缅北禁地

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NuCore members

Professor David Fulton

Professor of Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry

  • Email: david.fulton@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: (0191) 208 7065
  • Address: Chemistry
    School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Bedson Building (3.44)
    缅北禁地
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Biography

David Fulton received his BSc (Hons) from Strathclyde University and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, working on carbohydrate and supramolecular chemistry under the direction of Prof Sir J Fraser Stoddart FRS. He then spent two and half years as a postdoctoral research associate with Prof David Parker FRS at the University of Durham working on the synthesis of gadolinium-centered dendrimers as new MRI contrast agents. In 2006 he moved up the road to take up his present position within Chemistry at 缅北禁地 where he is a member of its chemical biology and organic chemistry group. His research interests are broadly based upon supramolecular/synthetic polymer chemistry.


Qualifications

PhD University of California, Los Angeles, 2001

BSc (Hons) University of Strathclyde, 1996


Previous Positions

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Durham University, 2003-2005

Analytical Method Development Chemist, Quintiles Ltd, 2002

Process Development Chemist, Merck Ltd, 1994-1995


Area of Expertise

Supramolecular polymers and materials.


Google Scholar


Research

Dr David Fulton has broad interests in polymer and supramolecular chemistry. Projects have received support from EPSRC, Innovate UK, The EU-framework 7 program, industrial partners and The Royal Society. Some current projects are summarized.


Polymers and materials from bacterial fimbriae. For millennia, humans have exploited fibres produced by animals and plants to make materials such as textiles and paper. Many strains of bacteria also produce hair-like fibres called fimbriae that have evolved unique structural and mechanical properties that make them appealing building as the foundation for new materials, however, these possibilities are still essentially unexplored.

Working closely with the laboratory of Prof Jeremy Lakey at 缅北禁地, we have developed the first examples of materials based upon Capsular antigen fragment 1 (Caf1), the fimbriae produced in nature by Yersinia Pestis, the bacterium responsible for the bubonic plague.

Caf1 polymers (~ 1 µm) are chains of 15 kDa monomer subunits, each non-covalently linked to a single neighbouring subunit by a donated N-terminal β-strand.  Caf1 has evolved its structure to inhibit interactions with host cells, helping the bacterium hide from the immune system. Caf1 bears a structural resemblance to fibronectin—a naturally occurring extracellular matrix—suggest Caf1 has great potential as a biomaterial for advanced cell culture. It is possible to ‘hard-wire’ cell adhesion peptides into surface loops of the Caf1 protein, presenting a straightforward way to engineer bioactivity whilst avoiding chemical functionalization with expensive peptides. This structural similarity to ECM proteins, together with its other highly desirable properties (non-adhesion, stability and ease of production) endow Caf1 with features that are difficult to design de novo into protein polymers. Furthermore, Caf1 is produced by bacterial fermentation and thus does not suffer from the batch-to-batch variability of animal-based materials such as Matrigel®.

It is easy to chemically cross-link Caf1 polymers into hydrogel materials, 3D polymer networks possessing high water contents and porous structures, properties they share with the extracellular matrix.

Caf1 also has some hidden and unexpected features. The linkages between subunits in the Caf1 are exceptionally strong and kinetically very inert, however, we discovered that heat can be used to reversibly cycle Caf1 between its polymeric and monomeric states, a feature that endows the Caf1 polymer with new synthetic and materials possibilities. This has allowed us to prepare copolymers featuring controlled compositions of naturally-occurring and mutant subunits, and to encapsulate live cells within a cross-linked Caf1 matrix.


Dynamic Covalent Polymers. Dynamic covalent chemistry relates to chemical reactions carried out under conditions of equilibrium control, and exploits dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs), which like non-covalent bonds display a dynamic nature but which also possess the chemical robustness associated with all covalent bonds. The term ‘dynamic covalent bond’ simply describes any covalent chemical bond which possesses the capacity to be formed and broken under equilibrium control, and encompasses many well-known functional groups such as imines, esters and hydrazone. At 缅北禁地 we have been utilizing DCBs to endow polymeric systems with the abilities to adapt their structures or compositions in response to an external stimuli. When DCBs are incorporated into polymeric systems, the reversible nature of bonds enables these systems to modify their architectures by reshuffling, incorporating or releasing their components, in effect providing a mechanism for polymer systems to reconfigure their molecular structures and therefore their functional or material properties.

One way we have utilized these ideas is in the development of polymer-scaffolded dynamic combinatorial libraries which we have shown respond to the addition of macromolecular templates by changing their compositions, preferentially incorporating residues which promote binding and rejecting residues which do not. This work might lead to a new method to make artificial receptors for sensing and separations.

We have also developed dynamic covalent polymers which are able to undergo structural metamorphosis from an intramolecularly cross-linked polymer chain into cross-linked gels or films, and we are working to develop this approach to allow the ‘wrapping’ of small biological objects such as viruses or bacteria within cross-linked polymer films.


Polymers for Industrial Applications. Polymers have been a component of detergent/cleaner formulations for many years, where their purpose is to improve product performance. Many of these polymers, however, are petrochemical-based with worldwide consumption > 130,000 tonnes p/a. Concerns regarding depletion of fossil resources, disposal and related issues, as well as evolving government policies, are driving the search for alternatives, and there is now an urgent need to develop bio-based and biodegradable alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers. Polysaccharides are of considerable potential as they are usually derived from sustainable plant sources and are associated with low toxicity and excellent biodegradability. We are working in collaboration with Procter & Gamble to develop new polysaccharide biopolymers derived from sustainable feedstocks that create novel functionalities including polymers that entrap hydrophobic guests within their 3D structures (potential for dye transfer inhibition, hydrophobic soil suspension) and as flexible amphiphilic polymers (beneficial for anti-redeposition). 

The fouling of surfaces by marine organisms presents a substantial problem, leading to reduced vessel performance and increased costs. Traditional solutions have involved antifouling coatings which leach biocides (often based upon tin or copper) but because of the adverse impact caused by the release of toxic compounds into the environment these coatings are either banned or under increasing regulatory scrutiny. Working with Akzo Nobel and Solvay, we have developed zwitterionic foul-release polymer coatings which display potential in marine antifouling applications.

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching


Stage 2 Organic chemistry (NES2402): Module leader and lecturer (22 lectures).


Stage 3 Organic chemistry (NES3402): Lecturer (11 lectures).


Stage 3 Analytical Chemistry (NES3410): Module leader


I also contribute to final year MChem research project supervision and MSc project supervision.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Jongprasitkul H, Turunen S, Fulton DA, Kellomaki M, Parihar VS. . Bioprinting 2025, 50, e00432.
    • Leung CCH, Dura G, Waller H, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2024, 141(3), e55459.
    • D'Avino M, Chilton R, Si G, Sivik MR, Fulton DA. . Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 2024, 63(49), 21158–21167.
    • D'Avino M, Chilton R, Si G, Sivik MR, Fulton DA. . Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 2023, 62(51), 21909-21917.
    • Upson SJ, Benning MJ, Fulton DA, Corbett IP, Dalgarno KW, German MJ. . Bioengineering 2023, 10(1), 78.
    • Banks AM, Whitfield CJ, Brown SR, Fulton DA, Goodchild SA, Grant C, Love J, Lendrem D, Fieldsend JE, Howard TP. . Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 2022, 20, 218-229.
    • Dura G, Crespo-Cuadrado M, Waller H, Peters DT, Ferreira-Duarte A, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . Macromolecular Bioscience 2022, 22(9), 2200134.
    • D'Avino M, Chilton R, Gang S, Sivik MR, Fulton DA. . Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 2022, 61(38), 14159-14172.
    • Solovyova AS, Peters DT, Dura G, Waller H, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . European Biophysics Journal 2021, 50, 597-611.
    • Dura G, Crespo-Cuadrado M, Waller H, Peters DT, Ferreira AM, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . Biomaterials Science 2021, 9(7), 2542-2552.
    • Feng Z, Esteban PO, Gupta G, Fulton DA, Mamlouk M. . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2021, 46(75), 37137-37151.
    • Higgs PL, Appleton JL, Turnbull WB, Fulton DA. . Chemistry - A European Journal 2021, 27(70), 17647-17654.
    • Ruiz-Sanchez AJ, Guerin AJ, El-Zubir O, Dura G, Ventura C, Dixon LI, Houlton A, Horrocks BR, Jakubovics NS, Guarda P-A, Simeone G, Clare AS, Fulton DA. . Progress in Organic Coatings 2020, 140, 105524.
    • Whitfield CJ, Banks AM, Dura G, Love J, Fieldsend JE, Goodchild SA, Fulton DA, Howard TP. . Chemical Communications 2020, 56(52), 7108-7111.
    • Dura G, Peters DT, Waller H, Yemm AI, Perkins ND, Ferreira AM, Crespo-Cuadrado M, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . Chem 2020, 6(11), 3132-3151.
    • Bracchi ME, Dura G, Fulton DA. . Polymer Chemistry 2019, 10(10), 1258-1267.
    • Higgs PL, Ruiz-Sanchez AJ, Dalmina M, Horrocks BR, Leach AG, Fulton DA. . Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2019, 17(12), 3218-3224.
    • Dura G, Waller H, Gentile P, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. . Materials Science and Engineering C 2018, 93, 88-95.
    • Ulusu Y, Dura G, Waller H, Benning MJ, Fulton DA, Lakey JH, Peters DH. . Biomedical Materials 2017, 12(5), 051001.
    • Ruiz-Sanchez AJ, Higgs PL, Peters DT, Turley AT, Dobson MA, North AJ, Fulton DA. . ACS Macro Letters 2017, 6(9), 903-907.
    • Borah D, Cummins C, Rasappa S, Watson SMD, Pike AR, Horrocks BR, Fulton DA, Houlton A, Liontos G, Ntetsikas K, Avgeropoulos A, Morris MA. . Nanotechnology 2017, 28(4).
    • Mahon CS, McGurk CJ, Watson SMD, Fascione MA, Sakonsinsiri C, Turnbull WB, Fulton DA. . Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2017, 56(42), 12913-12918.
    • Ventura C, Guerin AJ, El-Zubir O, Ruiz-Sanchez AJ, Dixon LI, Reynolds KJ, Dale ML, Ferguson J, Houlton A, Horrocks BR, Clare AS, Fulton DF. . Biofouling 2017, 33(10), 892-903.
    • Upson SJ, Partridge SW, Tcacencu I, Fulton DA, Corbett I, German MJ, Dalgarno KW. . Materials Science and Engineering C 2016, 69, 470-477.
    • Mahon CS, Fascione MA, Sakonsinsiri CS, McAllister TE, Turnbull WB, Fulton DA. . Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 2015, 13(9), 2756-2761.
    • Bracchi ME, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2015, 51(55), 11052-11055.
    • Sanchez-Sanchez A, Fulton DA, Pomposo JA. . Chemical Communications 2014, 50(15), 1871-1874.
    • Harun NA, Horrocks BR, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2014, 50(82), 12389-12391.
    • Whitaker DE, Mahon CS, Fulton DA. . Angewandte Chemie: International Edition 2013, 52(3), 956-959.
    • Mahon CS, Fulton DA. . Chemical Science 2013, 4, 3661-3666.
    • Mahon CS, Jackson AW, Murray BS, Fulton DA. . Polymer Chemistry 2013, 4, 368–377.
    • Harun NA, Benning MJ, Horrocks BR, Fulton DA. . Nanoscale 2013, 5(9), 3817-3827.
    • Omedes Pujol M, Coleman DJL, Allen CD, Heidenreich O, Fulton DA. . Journal of Controlled Release 2013, 172(3), 939-945.
    • Jackson AW, Fulton DA. . Macromolecules 2012, 45(6), 2699-2708.
    • Jackson AW, Stakes C, Fulton DA. . Polymer Chemistry 2011, 2(11), 2500-2511.
    • Mahon CS, Jackson AW, Murray BS, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2011, 47(25), 7209-7211.
    • Jackson AW, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2011, 47(24), 6807-6809.
    • Murray BS, Fulton DA. . Macromolecules 2011, 44(18), 7242-7252.
    • Harun NA, Horrocks BR, Fulton DA. . Nanoscale 2011, 3(11), 4733-4741.
    • Jackson AW, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2010, 46(33), 6051-6053.
    • Murray BS, Jackson AW, Mahon CS, Fulton DA. . Chemical Communications 2010, 46, 8651-8653.
    • Jackson AW, Fulton DA. . Macromolecules 2010, 43(2), 1069-1075.
    • Fulton DA. . Organic Letters 2008, 10(15), 3291-3294.

  • Note

    • Fulton DA. . Nature Chemistry 2016, 8(10), 899-900.

  • Reviews

    • D'Avino M, Coelho CTP, Si G, Sivik MR, Fulton DA. . Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2025, 142(22), e56968.
    • Fulton DA, Dura G, Peters DT. . Biomaterials Science 2023, 22(11), 7229-7246.
    • Mahon CS, Fulton DA. . Nature Chemistry 2014, 6(8), 665-672.
    • Jackson AW, Fulton DA. . Polymer Chemistry 2013, 4(1), 31-45.