Stellenbosch University

Lubertus Klumperman

Marina Rautenbach

Nonjabulo Prudence Gule

Thomas Eugene Cloete

Pieter Swart

Osama Esmail Bshena

Amanda Jane Dodd

William Cloete

Gestél Christine Kuyler

Klaus Robert Koch

Paul William Reader

Eugene Marlin Lakay

Terpolymers comprising optionally at least partially substituted styrene repeat units, N-alkylmaleimide repeat units and repeat units selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride repeat units, maleic acid repeat units or maleic anhydride derivative repeat units and having a narrow molecular weight distribution are provided. The terpolymers may be used to solubilize lipid bilayers to form lipid nanodiscs and isolate membrane proteins.

Terpolymers for lipid nanodisc formation

A solution including an antimicrobial polymer in a polar solvent and a method of producing the solution. The polymer has the structure of Formula (I). The antimicrobial solution may be coated onto a substrate and cured to provide an antimicrobial substrate in which the polymer is covalently bonded to the substrate so that it cannot leach from the substrate. 

Antimicrobial solution

A peptide-polymer conjugate is provided for use in treating malaria infections, and in particular terminal or drug resistant malaria infections. The conjugate is formed from a polymer to which a peptide having activity against a malaria parasite is co-valently attached. The peptide is a cyclic decapeptide from the closely-related group of tyrocidines, tryptocidines, phenycidines and gramicidin S, and the polymer is a hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer with a terminal thiol, such as poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The polymer chains can be decorated with a hydrophilic targeting ligand that specifically targets an epitope on red blood cells, and in particular red blood cells infected with a plasmodial parasite. A method for synthesising the peptide-polymer conjugate is also provided.

Conjugate for treating malaria

The invention provides protein-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles comprising magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to which a lactose-binding protein or enzyme has been immobilized. The protein-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles are particularly suitable for separating lactose from a lactose-containing solution, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, flavored milk or the like. The protein-functionalized MNPs can be added to the lactose-containing solution and be allowed to bind to the lactose in the solution. The MNPs, to which the lactose is bound, can then be magnetically removed from the solution, e.g. by applying an external magnetic field.

Method of removing lactose from a solution

A polymeric compound is provided having the general formula (A) wherein R is an alkyl chain preferably having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the chain which may be either saturated or unsaturated and may have substituents attached to the chain, and R' and R&#x2033;, which may be the same or different from each other and preferably have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in a chain, are selected from alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted, or R&#x2032; and R&#x2033; are linked to form a saturated or unsaturated cyclic moiety incorporating the adjacent nitrogen atom, with or without additional heteroatoms in the ring. The polymeric compound is preferably in a particulate form and most particularly in the form of nanoparticles. A method of producing the polymers is disclosed. A method of adsorbing, separating and stripping the polymers is also disclosed. 

Modified poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) and uses thereof

A polymer compound (I) with bacteria-adhesion inhibition properties against bacteria such asXen 5,Xen 14,Xen 26,Xen 36 andXen 39 is described. The group R is provided by a substituted furanone linked by an alkyl chain or, more preferably a hydrophilic moiety such as oligo(ethylene oxide) ((CH&#x2014;CH&#x2014;O)) to the polymer backbone. The group R may be the same or different along the polymer backbone. The invention also provides nanofibers and coatings which include a polymer compound as defined above. 

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Leiderdorp, Netherlands

Lubertus Klumperman