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35 East 12th Street, Holland, MI 49423-3605
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TITLE: “Real-Time Synthesis and Applications of Fluorescent Polymers by Fluorogenic Radical Polymerization”
ABSTRACT: A simple and direct method to observe synthetic polymer formation in real-time could enable applications ranging from sensing and diagnostics to polymer synthesis and characterization. We are developing fluorogenic radical polymerization reaction platforms that utilize fluorogenic monomers that are dark in their monomer form but reveal visible fluorescence as they are incorporated into a growing polymer chain. Fluorescent polymer detection can provide both a qualitative and quantitative readout of polymerization reaction kinetics, polymer length, and initiator concentration. Synthetic approaches toward fluorogenic monomer probes and their radical polymerization to form fluorescent polymers for bioanalyte detection and polymer characterization applications will be described.
BIO: Christina Cooley grew up in Conway, AR, where she studied Chemistry and Music at Hendrix College. Formative undergraduate research experiences in organic chemistry and neurobiology propelled her to a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Stanford University, working in the laboratory of Professor Paul Wender to develop new oligomeric scaffolds for drug delivery applications. She then completed postdoctoral training in Chemical Biology at Scripps Research in San Diego with Professors Jeff Kelly and Luke Wiseman, focusing on therapeutic approaches for protein misfolding diseases. Christina joined the Trinity Chemistry faculty in 2015, where she leads an interdisciplinary undergraduate research program that applies the power of synthetic organic chemistry to impact related fields including polymer chemistry, medicinal chemistry and biology. Current major project areas include the development of fluorogenic radical polymerization reactions for chemical and biodetection applications, and prodrug strategies for disease-targeted therapeutic delivery. Beyond research, she is passionate about educating and mentoring the next generation of scientists, as well as serving the Trinity and broader scientific communities.
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