In the group we are developing strategies for the triggerable delivery of cargo (i.e. drugs, genetic material etc). This approach utilises specific dyes in combination with polymer synthesis to generate unique polymer architectures that can be used for simultaneous tracking/imaging and triggered delivery of the cargo.

There are many examples of polymer delivery systems with one of the most well known being PLA/PLGA micelles. These degradable polymers have been used for the delivery of a wide variety of drugs and other cargos for the delivery to cells both in-vitro and in-vivo. Whilst these systems have huge potential the passive approach used to deliver the drugs leads to off target delivery. Ideally a system would be developed that would release its cargo only at the desired delivery location.

In our system we propose to use light to trigger the disassembly of the assembled polymer structures leading to controlled and targeted delivery. Our projects in this area focus on dye and polymer synthesis and testing the triggered release of cargo.