Personal statement

Synthetic polymers have contributed to many innovations in all aspects of modern life. Significant progress has been made in synthetic methods to obtain functional polymers, in the fabrication of polymeric nanostructures and in the fundamental understanding of their physicochemical properties. However, compared to the properties and functions of nature’s macromolecules, even the most sophisticated synthetic polymers still appear to be simple and only offer comparably basic functionality. Proteins are fascinating macromolecules, particularly from a polymer chemist’s point of view. The vast variety of functions that proteins can fulfill is not seen in any synthetic material. Enzymes for example act as catalysts, while other proteins fluoresce or control transport across cell membranes. Moreover, certain proteins can self-assemble into nanocontainers and nanoreactors. All these functions are essential molecular mechanisms, enabling life and rendering living tissue responsive and adaptive. My research encompasses an interdisciplinary, bio-inspired approach that combines polymer chemistry and protein engineering to create new opportunities for the sustainable synthesis of polymers and to design, engineer and realize materials and nanosytems with unprecedented new functions. Examples are the use of enzymes as catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerizations, to develop polymer- and protein-based nanoreactors for enzymatic reactions, and to use proteins as force-responsive sensor molecules in fiber-reinforced composite materials. For further information, please visit: http://ami.swiss/en/groups/macromolecular-chemistry/

Publications

Polymersome-based protein drug delivery – quo vadis?: Gouveia Micael G, Wesseler Justus P, Ramaekers Jobbe, Weder Christoph, Scholten Philip B V, Bruns Nico; Chemical Society Reviews Vol 52, pp. 728-778 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CS00106C
Peptide-reinforced amphiphilic polymer conetworks: R. Velasquez Sara T, Jang Daseul, Jenkins Peter, Liu Peng, Yang Liu, Korley LaShanda, Bruns Nico; Advanced Functional Materials Vol 32 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202207317
Peroxidase activity of myoglobin variants reconstituted with artificial cofactors: Guo Chao, Chadwick Robert J, Foulis Adam, Bedendi Giada, Lubskyy Andriy, Rodriguez Kyle J, Pellizzoni Michaela M, Milton Ross D, Beveridge Rebecca, Bruns Nico; Chembiochem Vol 23 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202200197
Polymersomes-mediated delivery of CSF1R inhibitor to tumor associated macrophages promotes M2 to M1-like macrophage repolarization: Rodriguez-Perdigon Manuel, Jimaja Sètuhn, Haen Laetitia, Bruns Nico, Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara, Rüegg Curzio; Macromolecular Bioscience Vol 22 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202200168
Engineered myoglobin as a catalyst for atom transfer radical cyclisation: Lubskyy Andriy, Guo Chao, Chadwick Robert J, Petri-Fink Alke, Bruns Nico, Pellizzoni Michela M; Chemical Communications Vol 58, pp. 10989-10992 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc03227a
Donor‐acceptor Stenhouse adduct-polydimethylsiloxane-conjugates for enhanced photoswitching in bulk polymers: Clerc Michèle, Tekin Cem, Ulrich Sebastian, Freire Rafael V M, Salentinig Stefan, Bruns Nico, Boesel Luciano F; Macromolecular Rapid Communications Vol 43 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202200120

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Research interests

Synthetic polymers have contributed to many innovations in all aspects of modern life. Significant progress has been made in synthetic methods to obtain functional polymers, in the fabrication of polymeric nanostructures and in the fundamental understanding of their physicochemical properties. However, compared to the properties and functions of nature’s macromolecules, even the most sophisticated synthetic polymers still appear to be simple and only offer comparably basic functionality. Proteins are fascinating macromolecules, particularly from a polymer chemist’s point of view. The vast variety of functions that proteins can fulfill is not seen in any synthetic material. Enzymes for example act as catalysts, while other proteins fluoresce or control transport across cell membranes. Moreover, certain proteins can self-assemble into nanocontainers and nanoreactors. All these functions are essential molecular mechanisms that enable life and render living tissue responsive and adaptive.

My research encompasses an interdisciplinary, bio-inspired approach that combines polymer chemistry and protein engineering to create new opportunities for the sustainable synthesis of polymers and to design, engineer and realize materials and nanosytems with unprecedented new functions. Examples are the use of enzymes as catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerizations, the use of biocatalysis for malaria diagnostics, to develop polymersome- and protein-based nanoreactors for enzymatic reactions, and to use proteins as force-responsive sensor molecules in fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Group Webpage:

For further information, please visit:

https://bruns-lab.com/

Selected Publications:

Rifaie-Graham, O.; Pollard, J.; Raccio, S.; Balog, S.; Rusch, S.; Hernández-Castañeda, M. A.; Mantel, P.-Y.; Beck, H.-P.; Bruns, N., Hemozoin-catalyzed precipitation polymerization as an assay for malaria diagnosis. Nature Commun. 2019, 10, 1369. Link
Rifaie-Graham, O.; Ulrich, S.; Galensowske, N. F. B.; Balog, S.; Chami, M.; Rentsch, D.; Hemmer, J. R.; Read de Alaniz, J.; Boesel, L. F.; Bruns, N., Wavelength-Selective Light-Responsive DASA-Functionalized Polymersome Nanoreactors. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 8027-8036. Link
Rother, M.; Barmettler, J.; Reichmuth, A.; Araujo, J. V.; Rytka, C.; Glaied, O.; Pieles, U.; Bruns, N., Self-Sealing and Puncture Resistant Breathable Membranes for Water-Evaporation Applications. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 6620-6624. Link
Renggli, K.; Nussbaumer, M. G.; Urbani, R.; Pfohl, T.; Bruns, N., A Chaperonin as Protein Nanoreactor for Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 1443-1447. Link
Silva, T. B.; Spulber, M.; Kocik, M. K.; Seidi, F.; Charan, H.; Rother, M.; Sigg, S. J.; Renggli, K.; Kali, G.; Bruns, N., Hemoglobin and Red Blood Cells Catalyze Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. Biomacromolecules 2013, 14, 2703-2712. Link
Sigg, S. J.; Seidi, F.; Renggli, K.; Silva, T. B.; Kali, G.; Bruns, N., Horseradish Peroxidase as a Catalyst for Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2011, 32, 1710-1715. Link

Projects

Doctoral Training Partnership 2020-2021 University of Strathclyde | McQueen, Ewan: Sprick, Seb (Principal Investigator) Bruns, Nico (Co-investigator) Cormack, Peter (Co-investigator) McQueen, Ewan (Research Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 01-Jan-2025
Multiscale Metrology Suite for Next-generation Healthcare Technologies (EPSRC Strategic Equipment): Rattray, Zahra (Principal Investigator) Bruns, Nico (Co-investigator) Faulds, Karen (Co-investigator) Graham, Duncan (Co-investigator) Halbert, Gavin (Co-investigator) Hoskins, Clare (Co-investigator) McArthur, Stephen (Co-investigator) Perrie, Yvonne (Co-investigator) Reid, Stuart (Co-investigator) Seib, Philipp (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 31-Jan-2024
Polymeric Membranes for Artificial Endosymbionts (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 - Andrea Belluati): Bruns, Nico (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 31-Jan-2023
Intracellular Controlled Radical Polymerizations: Bruns, Nico (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 31-Jan-2023
Aqueous Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) / Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC): Bruns, Nico (Principal Investigator) Cormack, Peter (Principal Investigator); PSS SECurity2 chromatography system with autosampler, refractive index detector, variable wavelength UV-VIS detector, and multichrom light scattering detector; 01-Jan-2021
Aqueous gel permeation chromatography / size exclusion chromatography: Bruns, Nico (Principal Investigator) Cormack, Peter (Principal Investigator); PSS SECurity2 with autosampler, refractive index detector, variable wavelength UV-VIS detector, Multichrom Light Scattering Detector; 01-Jan-2021

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Pure and Applied Chemistry

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Professor Nico Bruns

Visiting Professor