Abstract
Spatial and temporal control are critical properties to advance functional macromolecular materials in order to mimic key features of living systems. In my lecture, I will discuss our methodology in developing multicomponent supramolecular polymerization strategies in water. Using peptide-polymer conjugates we are able to address non-equilibrium states in the preparation of thermoresponsive hydrogel materials. Here, we make use of charge regulated ß–sheet self-assembly of oligopeptides and introduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive subdomains to tune the time-domain of supramolecular polymerization. Using multicomponent assembly protocols, we currently explore the co-presentation of different epitopes and immunostimulating agents at the surface of supramolecular polymers. I will briefly discuss this modular supramolecular platform for immunotherapy applications and the development of multifunctional antitumor vaccines.
Brief Bio
Pol Besenius studied Chemistry at the Vienna University of Technology, and at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He received his PhD degree from the same institution in 2008, under the supervision of Prof. Peter Cormack and Prof. David C. Sherrington FRS, in collaboration with Prof. Sijbren Otto and Prof. Jeremy K.M. Sanders FRS at the University of Cambridge. As a Marie-Curie Fellow Pol undertook postdoctoral studies at the Eindhoven University of Technology with Prof. Anja Palmans and Prof. E. W. “Bert” Meijer. In 2011, Pol moved to the University of Münster to set up an independent research group at the Organic Chemistry Institute, supported by a Liebig Fellowship. In 2015, he took up a Professorship in Macromolecular Chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. In 2018 he was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant. His research interests include macromolecular chemistry, self-assembly in water and at interfaces, responsive supramolecular polymers, viromimetic particles and synthetic vaccines.
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