Research

Research in the sustainable and functional polymers group is highly interdisciplinary. While the development and characterisation of novel materials plays a key role, the biological assessment is equally important.

The group is aimed to provide individual research topics of the interface between materials science and biology. Topics may focus on either site of this interface, providing individual projects on synthesis, characterisation or biological evaluation.

Sustainable and Functional Polymers

 
We are working on the development of functional polymers from sustainable, bio-derived resources, such as amino acids or lipidic compounds. With the aid of living and controlled polymerisation techniques (e.g., controlled radical polymerisation and living cationic polymerisation), we create tailored macromolecules with defined properties. A key focus of this research is the creation of polymer architectures for potential applications in the biological environment. To ensure valid conclusions about structure-property-relationships, extensive physicochemical of polymeric materials is a key research area.

M. N. Leiske* & K. Kempe* (2021) Macromol. Rapid Commun. 43 (2), 2100615: A Guideline for the Synthesis of Amino-Acid-Functionalized Monomers and Their Polymerizations

Polymer nanostructures

In the past, polymer nanostructures have proven promising for different applications (e.g., nanomedicine or as reactors for catalytic reactions). They allow to study structure-property relationships of polymeric materials in great detail. We are developing polymer nanostructures via non-covalent and covalent synthesis for different applications. We focus on smart synthetic approaches combining different polymerisation techniques (e.g., ionic and radical polymerisation) and post-polymerisation modifcations. The in-depth characterisation of polymer nanostructures is one of our key priorities.

M. N. Leiske (2023) Eur. Polym. J. (185), 111832: Poly(2-oxazoline)-derived star-shaped polymers as potential materials for biomedical applications: A review

Stealth polymers

In modern nanomedicine, it is a major challenge to deliver therapeutically active agents more safely and directly to the target site. Commonly used therapeutic drugs lack this selectivity and therefore unspecifically interact with cells and other biological matter. Consequently, the clinical benefit of such compounds is limited by numerous side effects. The use of stealth polymers is rapidly emerging, and conjugation of drugs can help to improve their solubility, blood circulation time, and tissue distribution, which leads to a reduction of interaction with nontumor cells and limit toxic side effects. In our group, we design and test novel, non-ionic and zwitterionic stealth polymers to evaluate their suitability for use in nanomedicine.

​

M. N. Leiske, M. Lai, T. Amarasena, T. P. Davis, K. J. Thurecht, S. J. Kent,* K. Kempe* (2021) Biomaterials 274, 120843: Interactions of core cross-linked poly(2-oxazoline) and poly(2-oxazine) micelles with immune cells in human blood

Site-specific polymers

One promising strategy to develop site-specific polymers is the incorporation of natural, low-fouling compounds, such as proteinogenic amino acids to yield amino-acid-derived zwitterionic polymers. Zwitterionic polymers have emerged as promising alternative to non-ionic stealth polymers as they can combine low fouling characteristics with tissue specificity. Many studies have observed accumulation in cancer cells and tumour tissue. Our research focusses on the development of amino-acid-derived zwitterionic polymers and their cell interactions to design polymers with high specificity to diseased cells.

​

​M. N. Leiske*, Z. A. I. Mazrad, A. Zelcak, K. Wahi, T. P. Davis, J. A. McCarroll, J. Holst, K. Kempe* (2022) Biomacromolecules 23 (6), 2374-2387. Zwitterionic Amino Acid-Derived Polyacrylates as Smart Materials Exhibiting Cellular Specificity and Therapeutic Activity

Open projects

Master Theses (1 free spot)

1. Amphiphilic polyolefins

Commercial plastics have proven themselves to be indispensable for our every day life. However, many of them suffer from poor (bio)degradation. In this project, we want to look into the potential to minimise this drawback by making them more accessible to decomposers.

What you will learn: Monomer synthesis and characterisation (e.g., NMR). Polymer synthesis and characterisation (e.g., NMR, SEC, DLS, ELS, CD). Testing of bulk properties (e.g., tensile testing) and degradation. 

2. Amino-acid-derived polycations

Amino acids are sustainable startin materials for the design of polymers with tailored properties. Join us to create novel polymers as amino acids.

What you will learn: Monomer synthesis and characterisation (e.g., NMR). Polymerisation kinetics (e.g., ionic polymerisation). Polymer analysis (e.g., NMR, SEC, TGA, DSC, etc.)

3. Thermoresponsive polymers

Thermoresponsive polymers feature applications in numerous areas (e.g., life sciences or engineering). In this project, we want to design thermoresponsive polymers based on cyclic imino ethers.

What you will learn: Monomer synthesis and characterisation (e.g., NMR). Polymerisation kinetics (e.g., ionic polymerisation). Polymer analysis (e.g., NMR, SEC, TGA, DSC, etc.)

Bachelor Theses (availability from winter term 2024)

1. Cationic star-shaped polymers for gene delivery applications

Cationic polymers are smart materials to delivery genetic materials into cells. In this project we want to design cationic star-shaped polymers for this purpose.

What you will learn: Synthesis and characterisation (e.g., NMR, SEC, DLS, ELS, TEM) of star-shaped polymers. Optional: Complexation of genetic material and interaction with cells.

3. Development of monodisperse oligomers

Synthetic oligomers can't be monodisperse? Help us to prove otherwise! What you will learn: Synthesis of polymers via living ionic polymerisations. Polymer characterisation (e.g., NMR and SEC). Preparative SEC. 

Questions?

If you are interested in a research project with us, please contact us for further information.

Can't find "your" project? Contact us anyway! Maybe we can come up with an idea together!