Supramolecular Protein Stabilization with Zwitterionic Polypeptide-Cucurbit[7]uril Conjugates
Jessica Kramer
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Utah
Protein aggregation is an obstacle for the development of new biopharmaceuticals, presenting challenges in shipping and storage of vital therapies. Though a variety of materials and methods have been explored, the need remains for a simple material that is biodegradable, nontoxic, and highly efficient at stabilizing protein therapeutics. In this work, we investigated zwitterionic polypeptides prepared using a rapid and scalable polymerization technique and conjugated to a supramolecular macrocycle host, cucurbit[7]uril, for the ability to inhibit aggregation of model protein therapeutics insulin and calcitonin.
Dr. Kramer obtained an Honors B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Utah in 2004, where she performed undergraduate research in the lab of Prof. C. Dale Poulter; and a Ph.D. at the University of California Los Angeles, where she studied in the lab of Prof. Tim Deming in the Department of Chemistry. Following her Ph.D. Dr. Kramer joined the lab of Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi at UC Berkeley and Stanford as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow and a UC Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Kramer's research efforts have been recognized with numerous awards including the Henkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Chemistry, Norma Stoddart Prize, Saul and Sylvia Winstein Dissertation Award, Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Award, and even presented an experiment for former Utah Governor and US presidential candidate John M. Huntsman.