Monteiro group

The Monteiro Group, led by Senior Group Leader Professor Michael Monteiro, takes a holistic approach towards polymer chemistry, understanding the fundamentals of kinetics and thermodynamics of polymers to create complex polymer architectures that can be custom designed to suit specific applications.

Taking their work on complex structures further, the Group studies emulsion polymerisation to make nanoparticles beyond the traditional spherical shape. Recent advances have enabled the creation of a range of shapes from loops, rods, worms, vesicles, and now a bicompartmentalised tadpole nanostructure.

Professor Monteiro has a joint appointment with SCMB.

Professor Michael Monteiro

Senior Group Leader

Monteiro Group
VC's Research and Teaching Fellow

Researchers

Dr Wenyi Gu

Research Fellow

Monteiro Group
Nicholle Wallwork

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Monteiro Group
Sung-Po (Rafael) Chen

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Monteiro Group

Students

Irma Vermeijlen

PhD student

Monteiro Group
Jooyoung Roh

PhD student

Monteiro Group

Organization of covalent and supramolecular mega macromolecules

This project will aim to develop a general methodology to synthesize unimolecular biological synthetic macromolecules by a polymerization reaction.
Synthesis of polymer nanoparticles in water

Designing polymer nanoparticles with dynamic features would be interesting in a number of applications where in situ nanoscale structural changes could be used for delivery of drugs, induce signaling on or within cells, or provide a diagnostic signal when small changes in temperature occur.
Water-borne nanocoating for rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

The project will develop a water-borne spray-on coating for the complete inactivation of virial particles and degradation of their RNA.

Water-borne nanocoating for rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

The rise in coronavirus variants has resulted in surges of the disease across the globe. The mutations in the spike protein on the surface of the virion membrane not only allow for greater transmission but raise concerns about vaccine effectiveness.
Topology and molecular weight distribution control in polymers

The composition and structural architecture of polymers plays an important role in determining their materials performance in various applications.
Temperature-Directed Morphology Transformation Method to Produce Well-Defined Complex Multifunctional Polymer Particles
Synthesis of well-defined thermoresponsive polymer nanostuctures

Recent advances in ‘click’ chemistry, living radical polymerisation (LRP), and self-assembly techniques have enabled the preparation of polymer nanostructures with tailored properties and functions.
Synthesis of well-defined complex polymer architectures by iterative growth

The ‘pursuit of precision’, inspired from nature’s relationship between molecular structure and physiological function, has led to the conception of complex architectures.
Synthesis of polymer nanoparticles in water

The ability to synthesize anisotropic colloidally stable nanoparticles directly in water with complex shapes provides new materials for drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, optical and electrical applications. Recently, we demonstrated a water-based emulsion polymerization method (i.e.
Synthesis and self-assembly of stimuli-responsive polymer nanoparticles

Cell membranes can adopt highly curved and cubic shapes when exposed to harsh conditions such as food depletion. Accordingly, scientists have designed adaptable materials capable of undergoing conformational and chemical changes.
Organization of covalent and supramolecular mega macromolecules

Biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids are unimolecular species just like low molar mass organic compounds.

Professor Monteiro has built a strong collaboration with Professor Virgil Percec from the University of Pennsylvania to develop and understand the new SET-LRP. He has developed a strong collaboration with Professor Istvan Toth from the University of Queensland to develop self-adjuvanting vaccines against cancer. In collaboration with Professor Eugenia Kumacheva from the University of Toronto and Professor Peter Gray from the University of Queensland, they developed temperature responsive micron-sized particles for encapsulation of cells and the 3D stem cell expansion, respectively.