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Group Profile

Our research focuses on novel polymeric synthesis and materials, and long-acting therapeutics for unmet clinical need

We aim to develop novel technologies that address real-world industrial and healthcare challenges. Through a mixture of fundamental studies and the application of new science, the group creates new understanding, develops new materials and investigates applications across a diverse range of scale-able end-uses.

  • Our therapeutic studies specifically target the creation of new clinical candidates with long-acting drug release, leading to the replacement of conventional daily oral dose with a single administration that may deliver drug exposures for weeks or months. New approaches developed in the group have led to start-up/spin-out companies, engagement with global charities/multi-national companies and human trials, including the world's first oral nanomedicines for HIV.

  • We have pioneered new polymer syntheses and complex macromolecular architectures. These include introducing Transfer-dominated Branching Radical Telomerisation (TBRT), selective synthesis of dendrimers, hyperbranched polydendrons, muco-adhesive branched polymer emulsifiers, and novel nanoprecipitation routes. Our polymer synthesis techniques include: TBRT, conventional free radical polymerisation, ambient anionic polymerisation, step-growth polymerisation, ring opening polymerisation, and controlled radical polymerisations (ATRP, RAFT).  

Over many years we have utilised colloid science to generate novel emulsions, nanoprecipitations, organic nanoparticles and active/triggered particles. These are enabled by novel liquid manipulation/ processing, emulsion templated freeze drying, emulsion spray drying and the new materials developed during our synthetic activities. 

We have three themes that interact across the group:

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Selected recent publications

Controlling enzyme hydrolysis of branched polymers synthesised using TBRT via telogen and taxogen selection

S Mckeating, OB. Penrhyn-Lowe, S Flynn, SR. Cassin, S Lomas, C Fidge, P Price, S Wright, P Chambon, SP Rannard Comm. Chem (Nature), 2024, 7, 197

Employing Transfer-dominated Branching Radical Telomerisation (TBRT) and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP) to form complex polyester-polymethacrylate branched-linear star copolymer hybrids via orthogonal initiation

AB Dwyer, WM Sandy, FY Hern, OB. Penrhyn-Lowe, S McKeating, S Flynn, S Wright, S Pate, P Chambon, SP Rannard Chem Comm. 2024, 60, 10116-10119

Polymer-prodrug conjugates as candidates for degradable, long-acting implants, releasing the water-soluble nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor emtricitabine

C Liu, F Y Hern, A Shakil, K Temburnikar, P Chambon, N Liptrott, T O McDonald, M Neary, C Flexner, A Owen, C Freel Meyers, S P Rannard J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 11532-11543

Accessing New and Scalable High Molecular Weight Branched Copolymer Structures using Transfer-dominated Branching Radical Telomerisation (TBRT)

S R Cassin, S Flynn. P Chambon & S P Rannard Polym. Chem., 2022, 13, 2295 - 2306

Preclinical Evaluation of Long-Acting Emtricitabine Semi-Solid Prodrug Nanoparticle Formulations

P Curley, J J Hobson, N J Liptrott, E Makarov, A Al-khouja, L Tatham, C A W David, H Box, M Neary, J Sharp, H Pertinez, D Meyers, C Flexner, C L Freel Meyers, L Poluektova, S Rannard, A Owen Pharmaceutics 2023, 15, 1835

Scalable nanoprecipitation of niclosamide and in vivo demonstration of long-acting delivery after intramuscular injection

JJ Hobson, AC Savage, AB Dwyer, C Unsworth, J Massam, U Arshad, H Pertinez, H Box, L Tatham, RKR Rajoli, M Neary, J Sharp, A Valentijn, C David, P Curley, NJ Liptrott, TO McDonald, A Owen, SP Rannard Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 6410 - 6416 

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