Research Directions
Work in our laboratory is focused on the creation of functional macromolecular materials for probing biological systems. Building upon our strong and diverse background in synthetic and polymer chemistry, inorganic cluster chemistry, and chemical biology, we will develop novel methods and materials that significantly enhance imaging sensitivity, expand fluorophore multiplexing capabilities, and enable facile creation of complex polymer architectures. The approaches and tools created by our group will lead to useful solutions to important problems in health and materials science.
Activity-Based Polymerization Signal AmplificationWe are interested in further understanding the roles that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) play in cellular signaling and in pathologies such as neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. In order to track these transient and low concentration species, we will develop polymerization-based platforms to significantly enhance imaging sensitivity.
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Cluster-Based Imaging Tools and Therapeutic LeadsBoron-rich cluster chemistry is in the midst of an impressive renaissance, despite classically being considered a niche field trailing behind chemical advances pertaining to carbon-rich molecules. We plan to leverage the unique electronic properties, high stability, and synthetic tunability of boron-rich clusters to develop new multi-modal imaging agents, chemical probes, and therapeutics.
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3-Dimensional Polymer (Bio)MaterialsOur group will explore the use of novel 3-dimensional templates to create complex and well-defined polymer materials bolstering unique properties. Such materials could find use in the stabilization of antibody therapeutics and vaccines and in materials formulations.
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Interested colleagues are invited to read the following reviews to gain insight into the themes we plan on exploring:
Bruemmer, K. J.; Crossley, S. W. M.; Chang, C. J. "Activity-Based Sensing: A Synthetic Methods Approach for Selective Molecular Imaging and Beyond", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 13734–13762.
Sies, H.; Jones, D. P. "Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as Pleiotropic Physiological Signalling Agents", Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2020, 21, 363-383.
Axtell, J. C.*; Saleh, L. M. A.; Qian, E. A.; Wixtrom, A. I.; Spokoyny, A. M.* "Synthesis and Applications of Perfunctionalized Boron Clusters", Inorg. Chem. 2018, 57, 2333-2350.
Spokoyny, A. M.* “New Ligand Platforms Featuring Boron-Rich Clusters as Organomimetic Substituents”, Pure & Appl. Chem. 2013, 85, 903-919.
Ren, J. M.; McKenzie, T. G.; Fu, Q.; Wong, E. H. H.; Xu, J.; An, Z.; Shanmugam, S.; Davis, T. P.; Boyer, C.; Qiao, G. G. "Star Polymers", Chem. Rev. 2016, 116, 6743-6836.
Messina, M. S.; Maynard, H. D.* "Modification of Biomolecules Using Olefin Metathesis" Mater. Chem. Front. 2020, 4, 1040-1051.
Messina, M.S.; Messina, K. M. M.; Bhattacharya, A.; Montgomery, H. R.; Maynard, H. D.* "Preparation of Biomolecule-Polymer Conjugates by Grafting-From Using ATRP, RAFT, or ROMP", Prog. Polym. Sci. 2020, 100, 101186.
Bruemmer, K. J.; Crossley, S. W. M.; Chang, C. J. "Activity-Based Sensing: A Synthetic Methods Approach for Selective Molecular Imaging and Beyond", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 13734–13762.
Sies, H.; Jones, D. P. "Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as Pleiotropic Physiological Signalling Agents", Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2020, 21, 363-383.
Axtell, J. C.*; Saleh, L. M. A.; Qian, E. A.; Wixtrom, A. I.; Spokoyny, A. M.* "Synthesis and Applications of Perfunctionalized Boron Clusters", Inorg. Chem. 2018, 57, 2333-2350.
Spokoyny, A. M.* “New Ligand Platforms Featuring Boron-Rich Clusters as Organomimetic Substituents”, Pure & Appl. Chem. 2013, 85, 903-919.
Ren, J. M.; McKenzie, T. G.; Fu, Q.; Wong, E. H. H.; Xu, J.; An, Z.; Shanmugam, S.; Davis, T. P.; Boyer, C.; Qiao, G. G. "Star Polymers", Chem. Rev. 2016, 116, 6743-6836.
Messina, M. S.; Maynard, H. D.* "Modification of Biomolecules Using Olefin Metathesis" Mater. Chem. Front. 2020, 4, 1040-1051.
Messina, M.S.; Messina, K. M. M.; Bhattacharya, A.; Montgomery, H. R.; Maynard, H. D.* "Preparation of Biomolecule-Polymer Conjugates by Grafting-From Using ATRP, RAFT, or ROMP", Prog. Polym. Sci. 2020, 100, 101186.