Sample of Canadian Polymer Research Groups

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Province of Ontario

The Shoichet Lab, University of Toronto

Leader: Dr. Molly Shoichet, Departments of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering.

Research: This group adopts a cross disciplinary approach applying engineering, chemistry, and biology to the fields of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery. Research includes designing novel injectable hydrogels for local delivery to the injured spinal cord and brain; novel polymeric nanoparticles for targeted delivery in cancer; tissue engineered 3-dimensional constructs to spatially control cell differentiation; using multiphoton laser excitation and advanced photochemistry to design defined chemical matrices; and cell transplantation strategies using tubular scaffolds and injectable materials.

Polymers, Interfaces, and Materials Science Group, University of Toronto

Leader: Dr. Eugenia Kumacheva, Department of Chemistry

Research: This group’s current research includes behavior and properties of nanofibrillar hydrogels under confinement in narrow capillaries; applications of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils modified with polymers and peptides to form nanofibrillar hydrogels for cell culture; exploration of the structure of polymer molecules attached to highly curved surfaces such as small nanoparticles; and optical and mechanical properties of cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers for security applications, sensors, lasers and films with unique mechanical properties.

The Winnik Group, University of Toronto

Leader: Dr. Mitchell Winnik, Professor, Department of Chemistry

Research: This group studies a broad spectrum of topics in the general areas of polymer science, self-assembly, and nanochemistry. Students and Postdocs in the group come from different backgrounds and have different areas of expertise including polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, colloid science, chemical engineering, physics.

The Gillies Research Group, Western University

Leader: Dr. Elizabeth Gillies, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering

Research: Functional biodegradable polymers including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and medical devices; and macromolecular assemblies as biomaterials such as preparing new functional and biodegradable polymers to make polymer assemblies with controlled biological behaviour.

The Hoare Lab, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

Leader: Dr. Todd Hoare, Department of Chemical Engineering

Research: This lab’s expertise lies in the rational design of “smart” hydrogel-based materials on different length scales (i.e. bulk hydrogels, microgels, and nanogels) based on a fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationships in such materials. Target applications include drug delivery, cell encapsulation, biomedical devices, biosensors, and tissue engineering, food, nutraceutical delivery, agricultural, and environmental applications.

The Hutchinson Research Group, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Leader: Dr. Robin Hutchinson, Department of Chemical Engineering

Research: This group focuses on improving industrial polymerization processes, and contribute to the design of new polymeric materials by developing a deeper understanding of radical polymerization kinetics and capturing that knowledge in modelling tools.

Province of Manitoba

The Liu Group, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Leader: Dr. Song Liu, Department of Biosystems Engineering

Research: This group focuses on the development of novel surface engineering techniques for chemically inert semicrystalline polymers; the development of new biocidal and biocompatible materials; and micro- and nano-encapsulation of bioactive agents for their targeted and controlled delivery.

The Manitoba Institute for Materials, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Composite Material Systems Group:

Aerospace composite materials, intelligent sensing for innovative civil engineering structures, fiber reinforced polymer materials, fabrics, composites generated from biological materials, oil seed resins, "breathable" and "smart" textiles and wound dressings.

Province of Alberta

Group of Applied Macromolecular Engineering (GAME), University of Alberta

Leader: Dr. João Soares, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

Research: The GAME specializes in applied polymer science and polymer reaction engineering. Research includes flocculants for oil sands tailings treatment; modeling the floc formation phenomenon;

inline flocculation of oil sands tailings; In-situ nanocomposites of polyolefins; mathematical modeling of polymerization reactors and polymer microstructures; and polymer microstructure characterization.

The Rivard Group, University of Alberta

Leader: Dr. Eric Rivard, Department of Chemistry

Research: This group’s research lies within the general realm of synthetic Inorganic and Polymer Chemistry, with particular focus on solar energy, catalysis and chemical sensing. We use a number of advanced synthesis and characterization techniques, including quantum mechanical (DFT) methods for our scientific explorations.

Soft Materials and Device Lab, University of Alberta

Leader: Dr. Hyun-Joong Chung, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

Research: This lab focuses on the structure-property relations of bulk and nanostructured hydrogels and elastomers, as well as their composites with other nanomaterials such as graphene and nanowires. Our research put emphasis on understanding fundamental physics that governs polymer structure and properties and then applies the polymers in electronic devices for energy and biomedical applications. Recent research includes the mechanism of suppressed ice formation in polyampholyte hydrogels, gel electrolytes for batteries, elastomers for stretchable electronics and their biomedical applications.

The Serpe Group, University of Alberta

Leader: Dr. Michael Serpe, Department of Chemistry

Research: Using a variety of analytical chemistry approaches, combined with a number of imaging techniques, we are trying to understand the behavior of responsive polymers to solve problems associated with health and the environment. Research includes developing novel photonic materials for sensing and biosensing; developing polymer-based controlled/triggered drug delivery systems; synthesizing polymers for decontaminating water; building analytical instrumentation to investigate polymer-based surface coatings; and fabricating photonic materials that change color in response an electric field, magnetic field, light, and/or pressure.

Narain Research Lab, University of Alberta

Leader: Dr. Ravin Narain, Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering

Research: The Narain Lab is a multidisciplinary research group of scientists and engineers who conduct fundamental and applied research on polymers, hydrogels, biomaterials and nanomedicine. Our aim is to create the next generation of materials with unique structures and properties for targeted applications. We have made significant advances in the creation of new materials for drug and gene delivery, for antifouling and antibacterial surfaces, and for cell and tissue engineering.

Province of British Columbia

Mehrkhodavandi Research Group, University of British Columbia

Leader: Dr. Parisa Mehrkhodavandi, Department of Chemistry

Research: focuses on rational catalyst design using synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry, polymer synthesis, and extensive mechanistic studies; emphasis on the applicability of our research and have active collaborations with industry partners to develop biodegradable polymers of interest in medicine and materials.

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