Dr. Gillies, Elizabeth
Institution
1. Chemistry , The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
2.Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Presentation day
Tuesday 1:00 PM
TITLE
Surface Functionalized Polymer Vesicles: Towards New Properties and Functions
Abstract
Vesicles, commonly referred to as polymersomes, formed by the assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous solution have emerged as promising materials for a wide variety of biomedical applications including drug delivery and imaging. This presentation will describe how the functionalization of polymersome surfaces can modulate the biological properties of these materials and introduce new functions. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-polybutadiene (PBD) and PEG-polycaprolactone (PCL) block copolymers with terminal azides were prepared and were assembled into polymersomes. Polyester dendrons with different peripheral moieties including guanidines, mannose, sialic acid, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-based Gd3+ chelates were synthesized. These dendrons were then conjugated to the surfaces of the polymersomes using an azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. The properties of the different functionalized polymersomes were studied. It was found that dendritic guanidines imparted cell-penetrating properties to the polymersomes, allowing them to transport cargo into cells. Polymersomes functionalized with dendritic sialic acid displayed enhanced binding to lectins relative to control dendrons or polymersomes functionalized with non-dendritic sugars, and could also encapsulate and release the antiviral drug zanamivir in a controlled manner. This suggests their potential as antiviral agents. Polymersomes functionalized with dendritic Gd3+ chelates exhibited higher relaxivity than the small molecule chelate Gd3+-DTPA and could also be used to encapsulate drug molecules. Combined, these examples demonstrate the versatility of this strategy for imparting biological functions. This dendritic surface functionalization approach will also be compared with approaches involving the conjugation of small molecule biological ligands as well as those based on linear polymers to the surfaces of polymer vesicles.
CV
July 2012-present Associate Professor Chemistry and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering The University of Western Ontario
Oct. 2006-June 2012 Assistant Professor Chemistry and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering The University of Western Ontario
July 2006-Oct. 2006 Assistant Professor Chemistry The University of Western Ontario
Dec. 2004-June 2006 Postdoctoral Fellow European Institute of Chemistry and Biology(Ivan Huc Group) University of Bordeaux,France
Aug. 2000- Nov. 2004 Graduate Student Researcher Chemistry(Jean Frechet Group) University of California, Berkeley
May 1999 – Aug. 1999 Research Assistant Chemistry(Donald Weaver Group) Queen’s University
Literatures
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Gillies, E. R.; McEachran, M. J.; Trant, J. F.; Sran, I.; Ferrari, L. “Polymer-Drug Conjugate Based on a Polyisoolefin-based Copolymer.” European Patent Appl. (2014) EP14195663.
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Gillies, E. R.; Fan, B.; Trant, J. F.; Wong, A. D. "Polyglyoxylates, manufacture and use thereof" US Prov. Appl. (2014), No. 61/989,086