Gibson Group News

Work of Kostis (IAMBEC student), in collaboration with Haddleton group is accepted for publication in Polymer Chemistry - the 3rd paper of 2011 for MIG group! This publication investigates the thermoresponsive behaviour of poly(poly(ethyleneglycol)methacrylate) in the dilute solution range, which is relevant for in vivo applications. The influence of dissolve solutes, particulalry those found in blood plasma were shown to also be important.

Funded (i.e. you get paid) bursaries are available to gain valuable lab experience during the summer vacation. This is an excellent way to improve you CV.

Contact Dr. Gibson for more information

Paper on stimuli responsive polymer/protein conjugates is available online now from here.

A paper described the synthesis and properties of thermoresponsive polymer-peptide conjugates obtained by 'grafting from' SET polymerisation has been accepted. This paper demonstrates the synthesis of biohybrids which can change their solubility in response to temperature, and how this can be fine-tuned through careful balancing on the momomer composition.

Our pages showing the research interests of the group has been updated. Further updates will happen over the coming months

Our publication describing the synthesis of well-defined glycopolymers by post-polymerisation modification has been accepted for publication in Polymer Chemistry. This work demonstrates the optimised route to glycopolymers by first using a multi-gram synthesis of glycosyl azides and then coupling these to poly(alkynes) by a 'click' reaction. This method allowed the introduction of oligosaccharides in quantitative yield. Importantly these oligosaccharides displayed difficult to access to anomeric centres, specifically alpha-linked glucose. The utility of this method to modulate and improve the protein (lectin) binding affinity of these was demonstrated. Link

Collaborative work with Dan Mitchell (Medical School) and Dave Haddleton (Chemistry) on the interations of synthetic glycopolymers with immune-related lectins has been accepted for publication. This work demonstrates the potential for glycopolymers to modulate the interactions of infectious pathogens with carbohydate binding proteins.

Welcome to the newcomers to the Gibson Group in October 2010. Robert Deller will begin a Ph.D (joint with Warwick Medical School/Coventry NHS trust), Caroline Moore and Daniel Phillips will be here for a year as part of their MChem studies and Bibianna Yeo joins us for a stay from NTU Singapore.