Prof Roberto Simonutti


Prof Jeffrey A. Hubbell
Mr Yun Suk Jo

Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous molecule present in the body, playing significant roles especially in the cardiovascular system. Up to now, a number of research endeavors have focused on developing effective NO delivery systems in diverse forms, mainly aiming at the treatment of post-angioplasty arterial restenosis. In spite of much work toward this purpose, there still exists no system that can locally administer NO in a prolonged manner to a tissue that is more than a few tens of micrometers thick. This project aims to design nanoparticulate NO delivery via living radical reversible-addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The main objective in this project is to develop nanoparticulate micellar NO delivery systems with a relevantly sustained NO liberation and ultimately to offer better enhanced therapeutic effects than other conventional chemo/pharmaceutical treatment. Throughout this project, the specific aims can be summarized into 1) designing and synthesizing new diblock copolymers, 2) fabricating stable micelles in the nano-regime, 3) localization of nanoparticles into the desired place by virtue of their small size and corresponding ability to penetrate tissues, and 4) explore the therapeutic effects of such a system in the animal model of post-angioplasty restenotic pathogenesis.

Prof Paul Dyson Group
Dr Fei Zhaofu

Bio-inspired supramolecular frameworks are of both fundamental value as models and of practical importance in areas such as materials science, catalysis and molecular electronics. Many of these synthetic materials are constructed from metal ions as connectors and ligands as linkers, and are referred to as coordination polymers. Porous materials are of particular interest as the nano-sized cavities lead to novel phenomena, with applications in separation, storage and catalysis. In this respect, attempts to generate synthetic water channels that mimic aquaporin water channels has been met with some success. In this work, we describe a novel zwitterionic helical tube of nanodimensions that closely mimics aquaporin. Detailed solid-state ²H NMR study has been conducted in order to characterise the water incorporated inside the channel over a wide temperature range.

Prof Ingo Krossing Group
Ms Ines Raabe

Complexes of small inorganic cluster molecules such as P₄S₃ are of great interest for coordination chemistry, although not many examples were known a few years ago. With weakly coordinating fluorinated alkoxy aluminates [Al(OR^F)₄]^-, it was possible to obtain the first [Ag(P₄S₃)_x]⁺ adducts (x = 1, 2, 3) which showed new and unprecedented coordination modes. The solution ³¹P NMR spectra display two resonances similar to those of free P₄S₃ even at -90°C as well as no coupling to ¹⁰⁷Ag/¹⁰⁹Ag, indicating weakly bound complexes with dynamic structures. Solid-state ³¹P MAS NMR is hoped to provide more insight into nature of the Ag-P bond, dynamics of the system and (perhaps cluster-like) bonding in the P₄S₃ cages.