RAFT Synthesis of Polymer-Metal Nanocomposites for Catalytic and Biological Applications

This thesis develops advanced polymer–metal nanocomposites using RAFT-mediated polymerisation-induced self-assembly (PISA). Thermal polymerisation combined with ultrasound was used to create polymer nanoparticles and reduce metal ions into mono-, bi-, and tri-metallic systems in an environmentally friendly manner. Core-crosslinking strategies improved particle stability, while silver-based systems showed catalytic, antibacterial, and anticancer activity. The influence of particle shape on catalytic performance was also studied, and vitamin E-based micelles were developed as water-based nanoreactors for synthesising fluorescent molecules. Overall, this work advances sustainable, tuneable nanomaterials for catalysis and biomedical applications.