AIBN Seminar Series - Design of Advanced Materials using Light

We are pleased to present Cyrille Boyer to speak on the topic: Design of Advanced Materials using Light

When: Thursday 5th October 2023

Where:AIBN Level 1 Seminar room or online via zoom click here to join

Time:11am-12pm

Abstract:

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization is a powerful tool for synthesizing macromolecules with controlled topologies and diverse chemical functionalities.In 2014, we reported an efficient activation of RAFT polymerization by the introduction of photocatalysts, named photoinduced electron/energy transfer – reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization, allowing to activate these RAFT polymerizations under low energy and intensity visible light and without prior deoxygenation. In this talk, I will provide an overview of their potential applications in additive manufacturing (3D printing) and in nanomedicine. The application of RAFT polymerization to additive-manufacturing processes has been hindered due to their slow polymerization rates and sensitivity to oxygen. In the first part of my talk, I will talk about a rapid visible light mediated RAFT polymerization process that we developed and how it can be applied to a 3D printing system. In the second part of this talk, I will talk about the application of PET-RAFT technology for the development of advanced antimicrobial polymers. Taking advantages of the oxygen tolerance conferred by PET-RAFT technique, multiple parallel polymerizations were achieved enabling the synthetic optimization of functional polymers. More specifically, we prepared a library of antibacterial/fungal polymers and test their antimicrobial activities against different bacteria and fungi. Interestingly, we demonstrated that their antimicrobial and antifungal activity is affected by the monomer sequence in the polymer chain as well as by the monomer structure and polymer composition.

Bio

Prof Cyrille Boyer is a Professor within the School of Chemical Engineering, deputy-Head of School, postgraduate course coordinator, and co-Director of Australian Centre for Nanomedicine at the University of New South Wales. He is an associate Editor of European Polymer Journal and a member of Advisory Board of Advanced Materials, ACS Infectious Diseases, ACS MacroLetters, Polymer Chemistry, Journal of Polymer Science, Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Cell Reports Physical Science, Giant, etc.

His research interests mainly cover the preparation of functional macromolecules using photocatalysts, which find applications in various areas, including nanomedicine, advanced materials, and energy storage. In nanomedicine, his group designs new antimicrobial and anticancer polymers. More recently, he has implemented his photochemistry to 3D printing for the fabrication of 3D printed objects, enabling precise control over the nano- and macro-structure of 3D printed objects.

Profess Boyer has been recognized by several fellowships, including Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (ARC-APD), ARC Future Fellowship, and more recently, ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship (starting in 2023). He has received several prestigious research awards, including 2018 IUPAC-Polymer International Young Researcher award, 2018 Polymer Chemistry Lectureship, 2018 Award of Excellence in Chemical Engineering, 2016 ACS Biomacromolecules/Macromolecules Young Researcher Award, 2016 Journal of Polymer Science Innovation award, Le Fevre Memorial Prize awarded by Australian Academy of Science for chemistry, and 2015 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Science (one of the Prime Minister Prizes for Science). Since 2018, he has been listed as a Highly Cited Researcher in Chemistry or Cross-field by Clarivate and named as one of the Leaders in Polymers and Plastics by the Australian Newspaper.