We are interested in the design, synthesis and application of functional materials (polymeric or molecular) to address issues that lie at the interface of synthetic chemistry, materials science and biomedical science and engineering. While the main focus of our research is the development of new synthetic methodologies, we also investigate relevant materials properties to facilitate transition to applications. The multidisciplinary nature of the program entails various modern synthetic techniques and physical characterization methods, and requires an understanding of biology and nanotechnology. Current projects include (1) development of catalytic reactions towards peptidomimetic polymers, (2) self-assembly of one dimensional nanostructures with rod-like polymers, (3) design and synthesis of biocompatible polymers as immune modulators or adjuvants.
- Guo, L.; Zhang, D*. “Cyclic Poly(alpha-peptoid)s and Their Block Copolymers from N-Heterocyclic Carbene- Mediated Ring-Opening Polymerization of N-Substituted N-Carboxylanhydrides.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 18702-18704. [pdf]
- Talla, J.; Sampath, D.; Zhang, D.; Birx, D.; Carroll, D.; Curran, S. A. “Electrical Transport Measurements of Highly Conductive Carbon Nanotube / Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) Composite.” J. Appl. Phys. 2009, 105, 073711.
- Zhang, D.; Kandadai, M.; Cech, J.; Curran, S. A.; Roth, S. “Poly(L Lactide) (PLLA) / Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Composite: Characterization and Biocompatibility Evaluation.” J. Phys. Chem. B. 2006, 110, 12910-12915.
- Curran, S. A.; Zhang, D.; Dundigal, S.; Blau, W. “Doping Properties of Polydithienylmethine: a Study on the Correlation between Polymer Chain Length, Spectroscopy and Transport.” J. Phys. Chem. 2006, 110, 3924-3929.
- Zhang, D.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Tolman, W. B. “Catalytic Polymerization of a Cyclic Ester Derived from a "Cool" Natural Precursor.” Biomacromolecules 2005, 6, 2091-2095.
- Garratt, S. A., Hughes, R. P., Kovacik, I., Ward, A. J., Willemsen, S., Zhang, D. “Carbon-Fluorine Bond Activation Coupled with Carbon-Hydrogen Bond Formation to Iridium: Kinetics, Mechanism, and Diastereoselectivity.” J. Am Chem. Soc. 2005, 127,15585-15594.
- Zhang, D.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Tolman, W. B. “A New Synthetic Route to Poly[3-hydroxypropionic acid] (P[3-HP]): Ring-Opening Polymerization of 3-HP Macrocyclic Esters.” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 8198-8200.
- Zhang, D.; Xu, J.; Alcazar-Roman, L.; Greenman, L.; Cramer, C. J.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Tolman, W. B. “Isotactic Polymers with Alternating Lactic Acid and Oxetane Subunits from the Endoentropic Polymerization of a 14-Membered Ring.” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 5274-5281.