Research Overview:
Current research in the Stöver group focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of new polymers for use as biomaterials. While the goal is to create functional biomaterials, individual research projects are geared towards more specific applications. These applications include cell encapsulation, extracellular supports, gene transfection, and cell cryopreservation. A significant focus of our research includes organic synthesis of new polymers and polymeric hydrogels. This includes detailed characterization of these polymers and hydrogels, and investigation into their unique properties and interactions with living systems.
Cell Encapsulation:
Cell encapsulation can enable a range of hormone- and enzyme-deficiency disorders by immobilizing and immune-protecting therapeutic cells within a semi-permeable protective shell that can be transplanted into animals, and ultimately, humans. A key example of this approach involves encapsulation and transplantation of insulin-producing Islets or beta cells, as treatment for Diabetes. Such cellular therapies aim to provide long-term treatment, and require bio-tolerant materials. Synthetic hydrophilic polymer networks offer an attractive route to long-term encapsulation. Our group is working to develop novel polymeric hydrogel-formers to reinforce calcium alginate microcapsules, improving their longevity and performance in vivo.
Thermally responsive, reactive copolymers
Functional Polymers for Biomaterial Applications:
The development and characterization of new polymers plays an integral role in advancing new biomaterials for therapeutic applications. Through understanding the fundamental properties of these polymers, we can design better materials for various applications. In the Stöver group, there is a strong focus on design, synthesis and characterization of the fundamental properties of novel bio-inspired polymers. Areas of interest include precipitation polymerization, controlled polymerizations such as RAFT, ATRP, polyampholytes and polybetaines, and preparation of microspheres.
Microgels with Internal Structure
Our lab pioneered development of 1 - 30 micron diameter crosslinked and swellable microgels with a variety of compositions and functions. These microgels are formed by carefully designed precipitation polymerizations that optimize polymer solvent interactions berween reaction medium and forming copolymer gels. as a result, the growing microgels self-stabilize by sterical stabilization provided through their self-renewing outer surfaces. Variation of thermal and compositiona polymerization conditions can be used to inscribe crosslinking and compositional gradients into the microgels, as illustrated by the ‘onion-type’ layering seen in the transmission optical microscopy images on the left. Such microgels are fundamentally fascinating, and have the potential to serve as unique building blocks in, e.g. jamming gels and biocomposites.