Cassandra L. Fraser

Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering

B.A. Kalamazoo College, 1984
M.T.S. Harvard Divinity School, 1988
Ph.D. The University of Chicago, 1993

Department of Chemistry
PO Box 400319, Chemistry 123
Charlottesville, VA 22908
434-924-7998

fraser@virginia.edu

Laboratory website

Research Interests

Polymeric Metal Complexes. Metallobiomaterials for Medicine and Biotechnology. Bio-inspired and Sustainable Design. Responsive Nanoscale Assemblies.

Research in the Fraser Lab is concerned with the synthesis, properties and applications of metal complexes with polymeric ligands. Like metalloproteins, polymeric metal complexes feature site-isolated metal centers in well-defined macromolecular environments. These multifunctional targets are prepared via combination of coordination chemistry with living polymerization methodologies and offer many opportunities for further modification. The development of new synthetic methodologies involving main group, transition metal and lanthanide complexes with bipyridine and diketonate macroligands has paved the way for the discovery of some fascinating and unexpected properties and reactivity. The resulting hybrid materials can function as soluble agents, films, nanoparticles, or bulk materials, and block copolymers can form higher order nanoscale assemblies. Presently, we are exploring uses for these metallobiomaterials as optical imaging agents, oxygen sensors, drug delivery systems, and responsive materials in biomedicine and sustainable design.

Recent Publications

Zhang G, Palmer GM, Dewhirst MW, Fraser CL
A dual-emissive-materials design concept enables tumour hypoxia imaging.

Zhang G, Kim SH, Evans RE, Kim BH, Demas JN, Fraser CL
Luminescent Donor-Acceptor beta-Diketones: Modulation of Emission by Solvent Polarity and Group II Metal Binding.

Pfister A, Zhang G, Zareno J, Horwitz AF, Fraser CL
Boron polylactide nanoparticles exhibiting fluorescence and phosphorescence in aqueous medium.

Fiore GL, Klinkenberg JL, Pfister A, Fraser CL
Iron tris(bipyridine) PEG hydrogels with covalent and metal coordinate cross-links.

Fiore GL, Goguen BN, Klinkenberg JL, Payne SJ, Demas JN, Fraser CL
Ruthenium tris(bipyridine) complexes with sulfur substituents: model studies for PEG coupling.

More Publications