Degradable covalent chemistry to develop smart delivery polymeric nanomaterials
Dr. Jung Kwon (John) Oh
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Concordia University
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
11:00 a.m.
In-person: C2-361
Abstract: Stimuli-responsive degradation (SRD) through chemical transition has been extensively explored as a promising platform for the development of degradable polymers and nanomaterials. The platform explores the incorporation of labile covalent bonds in the design of multifunctional polymers; when needed, the bonds are cleaved in response to endogenous stimuli found in biological environments and exogenous light. Thus, SRD-exhibiting polymers and nanomaterials are capable for the rapid degradation and disintegration, thus enabling on-demand and controlled/enhanced release of encapsulated biomolecules. This presentation describes our recent progress in the development of advanced polymeric nanomaterials designed with degradable covalent chemistry, typically including drug delivery block copolymer-based nanoassemblies, gene delivery nanogels and wound dressing e-spun nanofibers.
Dr. Jung Kwon (John) Oh is currently appointed as a full professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Concordia University and completed a two-term appointment as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Nanobioscience (2011-2021). He earned his PhD degree from the University of Toronto and then completed his postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon University. He also experienced R&D in industrial settings at KCC and Dow Chemical over 10 years. He is leading a productive research group that brings together research from the field of polymer chemistry and materials with an emphasis on synthesis and applications at the crossroad of biology and materials science. His research has been diverse with a focus on the development of three domains of multifunctional polymer-based (nano)materials: (i) smart biomaterials/delivery nanocarriers, (ii) polymer-nanoparticle hybrids/biological imaging platforms; and (iii) advanced covalent adaptable networks for energy-harvesting and flexible electronics.