Seminarium CeNT (Pt., 6 marca 2026): Programming synthetic polymers with biological precision through sequence control
02 03 2026
Kategoria: Seminaria CeNT, Strona główna
Centrum Nowych Technologii UW zaprasza na seminarium naukowe
prof. Róża Szweda
Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
Tytuł: Programming synthetic polymers with biological precision through sequence control
Data: Piątek, 6 marca 2026
Czas: 12:00
Prowadzący: prof. Jacek Jemielity
Seminarium odbędzie sie w audytorium 00.142 w CeNT (Banacha 2C)
Abstrakt:
Nature programs the function of biomacromolecules through sequence, arranging monomers with precision to create proteins and nucleic acids capable of folding, recognition, catalysis, and other sophisticated functions. Translating this molecular “language” into synthetic polymers opens largely unexplored opportunities to create materials that combine the programmability of biology with the robustness and versatility of man-made polymers.
In this lecture, I will present our recent advances in the design and synthesis of sequence- and stereochemically defined abiotic polymers that exhibit programmable, protein-mimicking behaviour beyond physiological constraints. By controlling both the order and chirality of monomer units in synthetic polyurethanes, we demonstrate how subtle sequence variations govern chain dynamics, induce defined folding motifs such as helices and sheets, and direct supramolecular organisation in non-biological media.
This structural precision translates into emergent functions, including tunable molecular recognition, catalytic activity, and information storage. Our work demonstrates how entirely synthetic backbones can be programmed to achieve receptor- and enzyme-like properties, opening a pathway toward artificial proteins and establishing a new paradigm for functional materials at the interface of chemistry and biology.