Theme 2: Amphiphilic Polymers and Copolymers for Membrane Protein Solubilization

Developing SMA-like copolymers, PET-RAFT polymers, and acrylamide-based surfmers and polymers to create native nanodiscs and detergent-free solubilization routes.

The team develops tailored amphiphilic copolymers designed to support detergent-free solubilization of membrane proteins while preserving essential lipid interactions. Using RAFT and photo-induced polymerization strategies, S2CB produces polymers with well-defined composition, architecture and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance. These materials facilitate the formation of native-like nanodiscs, improve extraction performance, and enhance compatibility with downstream structural biology workflows.

Associated publications

• Photo-induced Polymerization of Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymers for the Extraction of Membrane Proteins. Journal of Polymer Science 2024. (DOI: 10.1002/pol.20240295)
• Synthesis of Well-Defined Methacrylate Copolymers and Their Use for Stabilizing Membrane Proteins. Journal of Polymer Science 2023. (DOI: 10.1002/pol.20230516)
• Surfmer versus Polymer Effect Towards Solubilization and Stabilization of Membrane Proteins. ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2024. (DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.3c02858)