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Biography
BSc and PhD in Chemistry, University of Durham, UK
Post-Doctoral Research at the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, University of Cambridge
Expertise Summary
Our research aims to develop materials which can improve the delivery of small molecule drugs, genes and components of vaccines to target sites in the body, to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce side-effects. The main focus of the work is on polymer therapeutics, for which we are developing a range of synthetic, natural and hybrid materials to transport drugs, genes and cells safely and efficiently to disease locations. We are currently working on polymer formulations for cancer medicines, anti-infectives and vaccines in collaboration with groups from all over the world.
Teaching Summary
Pharmaceutics for cancer drugs, Pharmaceutical biotechnology, Vaccine formulations
Research Summary
Recent papers describe new responsive materials as potential aids for drug targeting, RNA vaccine formulation and microbial detection (Nanoscale 2020, Adv. Ther.2019, Biomacromolecules 2020, Nature… read more
Selected Publications
GURNANI, PRATIK, BLAKNEY, ANNA, TERRACCIANO, ROBERTO, PETCH, JOSHUA, BLOK, ANDREW, BOUTON, CLEMENT, MCKAY, PAUL, SHATTOCK, ROBIN and ALEXANDER, CAMERON, 2020. The in vitro,ex vivo and in vivo effect of polymer hydrophobicity on charge reversible vectors for self-amplifying RNA Biomacromolecules. 21(8), 3242–3253 MONTEIRO, P, GULFAM, MOHAMMAD, MONTEIRO, CINTIA J, TRAVANUT, ALESSANDRA, ABELHA, THAIS FEDATTO, PEARCE, AMANDA K, JEROME, CHRISTINE, GRABOSWKA, ANNA M, CLARKE, PHILIP A, COLLINS, HILARY M, HEERY, DAVID, PAVEL GERSHKOVICH and ALEXANDER, CAMERON, 2020. , Synthesis of micellar-like terpolymer nanoparticles with reductively-cleavable cross-links and evaluation of efficacy in 2D and 3D models of triple negative breast cancer Journal of Controlled Release. SIVARAM, AMAL J, WARDIANA, ANDRI, ALCANTARA, SHEILAJEN, SONDEREGGER, STEFAN E, FLETCHER, NICHOLAS L, HOUSTON, ZACHARY H, HOWARD, CHRISTOPHER B, MAHLER, STEPHEN M, ALEXANDER, CAMERON, KENT, STEPHEN J, BELL, CRAIG A and THURECHT, KRISTOFER J, 2020. Controlling the Biological Fate of Micellar Nanoparticles: Balancing Stealth and Targeting. ACS nano. 14(10), 13739-13753 PEARCE, AMANDA K., ANANE-ADJEI, AKOSUA B., CAVANAGH, ROBERT J., MONTEIRO, PATRICIA F., BENNETT, THOMAS M., TARESCO, VINCENZO, CLARKE, PHIL A., RITCHIE, ALISON A., ALEXANDER, MORGAN R., GRABOWSKA, ANNA M. and ALEXANDER, CAMERON, 2020. Effects of Polymer 3D Architecture, Size, and Chemistry on Biological Transport and Drug Delivery In Vitro and in Orthotopic Triple Negative Breast Cancer Models ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS.
Current Research
Recent papers describe new responsive materials as potential aids for drug targeting, RNA vaccine formulation and microbial detection (Nanoscale 2020, Adv. Ther.2019, Biomacromolecules 2020, Nature Mater 2014,), drug and gene delivery (Adv. Ther. 2020, ACS Nano 2020, J. Control Release 2020, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020,), and synthetic biology (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, ChemBioChem 2019, Artificial Life 2015, Nature Chem 2013).
This research is supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Fellowship, UKRI and industry research grants. In addition to research and teaching, I am a member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Science, Engineering and Technology Board.
Measures of Esteem
Past Research
Polymer synthesis, organic magnets, self-assembly of liquid crystalline polymers and molecular imprinting
Future Research
Advanced Biomaterials, Nucleic acid vaccines, Nanomedicines, Responsive polymers, Anti-Microbial Resistance, Synthetic Biology