PCM Seminar - Prof. Martina Stenzel (UNSW, CAMD, Sydney) - CNRS Ambassador for ChemistryLundi, 11h30 - Amphi IPREM
Le 4 déc. 2023 at 11:30AM
Prof. Martina Stenzel
(UNSW, CAMD, Sydney) - CNRS Ambassador for Chemistry
"Sugar coated nanoparticles big and small – how polymer science can enhance nanomedicine"
Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD) – University of New South Wales – Sydney - Australia
Nanomedicine is a field of interesting interest. Rapid development of nanotechnology has allowed the incorporation of multiple therapeutic, sensing and targeting agents into nanoparticles. Most commercially available nanoparticles use poly(ethylene glycol) PEG as hydrophilic coatings. However, materials based on sugars such as polymers with pendant carbohydrates, coined glycopolymers, are attractive alternatives. Carbohydrates play a pivotal role in many biological processes and by using glycopolymers we mimic naturally occurring events. The presence of carbohydrates on the surface on nanoparticles can therefore help the uptake of these nanoparticles into mammalian cells. In this presentation, we look into a range of nanoparticles based on glycopolymers, ranging from ultrasmall nanometer sizes nanoparticles to large micron-sized 2D platelets and discuss how these particles can be used in drug delivery applications. A focus will be how small molecules such as drugs can be loaded and how the drugs change the properties of polymers, and thus their biological activity.
Martina Stenzel is an ARC Future Fellow and Professor in the School of Chemistry at University of New South Wales (Sydney) in Australia. She is member of the Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD).
Her main research topics:
- Complex polymer architectures; Synthesis of star polymers, comb polymers, block copolymers via RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation transfer) polymerization
- Synthesis of glycopolymers and their interaction with lectins
- Development of drug delivery systems for the delivery of platinum drugs and other metal-based drugs (gold, ruthenium)
- Development nanoparticles for the delivery of non-metal anti-cancer drugs
- Understanding the interaction of nanoparticles with cells and cancer spheroids