Martina Stenzel

martina-stenzel
Contact details:
+61 2 9385 4656
+61 2 9385 6250
m.stenzel@unsw.edu.au

Martina Stenzel is an ARC Future Fellow and Professor in the School of Chemistry. Her research experience and interests include:

  • Complex polymer architectures; Synthesis of star polymers, comb polymers, block copolymers via RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation transfer) polymerization
  • Synthesis of glycopolymers and their interaction with lectins
  • Polymers with cyclodextrins
  • Synthesis of nanoparticles for drug delivery purposes
  • Development of drug delivery systems for the delivery of platinum drugs and other metal-based drugs (gold, ruthenium)
  • Development nanoparticles for the delivery of non-metal anti-cancer drugs
  • Understanding the interaction of nanoparticles with cells and cancer spheroids

 TEAM

PhD Students

  • Alice Du (A delivery platform for peptides, collaboration with K. Scott from UWS)
  • Manuela Callari (Smart micelles for the delivery of platinum drugs, collaboration Prof Paul de Souza, Ingham Institute, and Prof Janice Aldrich-Wright, UWS)
  • Ted Chang (Understanding the interaction of various-shaped nanoparticles with various cancer cell lines, collaboration with Dr Megan Lord)
  • Yanyan Jiang (polymer-protein conjugates as drugs and drug-delivery vehicle)
  • Johnny Lim (Delivery of gemcitabine using oligonucleotide containing polymers)
  • Jiacheng Zhao (Nano-objects of various shapes based on sugars for the treatment of breast cancer)
  • Mingxia Lu (Delivery of ruthenium drugs)
  • Fan Chen (delivery of proteins using polyion complex micelles)
  • Alberto Piloni (Fluorine containing nanoparticles for imaging, collaboartion with K.Thurecht UQ)
  • Lubna Hossein (a drug delivery system for albendazole, collaboration Dr Mohammad Pourgholami, Prof David Morris, St.George hospital)

Fellows and Postdocs

  • Dr Pu Xiao, DECRA fellow (polymer coated nanodiamonds)
  • Dr Hongxu Lu (spheroid cancer models to investigate the interaction of nanoparticles with cells, collaboration Dr Mohammad Pourgholami, Prof David Morris, St.George hospital)
  • Dr Krzystof Babiuch (synthesis of glycopolymers)

EDUCATION

  • 1996-99 Ph.D. in Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Germany
  • 1990-96 MSc. in Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Germany

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES

  • Editorial Advisory Committee (Progress in Polymer Science, ACS MacroLetters, Macromolecules, Polymer)
  • Editor of the Australian Journal of Chemistry

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES (MEMBER OF)

  • Since 2012 Honorary General Secretary of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
  • Since 2012 Australian Representative of the Pacific Polymer Council
  • 2008-2011 Chair of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Polymer Division

AWARDS

  • 2013 NSW Science and Engineering award
  • 2013 Exxon Mobile award
  • 2012 RACI polymer division citation award
  • 2011 LeFevre Medal of the Australian Academy of Science
  • 2009 UNSW Engineering Excellence award for research
  • 2009 ARC Future Fellow
  • 2008 RACI “Sangster Award” to an outstanding polymer scientist under the age of 40.
  • 2006 Finalist of the Eureka Prize of the Australian Museum, Category “People’s choice award” and “UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific research”
  • 2005 John Yu fellowship to visit the Melville Laboratories at the University of Cambridge, England
  • 1999 DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship
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