Professor of Supramolecular & Polymer Chemistry / Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis

What we do

Our research interests include the synthesis of functional nanosystems, controlled polymer architectures and dynamic supramolecular assemblies through molecular recognition processes.

The underlying theme of our research lies at the interface between synthetic organic efforts on small molecules and macroscopic properties at the materials level, developing a macro-organic approach to chemistry. Dynamic supramolecular self-assembly of materials will be an area of great importance in the coming years, allowing for innovations in nanotechnology and at the biological and chemical interfaces.

We are particularly interested in exploring topics such as water-soluble and stimuli-responsive materials, template and imprinting technologies of functional polymers for use in chiral separations and enantioselective catalysis, and controlling material morphologies and architectures both in solution and in the solid state through rational design and a multi-step, hierarchical self-assembly process.

Watch Professor Scherman discuss his research

Take a tour of the Scherman Lab

Publications

Single-molecule force spectroscopy quantification of adhesive forces in cucurbit[8]uril host-guest ternary complexes.
Z Walsh-Korb, Y Yu, E-R Janecek, Y Lan, J Del Barrio, PE Williams, X Zhang, OA Scherman
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2017)
33
Decreasing amyloid toxicity through an increased rate of aggregation
S Sonzini, HF Stanyon, OA Scherman
Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
(2017)
19
Aqueous interfacial gels assembled from small molecule supramolecular polymers.
AS Groombridge, A Palma, RM Parker, C Abell, OA Scherman
Chemical science
(2017)
8
Correction: Hybrid organic–inorganic supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with CePO4 nanowires
C Liu, G Xiang, Y Wu, SJ Barrow, MJ Rowland, DE Clarke, G Wu, OA Scherman
Polymer Chemistry
(2017)
8
Corrigendum
Z Walsh, E-R Janecek, M Jones, OA Scherman
Studies in Conservation
(2017)
62
Supramolecular Chemistry of Cucurbiturils: Tuning Cooperativity with Multiple Noncovalent Interactions from Positive to Negative.
Z Huang, K Qin, G Deng, G Wu, Y Bai, J-F Xu, Z Wang, Z Yu, OA Scherman, X Zhang
Langmuir
(2016)
32
A Dynamic and Responsive Host in Action: Light-Controlled Molecular Encapsulation.
STJ Ryan, J Del Barrio, R Suardíaz, DF Ryan, E Rosta, OA Scherman
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2016)
55
High Affinity Recognition of a Selected Amino Acid Epitope within a Protein by Cucurbit[8]uril Complexation
S Sonzini, A Marcozzi, RJ Gubeli, CF van der Walle, P Ravn, A Herrmann, OA Scherman
Angewandte Chemie International Edition (English)
(2016)
55
Microcapsule Buckling Triggered by Compression-Induced Interfacial Phase Change
AR Salmon, RM Parker, AS Groombridge, A Maestro, RJ Coulston, J Hegemann, J Kierfeld, OA Scherman, C Abell
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2016)
32
Dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules from cucurbit[8]uril molecular recognition in microfluidic droplets
Z Yu, Y Lan, RM Parker, W Zhang, X Deng, OA Scherman, C Abell
Polymer Chemistry
(2016)
7

Head of group

Telephone number

01223 334372 (shared), 01223 331797

Email address

College