Cassandra Fraser
Professor of Chemistry
Education
- N.I.H. Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology, 1993-1995
- Ph.D., The University of Chicago, 1993
- M.T.S., Harvard Divinity School, 1988
- B.A., Kalamazoo College, 1984
Research Interests
Biomaterials
Metallopolymers
Luminescence
Imaging
Sensing
Our research program is concerned with the synthesis, properties and applications of metal complexes with polymeric ligands. Along with fundamental studies in polymer synthesis and properties, we are also exploring uses for these materials in medicine, biotechnology, and photonics. Of particular interest are biocompatible and degradable polymers for drug delivery and other biomedical materials, optical imaging and oxygen sensing, and sustainable design.
 |
*HeLa cell image from a collaborative project with Prof. Sarah Hamm-Alvarez, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California.
**Muscle fiber and venule images from a collaborative project with Prof. Richard J. Price, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia. |
Publications (click)
Representative Publications:
Boron
"Multi-Emissive Difluoroboron Dibenzoylmethane Polylactide Exhibiting Intense Fluorescence and Oxygen Sensitive Room Temperature Phosphorescence" Zhang, G.; Chen, J.; Payne, S. J.; Kooi, S. E.; Demas, J. N.; Fraser, C. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 8942-3.
"Emission Color Tuning with Polymer Molecular Weight for Boron Dibenzoylmethane-Polylactide" Zhang, G.; Kooi, S. E.; Demas, J. N.; Fraser, C. L. Adv. Mater. 2008, 20, 2099-104.
"Boron Polylactide Nanoparticles Exhibiting Fluorescence and Phosphorescence in Aqueous Medium" Pfister, A.; Zhang, G.; Zareno, J.; Horwitz, A. F.; Fraser, C. L. ACS Nano 2008, 2, 1252-8.
Iron
“Synthesis and Unexpected Reactivity of Iron Tris(bipyridine) Complexes with Poly(ethylene glycol) Macroligands” Pfister, A.; Fraser, C. L. Biomacromolecules 2006 , 7, 459-68.
“Iron Tris(dibenzoylmethane)-centered Polylactide Stars: Multiple Roles for the Metal Complex in Lactide Ring Opening Polymerization” Gorczynski, J. L.; Chen, J.; Fraser, C. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 14956-7.
“Iron Tris(bipyridine)-Centered Star Block Copolymers: Chelation of Triblock Macroligands Generated by ROP and ATRP” Johnson, R. M.; Fraser, C. L. Macromolecules 2004, 37, 2718-27.
“Iron Cluster and Microstructure Formation in Metal-Centered Star Block Copolymers: Metal-Centered Iron Tris(bipyridine)-Centered Polyoxazolines” Park, C.; McAlvin, J. E.; Fraser, C. L.; Thomas, E. L. Chem. Mater. 2002, 14, 1225-30.
“Biocompatible Polyester Macroligands: New Subunits for the Assembly of Star-Shaped Polymers with Luminescent and Cleavable Metal Cores” Corbin, P. S.; Webb, M. P.; McAlvin, J. E.; Fraser, C. L. Biomacromolecules 2001, 2, 223-32.
Ruthenium
“Ruthenium Tris(bipyridine) Complexes with Sulfur Substituents: Model Studies for PEG Coupling” Fiore, G. L.; Goguen, B. N.; Klinkenberg, J. L.; Payne, S. J.; Demas, J. N.; Fraser, C. L. Inorg. Chem. 2008, ASAP.
“Ruthenium Tris(bipyridine)-centered PEI for Gene Delivery” Fiore, G. L.; Edwards, J. M.; Klinkenberg, J. L.; Payne, S. J.; Demas, J. N.; Gioeli, D. G.; Fraser, C. L. Biomacromolecules 2007, 8, 2829-35.
“Metalloinitiation Routes to Biocompatible Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(acrylic acid) Stars with Luminescent Ruthenium Tris(bipyridine) Cores” Johnson, R. M.; Fraser, C. L. Biomacromolecules 2004, 5, 580-8.
“Metal Template-Assisted Block Copolymer Synthesis: Use of Solvent Polarity to Control Chain Conformation and Reactivity at the Metal Core” Fraser, C. L.; Smith, A. P.; Wu, X. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 9026-7.
Europium
“Site-Isolated Luminescent Europium Complexes with Polyester Macroligands: Metal-Centered Heteroarm Stars and Nanoscale Assembles with Labile Block Junctions” Bender, J. L.; Corbin, P. S.; Fraser, C. L.; Metcalf, D. H.; Richardson, F. S.; Thomas, E. L.; Urbas, A. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 8526-7.
“Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Macroligands with Beta-diketonate Binding Sites: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry” Bender, J. L.; Shen, Q.-D.; Fraser, C. L. Tetrahedron 2004, 60, 7277-85. Invited paper. Issue honoring Robert H. Grubbs.
Review
“Metal Complexes with Polymeric Ligands: Chelation and Metalloinitiation Approaches to Metal Tris(bipyridine)-Containing Materials” Fraser, C. L.; Smith, A. P. J. Polym. Sci. Part A Polym. Chem. 2000, 38, 4704-16.
- Back to top -
Professional Employment History (click)
-
2006-7: Radcliffe Fellow, Harvard University.
Participated in the interdisciplinary intellectual community of ~50 Fellows at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
-
2006-7: Visiting Scientist, Materials Science and Chemistry Departments, MIT.
Affiliated with the laboratories of Prof. Edwin L. Thomas (MatSci) and Prof. Daniel G. Nocera (Chem). Conducted collaborative experiments involving polymeric metal complexes with members of their research groups and with Dr. Steven E. Kooi at the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies. Established new collaborations with Prof. George Whitesides, Harvard Chemistry, and Prof. Darrell Irvine, MIT Materials Science and Bioengineering.
-
2005: Professor, UVA Chemistry Department
Interdisciplinary research spanning polymer, inorganic, organic, and biological chemistries to make metal complexes with macroligands. Bio-inspired design; nanoscale assemblies; biomaterials for use in medical contexts, sustainable design. Extensive networking and collaboration with scientists, engineers, MDs, and companies.
-
2001-05: Associate Professor, UVA Chemistry Department. As above.
-
1995-01: Assistant Professor, UVA Chemistry Department.
As above, including asymmetric catalyst design for polymer and small molecule synthesis.
-
1993-95: Postdoctoral Research, California Institute of Technology, Chemistry Department.
Advisor: Prof. Robert H. Grubbs (2005 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry). Synthesis of carbohydrate and peptide polymers of controlled molecular weight using ring opening metathesis polymerization; degradable polymers and telechelic polymer synthesis; metal template-assisted ring closing metathesis
-
1988-93: Doctoral Research, The University of Chicago, Chemistry Department.
Advisor: Prof. Brice Bosnich. Preparation and characterization of a new class of bimetallic complexes directed toward the development of asymmetric oxidation catalysts that utilize O2 as the oxygen atom source for olefin epoxidation and oxygen atom insertion into C-H bonds.
-
1986-8: Research Assistant, Harvard Cellular and Developmental Biology Department. Advisors: Prof. Raymond L. Erikson and Dr. John Blenis. Isolation and purification of S6 kinase, an enzyme that phosphorylates the ribosomal protein S6 early in the cell cycle. Attempts to identify and characterize other enzymes involved in the regulation of mammalian cell growth.
- Back to top -
Honors and Awards (click)
Research
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1998)
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (1999)
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship (1999)
- DuPont Young Faculty Grant (1999)
- 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2001)
- Radcliffe Fellow, Radcilffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University (2006-7)
Teaching & Service
- Recognized by The Phives, students at UVA, for "care, compassion, and dedication to teaching" (1998)
- University Teaching Fellow (2000-1)
- Mead Honored Faculty (2002-3)
- Recognized by the P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society for contributions to the university community (2003)
- Mead Honored Faculty (2002-3)
- Cavaliers' Distinguished Teaching Professor (2004-6)
- Recognized by the Lantern Society for women's leadership (2004)
- Named a National Associate of the National Academies (lifetime appointment for service to the nation) (2004)
- ACS Green Chemistry Institute Sabbatical Fellowship (2007)
Research Group Members (click)
Graduate Students:
- Gina Fiore
- Guoqing Zhang
- Tyler St. Clair
Undergraduate Students:
Visiting Scholars:
- Shin Han Kim, visiting graduate student, Kwangwoon University , South Korea
- Prof. Byeong Hyo Kim, visiting professor, Kwangwoon University , South Korea
|
