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Professor of Supramolecular & Polymer Chemistry / Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis

What we do

Our research interests include the synthesis of functional nanosystems, controlled polymer architectures and dynamic supramolecular assemblies through molecular recognition processes.

The underlying theme of our research lies at the interface between synthetic organic efforts on small molecules and macroscopic properties at the materials level, developing a macro-organic approach to chemistry. Dynamic supramolecular self-assembly of materials will be an area of great importance in the coming years, allowing for innovations in nanotechnology and at the biological and chemical interfaces.

We are particularly interested in exploring topics such as water-soluble and stimuli-responsive materials, template and imprinting technologies of functional polymers for use in chiral separations and enantioselective catalysis, and controlling material morphologies and architectures both in solution and in the solid state through rational design and a multi-step, hierarchical self-assembly process.

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Publications

Single-molecule force spectroscopy quantification of adhesive forces in cucurbit[8]uril host-guest ternary complexes.
Z Walsh-Korb, Y Yu, E-R Janecek, Y Lan, J Del Barrio, PE Williams, X Zhang, OA Scherman
– Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2017)
33,
1343
Decreasing amyloid toxicity through an increased rate of aggregation.
S Sonzini, HF Stanyon, OA Scherman
– Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
(2017)
19,
1458
Aqueous interfacial gels assembled from small molecule supramolecular polymers
AS Groombridge, A Palma, RM Parker, C Abell, OA Scherman
– Chemical Science
(2017)
8,
1350
Correction: Hybrid organic–inorganic supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with CePO 4 nanowires
C Liu, G Xiang, Y Wu, SJ Barrow, MJ Rowland, DE Clarke, G Wu, OA Scherman
– Polymer Chemistry
(2017)
8,
795
Natural Polymers as Alternative Consolidants for the Preservation of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood (vol 62, pg 173, 2016)
Z Walsh, E-R Janecek, M Jones, OA Scherman
– Studies in Conservation
(2017)
62,
184
Supramolecular Chemistry of Cucurbiturils: Tuning Cooperativity with Multiple Noncovalent Interactions from Positive to Negative.
Z Huang, K Qin, G Deng, G Wu, Y Bai, J-F Xu, Z Wang, Z Yu, OA Scherman, X Zhang
– Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2016)
32,
12352
A Dynamic and Responsive Host in Action: Light-Controlled Molecular Encapsulation.
STJ Ryan, J Del Barrio, R Suardíaz, DF Ryan, E Rosta, OA Scherman
– Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
(2016)
55,
16096
High Affinity Recognition of a Selected Amino Acid Epitope within a Protein by Cucurbit[8]uril Complexation.
S Sonzini, A Marcozzi, RJ Gubeli, CF van der Walle, P Ravn, A Herrmann, OA Scherman
– Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
(2016)
55,
14000
Microcapsule Buckling Triggered by Compression-Induced Interfacial Phase Change
AR Salmon, RM Parker, AS Groombridge, A Maestro, RJ Coulston, J Hegemann, J Kierfeld, OA Scherman, C Abell
– Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2016)
32,
10987
Dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules from cucurbit[8]uril molecular recognition in microfluidic droplets
Z Yu, Y Lan, RM Parker, W Zhang, X Deng, OA Scherman, C Abell
– Polymer Chemistry
(2016)
7,
5996
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Head of group

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 331797

Email address