Contact us: s.mann@bristol.ac.uk

Protolife-inspired materials chemistry

Protolife-inspired materials chemistry

Very recently, we have initiated a new area of materials chemistry that is inspired by ideas and concepts emerging from studies on the origin of life. In particular, we are interested in the design and construction of primitive cells as simplified models of compartmentalized chemical micro-ensembles that exhibit life-like properties. These studies are exploring how we can integrate components such as nanoscale catalysts, supramolecular hydrogels and grafted polymers to produce artificial microscale compartments that exhibit controlled chemical reactivity, mechanical adaptation, growth and division.

Psomes-1

Relevant Publications:

  • M. Li, X. Huang, T-Y D. Tang and S. Mann, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biology, 2014, 22, 1-11.
  • T-Y D. Tang, C.R.C. Hak, A.J. Thompson, M.K. Kuimova, D.S. Williams, A.W. Perriman and S. Mann, Nature Chemistry, 2014, 6, 527-533.
  • X. Huang, A.J. Patil, M. Li, S. Mann, JACS, 2014, DOI: 10.1021/ja504213m.
  • M. Li, R.L. Harbron, J.V.M. Weaver, B.P. Binks and S. Mann, Nature Chemistry, 2013, 5, 529-536.
  • X. Huang, M. Li, D.C. Green, D.S. Williams, A.J. Patil and S. Mann, Nature Communications, 2013, 4, 2239 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3239, 1-9.
  • S. Mann, Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed, 2013, 52, 155-162.
  • S. Mann, Acc. Chem. Res, 2012, 45, 2131-2141.
  • A.J. Dzieciol and S. Mann, Chem. Soc. Rev, 2012, 41, 79-85.
  • M. Li, D.C. Green, J.L.R. Anderson, B.P. Binks and S. Mann, Chemical Science, 2011, 2 1739-1745.
  • S. Koga, D.S. Williams, A.W. Perriman and S. Mann, Nature Chemistry, 2011, 3 720-724.
  • R. Krishna Kumar, X. Yu, A.J. Patil, M. Li and S. Mann, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 9343 –9347.