Börje Sellergren
Professor, directly appointed

Presentation

Professor Sellergrens research expertise span over supramolecular chemistry, molecular recognition and separation science. Based on rational chemical design, molecular self-assembly and imprinting, abiotic receptors are designed and used in affinity techniques for molecular biomarker analysis and discovery, pathogen inhibition and sensing, cell imaging, extracellular matrix imitations and therapeutics. Both “lock-and-key” and multivalent recognition concepts are being pursued. In the former case, molecular imprinting is used to produce robust receptors (MIPs), often exhibiting antibody-like recognition behaviour with nanomolar or higher affinities for biomolecular targets. Larger objects such as viruses or cells are instead targeted using dynamic multivalent receptors in the form of reversible self-assembled monolayers (rSAMs). This membrane mimetic plug and play approach is used to design dynamic virus or bacterial receptors featuring exceptionally high affinities that are currently explored as inhibitors, cell modulators or sensors. Sellergren has published over 190 scientific publications and 15 patents (H-index: 62) in the field of molecular imprinting and biomimetic chemistry with notable contributions reporting robust lipid bilayer mimetics, protein and peptide imprinting, PTM affinity engineering, combinatorial imprinting and host design. As current and previous coordinator of several EU Research Training Networks and as company founder, he has extensive experience in international training of researchers as well as in project management and business development.