Rob Deller becomes first GibsonGroup student to recieve PhD! Well done.

Our latest paper is now online in the European Polymer Journal. This papers describes the use of carbohydrates (sugars) as the core building blocks to make reproducible, well defined polymers. This templated synthesis offers more control than e.g. radical polymerization, and can access very low DP polymers (less than 10 repeat units). Using micheal Addition chemistry (sometimes called 'thiol-ene click....) we could functionalise the cores to obtain glycopolymers and thermo-responsive polymers which were also shown to be degradable.

Read the paper here, as part of a themed issue on 'Precision Polymer Materials'

A collaborative paper with Liz Fullam in the School of Life Sciences has been pubished in Carbohydrate Reserach. This paper describes the identification of a boronic-acid based probe which can discriminate between arabinose and ribose in aqueous solution, by means of a differential fluoresence response. The ability to discirminate between these two sugars is important to enable monitoring of the activity of isomerase enzymes involved in the construction of bacterial cell walls.

Read the paper here;

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2014.02.007

Caroline Biggs in the GibsonGroup won the prize for best poster presentation at the 13th European Summer Course on Glycosciences. Her winning poster was entitled 'Polymer Functionalised Surfaces for Microarray Applications'.

Our blood freezing methods, inspired by antifreeze proteins found in fish, has been shortlisted for an RSC emerging technology prize.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/ventures/news/warwick_blood_freezing/

http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/IndustryAndTechnologyForum/emerging-technologies/final.asp

Paper here

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140203/ncomms4244/full/ncomms4244.html

Watch/Listen to MIG discussing how philanphropic donations can make a huge difference to ambitious research projects.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/awards/philanthropy_awards/2014/cryopreservation_award/

MIG was awarded a Noreen Murrary Award in November 2013 which provides flexible funding to pursue ambitious research projects. In this case, the GibsonGroups pioneering work on polymers to enhance tissue cryopreservation to address the challenges of storing donated tissue, but also to facilitate advances in regenerative medicine.

We have a 6 month, fixed term PDRA position available in the group to start immediately.

The position will involve investigating the cryopreservation of tissue for transplantation, using our new technology inpsired by antifreeze glycoproteins. See our recent Nature Communications paper for background;

Deller, R.C., Vatish, M., Mitchell, D.A., Gibson, M.I., Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 3244, "Synthetic polymers enable non-vitreous cellular cryopreservation by reducing ice crystal growth during thawing" online link

Applicants MUST have extensive experience of cell culture techniques. This is NOT a synthetic position. In the first instance, you should contact Dr. Gibson directly and enclose a 2-PAGE CV, listing publications, experience and references.

Apply here

With the increase in the number of pathogens displaying resistance to conventional antibiotics new tools are urgently required. To address this, the GibsonGroup have been developing polymers which specifcally target the toxins (which cause all the physical symptons) secreted by pathogenic bacteria with the aim of neutralizing them. This route does not kill the bacteria and hence should not apply evolutionary pressure, and hence not induce resistance. In this work, glycopolymers which are highly specific have been demonstrated - nearly all previous reports of glycopolymers only demonstrate affinity, but for real-world applications, these must be highly selective to reduce side-effects and to maximise efficacy. This work was conducted in collaboration with the Haddleton Group.

Read the paper here in Chemical Science. Glycopolymers with secondary binding motifs mimic glycan branching and display bacterial lectin selectivity in addition to affinity