Welcome to the Polymeric Biomaterials Group at the University of Potsdam

Membrane Active Antimicrobial Polymers
Photo: MHartlieb

We are designing polymeric materials for the use in biomedical applications. In particularly , we are interested in antimicrobial polymers as they are a possible solution to the ever increasing issue of antimicrobial resistance. To create more efficient and selective materials, we are using various tool of polymer chemistry including RAFT-polymerization, ROMP, Cationic ring-opening polymerization, and supramolecular polymerization. We have a specific interest in how the polymeric architecture influences the biological activity of these biomaterials. ...more

 

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Membrane Active Antimicrobial Polymers
Photo: MHartlieb

Alains Poster Presentation on Membrane Interaction of Antimicrobial Bottle Brushes

Alain Bapolisi introduces his poster (Makro@Freiburg) and explains his work on the investigation of the interaction of antimicrobial polymers and membrane models such as liposomes.

link to the poster

A Bacs Life

Stop motion video representing our research on antimicrobial polymers

News

graphical abstract: schematic representation of mixing CTAs using coffee and milk as analogues

New paper on (X)PI-RAFT polymerization

Annes recent work on photo-RAFT is featured in Chemical Science. By mixing two chain transfer agents the merits of both are combined resulting in a fast, effcient and easy-to use photo polymerization.  We use an iPad falshlight for polymerization and produce multiblock copolymers in a coffe mug under open to air conditions. Find out more under:

Chem. Sci., 2022, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC05197D. (open access)

 

Alain Bapolisi in front of his Poster

Poster Award for Alain

Congratulations to Alain who won Best Poster Award at the "Dynamic Hydrogel Symposium" at FU-Berlin. He presented the work from his recent paper about membrane interaction of antimicrobial bottle brushes

 Macro. Rapid Comm.,2022, 43, 2200288

 

New Paper on PI-RAFT Polymerization

Annes work on PI-RAFT Polymerization was published in Polymer Chemistry.  We show the impressive livingness of the method by producing complex multiblock architectures. The synthesis of an ikosablock copolymer was performed using a straightforward methodology and non-speciallized equipment. the work is highlighted in the Emerging Investigator Series of Polymer Chemistry.

The report is paper of the month in Polymer Chemistry

Polym. Chem., 2022, 13, 1537 - 1546

Anne Lehnen and Matthias Hartlieb

Master Thesis Defense

Congratulations to Anne Lehnen for very successfully defending her master thesis about antimicrobial polymers in solution and on surfaces. Anne will continue working in the group as a PhD student.

Ahmad AlSawaf and Alain Bapolisi

First PhD Students in the Group

A warm welcome to our new group members: Ahmad AlSawaf (l) and Alain Bapolisi (r) just started their PhD research. Ahmad will create supramolecular antimicrobial polymers using ring-opening polymerization and RAFT polymerization. Alain will teach polymer how to select specific bacteria and also work on polymersomes!

Emmy Noether Logo

DFG - Emmy Noether research group granted

For the next 6 years our research on the development of antimicrobial polymers will be funded by the Emmy Noether program of the DFG with approximately 1.5 Mio €. Starting in January 2021 we want to find out more about the impact of polymer morphology, segmentation, and various targeting strategies on the performance of covalent and supramolecular bactericidal polymers.

TOC

First Paper from the group published

First Paper from the group in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces based on an excellent master thesis by Sophie Laroque. We show the great potential of bottle brush architectures for antimicrobial polymers with increased selectivity for bacteria and how self-assembly can influence their activity. Thanks a lot to our cooperation partners at Fraunhofer IAP and Fraunhofer IZI-BB.

M. Hartlieb im Labor

Interview about Antimicrobial Polymers

Interview with Matthias Hartlieb highlighting the importance of research tackling antimicrobial resistance.

"Seit April 2019 forscht Dr. Matthias Hartlieb als Postdoc im Open-Topic-Programm der Universität Potsdam zu antimikrobiellen Polymeren – also chemischen Stoffen, die Mikroorganismen wie Bakterien zerstören und insbesondere im Gesundheitssektor gefragt sind. Unter dem gegenwärtigen Einfluss des Corona-Virus gewinnt seine Forschung besondere Relevanz, auch wenn bakterielle Erreger für ihn im Fokus stehen."... mehr