Our research

We develop functional, biocompatible and biodegradable/sustainable polymers through advanced macromolecular design. To this end, we combine synthetic organic chemistry and state-of-the-art advanced polymerisation techniques, including cationic (ring-opening) polymerisation, spontaneous zwitterionic copolymerisation, controlled radical polymerisations and microorganism produced polymers.

Cationic ring-opening polymerisation (CROP)

Poly(cyclic imino ether)s, e.g. Poly(2-oxazoline)s

The synthesis of functional cyclic imino ethers and their polymerisation by cationic ring-opening polymerisation is one of the major research areas of our group. We are particularly interested in poly(2-oxazoline)s which have attracted significant attention during the last years owing to their multifunctionality and the biocompatibility of the water-soluble short chain analogues, i.e. poly(2-methyl-2-oxaoline) and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline).

Spontaneous zwitterionic copolymerisation (SZWIP)

N-acylated poly(aminoester)s

Biodegradable synthetic polymers are highly attractive materials for biomedical applications. Poly(ester amide)s are an interesting polymer class in this context as they combine the properties of both polyesters and polyamides and thus allow for a high level of functionality. A highly interesting polymerisation techniques to obtain poly(ester amide)s with the amide group in the side chain, known as N-acylated poly(aminoester)s (NPAEs), is SZWIP. This polymerization is believed to occur via a zwitterionic intermediate which is formed upon the reaction between an electrophilic (ME) and nucleophilic monomer (MN) without the addition of an additional catalyst or initiator. The elucidation of the full potential of this re-discovered polymerisation technique is one of our recent research foci.

Reversible deactivation radical polymerisation (RDRP)

RAFT polymerisation, Cu(0) mediated polymerisation

In the last decades research into RDRP has significantly progressed and techniques such as nitroxide-mediated (radical) polymerisation (NMP), atom-transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP), single-electron transfer living radical polymerisation (SET-LRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation have been demonstrated to be powerful tools for the synthesis of tailor-made precision polymers. We use RDRP in combination with CROP and SZWIP to gain access to sophisticated polymeric materials.

Bacteria-derived polymers

Poly(hydroxy alkanoate)s (PHA)

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bio-derived polyesters that serve as promising precursors for developing biodegradable and biocompatible materials with applications across agriculture, coatings, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Produced by microorganisms as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, PHAs are classified according to their monomer chain length into short-chain-length (scl-PHAs, C3–C5), medium-chain-length (mcl-PHAs, C6–C14), and long-chain-length (lcl-PHAs, >C14) types. Notably, PHAs fully decompose into environmentally benign, non-toxic products. Currently, we are working on mcl-PHAs as platforms for sustainable drug delivery systems.