The research of the Supramolecular Chemistry Group (Ghent University) focuses on the molecular design of polymer materials for a broad range of applications, including drug delivery, biomaterials and excipients. The group has a strong expertise in the synthesis of defined (functional) polymer structures with a special emphasis on poly(2-oxazoline)s, responsive polymers and supramolecular materials.
Some illustrative examples of relevant projects are listed below:
- Poly(2-oxazoline) matrix excipients for oral dosage forms enabling high drug loading (up to 70%-80) amorphous solid dispersions of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as flubendazole, mebendazole and fenofibrate
- Poly(2-oxazoline) matrix excipients for oral dosage forms enabling high drug loading (up to 70%) sustained release formulations of drugs with good water solubility, such as metoprolol tartrate and metformin
- Cationic polymers for transfection of pDNA, siRNA, mRNA and saRNA enabling better in vitro transfection than lipofectamine and similar in vivo transfection as lipid nanoparticles
- Polymer-drug conjugates to reduce systemic toxicity and enhance blood circulation time, possibly in combination with targeting ligands, including antibody-drug conjugates
- Polymer-protein conjugates to enhance blood circulation time and enhance protein stability
- Responsive polymers that are insoluble in the blood stream but rapidly solubilize upon cell internalization, through either protonation or degradation of side chains under mild acidic conditions
Other research groups
