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

Release of High-Energy Water as an Essential Driving Force for the High-Affinity Binding of Cucurbit[n]urils
F Biedermann, VD Uzunova, OA Scherman, WM Nau, A De Simone
J Am Chem Soc
(2012)
134
Enhanced stability and activity of temozolomide in primary glioblastoma multiforme cells with cucurbit[n]uril
EA Appel, MJ Rowland, XJ Loh, RM Heywood, C Watts, OA Scherman
Chem Commun (Camb)
(2012)
48
Supramolecular Peptide Amphiphile Vesicles through Host–Guest Complexation
D Jiao, J Geng, XJ Loh, D Das, T-C Lee, OA Scherman
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2012)
51
Gold nanoparticle self-assembly with cucurbit[n]urils in microfluidic droplets
RJ Coulston, J Zhang, R Taylor, J Baumberg, C Abell, OA Scherman
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2012)
244
One-step fabrication of supramolecular microcapsules from microfluidic droplets
J Zhang, R Coulston, O Scherman, C Abell
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2012)
244
Supramolecular polymeric hydrogels.
EA Appel, J del Barrio, XJ Loh, OA Scherman
Chemical Society reviews
(2012)
41
Supramolecular polymers.
F Huang, OA Scherman
Chemical Society Reviews
(2012)
41
A supramolecular route towards core-shell polymeric microspheres in water via cucurbit[8]uril complexation
Y Lan, XJ Loh, J Geng, Z Walsh, OA Scherman
Chem Commun (Camb)
(2012)
48
Strongly Fluorescent, Switchable Perylene Bis(diimide) Host-Guest Complexes with Cucurbit[8]uril in Water.
F Biedermann, E Elmalem, I Ghosh, WM Nau, OA Scherman
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2012)
51
Ultrahigh-water-content supramolecular hydrogels exhibiting multistimuli responsiveness.
EA Appel, XJ Loh, ST Jones, F Biedermann, CA Dreiss, OA Scherman
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2012)
134

Head of group

Telephone number

01223 331797, 01223 334372 (shared)

Email address

College