Research

We focus on the application of “smart molecules” and “smart polymers” to problems that lie at the interface of chemistry and biology or chemistry and materials.

Our efforts generally involve the design, synthesis, and study of novel small molecules and polymers and work in the subfields of biomedicine, chemical biology, or materials chemistry.

More specifically, our research in molecular design is to develop compounds that can:

  • Serve as DNA or RNA-targeted therapeutic agents
  • Function as stable and biocompatible imaging agents
  • Act as encapsulants to carry active agents and deliver them in a stimuli-responsive manner, and
  • Deliver drugs or cells specifically to diseased tissue

Students in our group can learn a range of skills from organic synthesis and chemical biology to computer modeling and advanced materials development and characterization.

Bioimaging Agents

There is a critical need for fluorescent probes and MRI contrast agents that are nontoxic, long-lived, and extremely bright (fluorophores) or that provide exceptional contrast (MRI). Another challenge is developing “monovalent” agents, probes that can be linked to a single targeting agent (e.g., antibody, ligand, oligonucleotide, etc.). We are developing small molecules, polymers, and nanoparticles that fulfill these criteria and applying them in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

DNA or RNA-Targeted Therapeutic Agents

There are a number of diseases that originate in aberrant DNA or RNA, in particular the triplet-repeat diseases (TREDs) which involve expansion of sequences within our genomes. One current effort is to develop small molecules that target CTG repeats in DNA or their CUG repeat RNA transcripts, both of which cause myotonic dystrophy type 1, the most common form of muscular dystrophy. These smart molecules are designed to enter the cell nucleus, bind the target DNA or RNA specifically and operate to reverse the deleterious effects of the expanded repeats.

Degradable Polymers and Novel Delivery Systems

Polymeric materials that can degrade rapidly and completely in response to specific stimuli such as light, heat, pressure, and pH are being developed as novel encapsulating materials. The goal is to create thin, spherical shells that hold and protect their contents indefinitely, yet instantly release their cargo upon the appropriate stimulation.

Drug and Cell Delivery Systems

This effort focuses on the targeted delivery of stem cells or drugs to diseased tissues. The approach we are taking uses smart self-assembling materials, for example polymers that can coat the surfaces of stem cells and display peptides that target inflammation, or self-assembled particles that can be tracked in vivo as they travel to the target site and then release their cargo of drugs.

Funding Sources

ACS ACSPRF DOW NIH NSF ROHM HASS

Publications

For more information on published work, check out the archive.

Our publications

Our work is regularly highlighted on journal covers (see below), blog posts, twitter feeds, and traditional media outlets.

Recent publications

Search our publications archive

People

Get to know the creative members of our team! Explore what we do or find former group members.

Current group

View our alumni

Connections

Check out the latest group news on Twitter @ZGroupIllinois, or look through our group photos on Flickr: zgroupillinois.

Contact

Interested in joining our group or learning more about our research? We'd love to hear from you!

Professor Steven C. Zimmerman

600 S. Mathews Ave., MC712
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801

Other group contacts

Coordinator of Research Programs
TBA

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign