UMass Amherst

Todd S. Emrick

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering
A613 Conte, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-9292
(413) 577-1613
tsemrick@mail.pse.umass.edu
http://www.pse.umass.edu/~temrick/

Functional Polymers, Nanoparticles, and Hybrid Materials

Our research efforts target the synthesis of new materials, based especially on polymers and nanoparticles, for applications in the nanotechnology and bionanotechnology arenas. The organic and polymer functionalization of semiconductor quantum dots is providing a means for their fabrication within a wide variety of polymer materials for light emitting devices. In addition, the synthesis polymer and nanoparticle-based capsules is enabling new methods, and the production of new materials, for the controlled and targeted delivery of reagents, for example of therapeutic drugs.

Research Interest Potential Application
Nanoparticles and Quantum Dots, and Nanoparticle-Polymer Composite Materials Light emitting diodes, photovoltaics, sensors
Polymer microcapsules and nanocapsules Multiple delivery applications for controlled release, for example of drugs, DNA, pesticides, etc.
Synthesis of functional polymers New materials for exploring applications in electronics and memory storage
Organic and Polymer Chemistry for     Nanobiotechnology Protein and virus encapsulation and functionalization for delivery applications
Nanoparticle-based Capsules by Self-assembly Fundamental and applied aspects of controlled release through nanometer-sized pores

Honors and Awards

  • National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2003
  • OMNOVA, Inc. Signature Young Faculty Award, 2001

Publications

  1. Skaff, H.; Emrick, T. "Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization from Unprotected CdSe Nanocrystals", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., accepted.
  2. Breitenkamp, K.; Emrick, T.  “Novel Polymer Capsules from Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers and Ring-opening Cross Metathesis”  J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 12070-12071.
  3. Skaff, H.; Emrick, T. "The Use of 4-Substituted Pyridines to Afford Amphiphilic, PEGylated Cadmium Selenide Nanoparticles" Chem. Comm. 2003, 52-53.
  4. Lin Y.; Skaff, H.; Boker, A.; Dinsmore, A.D.; Emrick, T.; Russell, T.P. "Ultrathin Cross-linked Nanoparticle Membranes" J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 12690-12691.
  5. Lin, Y.; Skaff, H.; Emrick, T.; Dinsmore, A.D.; Russell, T.P. "Nanoparticles at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces: Assembly, Displacement and Transport" Science 2003, 299, 226-229.