Professor Brent S. Sumerlin - Department of Chemistry, SMU

Sumerlin Research Group
Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University
3215 Daniel Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75275-0314

The Sumerlin Research Group investigates well-defined polymeric materials with selected functionality, composition, and molecular architecture. Using a variety of techniques, we synthesize novel polymers, with particular focus on those that are water-soluble and/or stimuli-responsive. Potential target applications include novel biocompatible or biodegradable materials for controlled and targeted drug delivery, surface modifiers, and self-healing materials. Our interests are at the interface of bio-, organic, and polymer chemistry, with particular focus on fusing the fields to prepare materials with synergistic properties.

For additional information regarding current and future research endeavors, find out more here.

Our paper on thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers was recently included in a feature on the cover of the Australian Journal of Chemistry.

Department of Chemistry
Southern Methodist University
3215 Daniel Avenue
PO Box 750314
Dallas, TX 75275-0314

PH: (214) 768-8802
FX: (214) 768-4089
Email: -bsumerlin@smu.edu-

News & Presentations Previous Items
Our paper on the combination of RAFT polymerization and click chemistry to prepare functional telechelics was the number one most highly referenced article in Macromolecules during 2007.
10/06/08	A publication entitled “Development of biodegradable crosslinked urethane-doped polyester elastomers” resulting from a collaboration with Prof. Jian Yang at UT Arlington is now available online in Biomaterials.
09/12/08	Drew's paper entitled "Tuning the Temperature Response of Branched Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Prepared by RAFT Polymerization" is now available in Macromolecules.
09/09/08	Dr. Priyadarsi De is no longer with the group after accepting a job at PhaseRx Pharmaceuticals in Seattle, WA. We will miss him dearly but wish him all the best!
08/18/08	Brent presented (x3) at the National ACS Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
08/12/08	Drew's paper entitled "Tuning the Temperature Response of Branched Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Prepared by RAFT Polymerization" has been accepted to Macromolecules.
08/05/08	De, Ming, and Gondi's paper entitled "Temperature-Regulated Activity of Responsive Polymer-Protein Conjugates Prepared by Grafting-from via RAFT Polymerization" is now available online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
07/02/08	A review entitled "RAFT-synthesized diblock and triblock copolymers: thermally-induced supramolecular assembly in aqueous media" coauthored by Charlie McCormick and Brent is now available online in Soft Matter.
07/02/08	Brent presented at the NERM of the ACS in Burlington, VT.
05/01/08	Ming, De, and Gondi's paper entitled “End Group Transformations of RAFT-Generated Polymers with Bismaleimides: Functional Telechelics and Modular Block Copolymers” is now available online in the Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry.
06/10/08	De's paper on folate conjugated micelles was the #3 most accessed article in Biomacromolecules during the first quarter of 2008.
06/05/08	Ming's paper on responsive polymer-protein conjugates will be highlighted in the June edition of Materials View.
06/01/08	A review article entitled "Cylindrical molecular brushes: Synthesis, characterization, and properties" coauthored by Sergei Sheiko, Brent, and Kris Matyjaszewski is now available online in Progress in Polymer Science.
05/26/08	Welcome to our newest group members - Abhijeet Bapat and Hongmei Li!
04/24/08	Brent presented a seminar in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA.
04/19/08	Drew, Jennifer, and Ming all delivered oral presentations at the DFW ACS Meeting in Miniature. Congratulations to Drew for winning a 3rd place award for Best Oral Presentation!
04/14/08	Ming's paper entitled "Responsive Polymer-Protein Bioconjugates Prepared by RAFT Polymerization and Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Click Chemistry" is now available online in Macromolecular Rapid Communications.
04/10/08	All members of the group presented at the National ACS Meeting in New Orleans, LA. In all, there were 5 oral and 5 poster presentations.
03/03/08	Roy's paper entitled "Sugar-Responsive Block Copolymers by Direct RAFT Polymerization of Unprotected Boronic Acid Monomers" is now available online in Chemical Communications.
03/24/08	Congratulations to Ming for successfully defending his original research proposal!
03/07/08	Congratulations to Drew for successfully defending his original research proposal!
01/22/08	De's paper entitled "Folate-Conjugated Thermoresponsive Block Copolymers: Highly Efficient Conjugation and Solution Self-Assembly" is now available via Biomacromolecules ASAP.
02/19/08	Congratulations to Jennifer and Drew who tied for Best Chemistry Poster during the SMU Graduate Research Day!
02/07/08	Brent presented a seminar at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
12/18/07	Drew's paper on the combination of RAFT polymerization and click chemistry to prepare well-defined responsive hyperbranches is in the top 10 most-read papers in the Australian Journal of Chemistry during the past 12 months.
11/15/07	Brent presented a seminar at the Colorado School of Mines.
11/08/07	Brent received a Sam Taylor Fellowship to fund a project entitled "Self-Assembly of Responsive Nanomaterials."
11/06/07	Congratulations to Drew for being chosen to deliver an oral presentation during the "Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research" symposium at the spring ACS National Meeting in New Orleans! The symposium is designed to highlight the best polymer chemistry graduate students in the nation.
04/12/07	Brent was awarded the ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award that will fund research to develop new methods of preparing novel polymer-protein bioconjugates.
02/23/07	Brent was appointed to the Editorial Board for the Journal of Macromolecular Science, Pure & Applied Chemistry.
	Previous Items

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