Conjugated polyelectrolytes: bridging the gap between fundamental properties and applications to biosensing and antimicrobial defense
November 11, 2025
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Auditorium between Buildings 2 & 3
Abstract
Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) featuring poly(phenylene ethynylene) and poly(thiophene) backbones substituted with ionic solubilizing groups are water soluble. These materials exhibit a variety of interesting properties, including self-assembly into nanoscale aggregates, the ability to be processed into nanostructured, layer-by-layer films, and optical/stimuli-responsive behavior in the presence of ions, surfactants, and biomacromolecules. We have explored the use of cationic CPEs as fluorescent sensors for polyphosphates (pyrophosphate, ATP, and ADP). In addition, cationic CPEs exhibit profound light-activated biocidal activity against a broad spectrum of bioagents, including bacteria, viruses, and spores. The talk will provide a high-level overview of work in this area, including recent studies on the interactions between cationic CPEs and mammalian cells.
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