We have a large interest in biomimetic polymers which can control ice growth, inspired by ice-binding ‘antifreeze’ proteins. We have previously shown that poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, is remarkably potent at reproducing the ice recrystallisation inhibition of PVA. However, PVA synthesis is not easy, and gives low yields. Here the team used a photo-chemical method allow PVA to be obtained open to air (no degassing) to high conversion (no wastage of monomer) and removing the need for messy oil baths! This method really simplifies the process, and using a photo reactor is also less energy intensive and does not need azo-initiators. Our team then showed that these polymers retain their function to slow ice growth over 100 freeze/thaw cycles. This is a crucial, if they are to be used in e.g infrastructure applications, where materials like concrete are exposed to many freeze/thaw cycles over several years. It has been previously suggested that PVA aggregation (as PVA is known to cryo-gelate at concentrations above ~ 50 mg/mL) would de-activate it, but in the concentration range for IRI activity (< 1 mg/mL) this was not a problem

Read the paper here!Link opens in a new window

We have a long standing interest in how we can use biomaterials to probe, understand and exploit glycans (sugars) for a range of applications. During infection glycans are often the first thing a pathogen encounters and binds to. Hence there is an opportunity to use this binding event as a tool to sense or diagnose the presence of pathogens. In this review, written with Prof Rob Field (Manchester) and Simone Dedola (Iceni Glycoscience) we review the state of the art for using glycans in diagnostics and in particular how they can be used in lateral flow devices. Lateral flow devices have been widely used during COVID-19 pandemic, but typically rely on antibodies on gold nanoparticles (which give the red colour). We show how glycans have potential to be used alongside these.

Read the review here

Glycosylated Gold Nanoparticles in Point of Care Diagnostics: From Aggregation to Lateral FlowLink opens in a new window

We, along with Dr Tom Whale, have an interest in developing and discovering new disruptive tools for biologic cryopreservation. In our latest paper, led by Dr Kat Murray and Dr Tom Whale, we show that macromolecules extracted from pollen can enhance cell cryopreservation, in particular for challenging 2-D monolayers. Common sense, says that water turns to ice at zero, but in fact in low volumes, water can super-cool to below - 30 C. This is a huge problem when freezing cells. IN this work we used pollen extracts which nucleate ice at - 10 C, and can increase the recovery cell yield dramatically. This adds to our growing evidence base that thinking beyond 'just re-fomulating DMSO' and using chemical probes/tools, can transform how biologics are stored, transported and eventually delivered to patients/users.

Read the paper here

Pollen derived macromolecules serve as a new class of ice-nucleating cryoprotectants

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-15545-4Link opens in a new window

Our team is developed next generation (macro-)molecular tools to improve the cryopreservation of biologics (cells/protein therapies). In our latest review article, in Nature Reviews Chemistry, we discuss the role of chemistry-driven approaches to this challenge. This summarises the key challenges in cryopreservation - the need to cool material to stop it degrading, whilst minimising the damage caused by the freezing process. The review tries to highlight how consideration of the physical , as well as biochemical, damage pathways together offers a route to improving cryopreservation and that a 'med-chem' like approach could be taken.

Read it here:

Chemical Approaches to CryopreservationLink opens in a new window

Free to read linkLink opens in a new window

We have been awarded a prestigious Horizon Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry for our work on "development, application and translation of chemical tools for cryobiology". This is a TEAM prize, including our collaborators at Warwick: Sosso, Whale and Notman as well as our industrial partners Cytivia and Cryologyx (our spin out). There will be a big party to celebrate soon!

https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/2022-winners/team-ice/Link opens in a new window

https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/university_of_warwick_scientists_win_three_prestigious_royal_society_of_chemistry_prizes1/Link opens in a new window

Last year, Prof Matt Gibson was announced as the awardee of the 2021 McBain medal. On the 11th May, a special meeting was heldLink opens in a new window, where Matt was formally awarded the medal.

We have several PhD vacancies open. Please see https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/chemistry/research/gibson/gibsongroup/vacancies/ for full details