• Controlled Radical Polymerization

This area of research is strongly focused on the controlled synthesis of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) and its derivatives. The characteristics of styrene and maleic anhydride make this comonomer pair particularly challenging when it comes to simultaneous control over molar mass distribution and chemical composition. Part of this work involves the conventional radical copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride or their analogues. The majority however is focused on Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT)-mediated copolymerization and post-polymerization modification of the resulting copolymers.

• SMALP technology

In 2009 it was published for the first time that poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA) is able to create and stabilise phospholipid nanodiscs (SMALPs) from phospholipid vesicles as well as from various types of cells. This technology has shown to be very powerful in the isolation of membrane proteins in their fully functional form. Over the past several years we have started to apply our long history in the research of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) in the field of the SMALP technology. In collaboration with research groups that are interested in membrane and membrane protein research we are busy to explore structure-activity relationships for the amphiphilic polymers used in this field.

Polymers for the SMALP technology developed in the Klumperman group that are of interest to the Membrane Protein community are commercialised via our spin-out company Nanosene.

• On-demand reversible hydrogels

Hydrogels are used in a variety of applications related to healthcare. In some cases the hydrogels are stable crosslinked materials (e.g. contact lenses and intraocular lenses). In other cases, the hydrogels are designed to slowly degrade (e.g. for drug delivery applications). There are rare occasions where the hydrogel needs to be stable under physiological conditions, but redissolvable upon exposure to a non-physiological, but biocompatible trigger. We are in the process of investigating such systems.