the solid state as the capped polymer. Light- scattering and viscosity experiments have been conducted to gain additional insight on methods to characterize aldehyde polymers. Some new kinetic studies indicate that the rapid rates of depolymerization of uncapped polymers observed previously were not due to the effect of acid and thus probably were essentially a measure of the autodegradability of these polymers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 06, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0474787
Entities
People
- Edward B. Dismukes
Organizations
- Southern Research