Unleashing the potential of 2nd generation SMA copolymers with Prof. Bert Klumperman
The Intelligent Infusions Recap
Winter is approaching fast in the Northern Hemisphere, and the days are getting shorter and darker. To counteract the winter blues, we had the honor of welcoming a speaker whose scientific reputation precedes him. Prof. Bert Klumperman, Vice-President of the Royal Society of South Africa and Chief Technology Officer of Nanosene (Pty) Ltd, joined us for a masterclass on second-generation SMA copolymers.
Prof. Klumperman's current research interests revolve around reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP), the SMALP technology, and biomedical applications of polymers in general. The topic of his talk, however, was his newest invention: the SMALP BZs!
Looking back at the creation of the original first-generation SMA copolymers from 2009 by Overduin and team, Klumperman introduces us to his masterclass by a comparison of their chemical properties. With an average molecular weight of around 3000 g/mol and a dispersity of 2, the first-generation of SMAs showed a broad distribution of their chain lengths, due to the synthesis via conventional radical polymerization. Therefore, to get a better grip on these characteristics Klumperman switched from radical polymerization to RAFT-mediated polymerization. The results were his second-generation SMA copolymers, which boast the possibility of in-chain & chain-end functionalization, as well as that they can be tailored much more precisely for particular applications.
With this in mind, he concluded his masterclass with a future outlook on these new functionalization possibilities. These could be, e.g., affinity or fluorescent tags, which can be combined freely on three different attachment points including the polymer backbone itself. What other insights he was able to gain, can now be reviewed at any time via the recording of his masterclass.
Are you also interested in Prof. Klumperman's findings and what discussions have unfolded following this masterclass? Then just click on the button "Livestream" for the possibility of watching everything again at any time.
Prof. Klumperman's current research interests revolve around reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP), the SMALP technology, and biomedical applications of polymers in general. The topic of his talk, however, was his newest invention: the SMALP BZs!
Looking back at the creation of the original first-generation SMA copolymers from 2009 by Overduin and team, Klumperman introduces us to his masterclass by a comparison of their chemical properties. With an average molecular weight of around 3000 g/mol and a dispersity of 2, the first-generation of SMAs showed a broad distribution of their chain lengths, due to the synthesis via conventional radical polymerization. Therefore, to get a better grip on these characteristics Klumperman switched from radical polymerization to RAFT-mediated polymerization. The results were his second-generation SMA copolymers, which boast the possibility of in-chain & chain-end functionalization, as well as that they can be tailored much more precisely for particular applications.
With this in mind, he concluded his masterclass with a future outlook on these new functionalization possibilities. These could be, e.g., affinity or fluorescent tags, which can be combined freely on three different attachment points including the polymer backbone itself. What other insights he was able to gain, can now be reviewed at any time via the recording of his masterclass.
Are you also interested in Prof. Klumperman's findings and what discussions have unfolded following this masterclass? Then just click on the button "Livestream" for the possibility of watching everything again at any time.
PROF. BERT KLUMPERMAN
Stellenbosch University and Nanosene (Pty) Ltd., South Africa
Biomedicine & BiochemistryUnleashing the potential of 2nd generation SMA copolymers
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Differences between conventional and controlled polymerization methods
- Shortcomings of conventional polymerization method
- Benefits of controlled polymerization methods
- Utilization of controlled polymerization for added functionality
HIS RESEARCH
Prof. Klumperman's current research interests are reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP), the SMALP technology and biomedical applications of polymers in general. In 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, and in 2018 he received the John FW Herschel medal of the Royal Society of South Africa. He has served as Vice-President of the Royal Society of South Africa from 2021. Since 2022 Bert Klumperman is the Chief Technology Officer of a spin-off company, Nanosene (Pty) Ltd, established on the basis of research in his academic group.
RECENT PUBLICATION: Iterative RAFT-Mediated Copolymerization of Styrene and Maleic Anhydride toward Sequence- and Length-Controlled Copolymers and Their Applications for Solubilizing Lipid Membranes
KEYWORDS: Copolymers, Lipids, Polymers, RAFT polymerization, Solubilization
KEYWORDS: Copolymers, Lipids, Polymers, RAFT polymerization, Solubilization
Upcoming session
Our next session will feature Dr. Felipe Merino. Dr. Mario Leutert from ETH Zurich will also join the event as moderator. In general, they will talk about possible ways of finding solubilization and stabilization conditions that preserve the native structure and function of membrane proteins. Register now if you are interested in learning more about these options and solutions.