Matthew Gibson

Polymer-tethered glycosylated gold nanoparticles as versatile tools for bio-sensing Glycans direct many biological recognition and signalling processes, spanning basic cell biology to diagnostics and therapy. Multivalent presentation of glycans is well established to increase avidity...

Our latest work is online @chemcomm.rsc.org @uommib.bsky.social . This feature article covers progress we (+ others) in polymer-tethered glycosylated nanoparticles as tools for glycoscience. This spans synthetic rationale and opportunities for deployment.
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

We've got ISSUES. Literally.

We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?

arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563

A 🧵 1/n

Cryopreservation of Avian Erythrocytes Using Macromolecular Cryoprotectants Erythrocyte (red blood cell) cryopreservation is an essential biotechnology for healthcare (transfusions), diagnostics, conservation, and fundamental research. Mature mammalian erythrocytes are anucleate, do not divide, and cannot undertake protein biosynthesis. In contrast, avian erythrocytes have a distinct evolutionary pathway, retaining their nucleus, and are capable of other limited functions, such as protein biosynthesis, but have a shorter shelf life than mammalian erythrocytes. Here, we report the successful cryopreservation of avian red blood cells using a polyampholyte (macromolecular cryoprotectant), which can reduce intracellular ice formation. Under optimized conditions with 10% DMSO and 60 mg·mL–1 of polyampholyte, ∼90% recovery could be achieved, outperforming a conventional glycerol-based formulation, especially when longer-term storage (up to 6 months) was tested. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the cells’ morphology was retained. Confocal fluorescence microscopy showed reduced apoptosis compared to glycerol cryopreservation and confirmed increased recovery of actin (cytoskeleton) polymerization post-thaw. Overall, these results show the potential of macromolecular cryoprotectants to be deployed in nonhuman cryobiology for animal health and potentially species conservation.

Our latest work, showing cryopreservation of Avian red blood cells using our macromolecular cryoprotectants is out now!

pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

🎉 Read our latest RSC Applied Polymers blog in which @labgibson.bsky.social and Natalia Gonzalez-Martinez discuss their article ‘Cryopreservation and post-thaw differentiation of monocytes enabled by macromolecular cryoprotectants which restrict intracellular ice formation‘
blogs.rsc.org/lp/202...

Jobs | Job Search | Job Vacancies on jobs.ac.uk Start your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top...

Would you like to be our Head of Department? A unique opportunity to guide some important developments (see e.g., news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/11/18/u...). Advert now live on jobs.ac.uk.

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ019/p...

Blood on demand: New freezing method slashes thaw time for emergency blood transfusions A transformative new method for freezing human red blood cells has been developed by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Leeds.

A new cryopreservation method using polyampholytes, DMSO, and trehalose significantly reduces thaw time for red blood cells, supporting faster emergency transfusions and improved blood storage. doi.org/g92knc

Scientists develop groundbreaking ‘blood on demand’ technology to revolutionise emergency transfusions Rapid washout: Cocktail-treated RBCs can be washed and prepared for transfusion in just 25 minutes – compared to over 75 minutes for glycerol.Higher recovery rates: The new method results in an averag...

and press release here.
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/s...

Towards blood on demand: Rapid post-thaw isolation of red blood cells from multicomponent cryoprotectants Severe blood loss due to trauma, anaemia, or chemotherapy necessitates immediate red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. The short shelf-life of RBCs at 4 …

Our work showing how our macromolecular cryoprotectants unlock "blood on demand' is now published! @uommib.bsky.social From the freezer to fully washed in just 25 minutes, compared to 75 mins using glycerol. Partnership with Tom Whale, Fraser Macrae and more.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti....

I have so many questions. Why so lilac? Why video shot in the style of Duran Duran’s Wild Boys? Beyond what? But somehow the one that’s bothering me most is why no definite article before “University of Warwick”?

Was a fun meeting and nice to catch up with so many colleagues and collaborators.

Label‐Free and Microplate‐Based Dissection of Glycan‐Virus Interactions Using Polymer‐Tethered Glyconanoparticles This work demonstrates the use of polymer-tethered glycosylated gold nanoparticles for the label-free evaluation of influenza virus binding in a simple microplate. Sialylated linear and branched glyc...

Our latest work is out. Glyconanoparticles with complex branched glycans to interrogate influenza binding, with no labels in a microplate. Nice academic/industry collaboration @uommib.bsky.social with Iceni and AZ, and Rob Field. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Our team's dedicated microscopy platform for (live) cell imaging is set up @uommib.bsky.social : spinning disk confocal + high-content microscopes, + flow cytometer. This will accelerate our biomaterials discovery for cryo/glyco sciences. Credit to @akalabyabissoyi.bsky.social for hard work!

Today I’ll be visiting my Alma Mater, Durham Chemistry, as part of my Corday-Morgan lecture series. I’ll present our latest advances in (macro)molecules for cryobiology.

Registration is now open for the Annual MacroGroupUK Symposia and Medal Award Lectures, hosted @uommib.bsky.social 8/9th September. Fabulous line up of speakers. Thanks to sponsors, we have poster prizes and low registration including all refreshments .
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2025-macro...

This will let us explore the benefits of PVAylation, which is not only ice-binding, water soluble, low toxicity, but is also degradable in the environment

This has been a challenge for us, due to lability of the RAFT end-group after deprotection giving us low conversion. Using a photo-reduction, we can cap the reactive end group and install bio-conjugation functionality at the other end.

PVAylation: precision end-functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) for site-selective bioconjugation The (bio)conjugation of polymers onto proteins enhances their pharmacokinetics and stability, most commonly using PEG (polyethylene glycol), but there is a need for alternatives. Poly(vinyl alcohol), ...

Our latest from Doug is out @chemicalscience.rsc.org @uommib.bsky.social . We introduce #PVAylation: site specific bioconjugation of PVA to proteins, bringing unique ice-binding capability as well as other benefits of polymer-conjugation. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen

We have 3 talks #ACSSpring2025 from the team. Glycodiagnostics, covalent glycocalyx-targeting gene delivery and new poly(oxazoline) materials.

We have another #postdoc vacancy @uommib.bsky.social . Join us to explore new applications of glycan-nanodiagnostics, with our partners Iceni Glycoscience and Field Lab. #glycotime We have world-class facilities in great environment. Pls RT.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Early morning start, to head over the Pennines to visit Sheffield, hosted by Steve Armes . I’ll be talking Chemical Cryobiology, focussing on new, and unpublished, polymeric protein stabilisation tools. Talk is at 12 noon in chemistry dept.

Our new HPLC from Agilent to go along with our Glyconeer is set up and ready at @uommib.bsky.social . This platform for automated polysaccharide synthesis will transform our capabilities for biomaterial discovery. Science soon!

**SAVE THE DATE** @MacroGroup_UK Annual Meeting and Medals Symposium 8/9th September at Manchester. We look forward to welcoming the polymer community. Details coming soon.

First step of our Glyconeer installation from @glycouniverse.bsky.social complete! Automated synthesis of polysaccharide materials will be coming soon (ish). @uommib.bsky.social

We have a #postdoc researcher vacancy @UoMChemistry @UoMMIB . Join us to use our new automated glycan assembly (Glyconeer) platform to discover next generation sustainable polysaccharide materials in world-class labs and environment. #glycotime Pls RT.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Senior Research Associate in Inorganic and Biophysical Chemistry at Lancaster University An academic position as a Senior Research Associate in Inorganic and Biophysical Chemistry is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore additional academic job opportu...

Job alert!

3-year PDRA position to work on synthesis of ruthenium complexes as probes for i-motif DNA - please share with anyone looking for positions!

Happy to answer any questions 😃

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLN413/s...

We have a #postdoc researcher vacancy @UoMChemistry @UoMMIB . Join us to use our new automated glycan assembly (Glyconeer) platform to discover next generation sustainable polysaccharide materials in world-class labs and environment. #glycotime Pls RT.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

University of Manchester and Bupa combine to affect change on environmental impact of healthcare sector The University of Manchester and Bupa have announced an innovative new collaboration to develop new methods and strategies to drastically reduce the healthcare sector’s environmental impact upon our p...

@labgibson.bsky.social is part of a new Prosperity Partnership – led by Prof Mike Shaver – to address plastic waste in healthcare. This partnership between @official-uom.bsky.social and @bupauk.bsky.social will drive meaningful change for the sector.

www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/u...

The University of Manchester partners in £8.2 million initiative to accelerate diagnostic innovation The project, led by the University of Kent, and including The University of Manchester, and University College London (UCL), will address the development gap in the diagnostics innovation ecosystem.Ac...

Prof Alan Dickson will co-lead a new £8.2m project with the University of Kent and UCL that will bridge the gap in diagnostics development.

CADDA will bring together academics, industry, the NHS and regulators to help bring new products to market.

www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/t...

Today we took delivery of a Benchtop NMR for our labs. This will accelerate our work in discovering new materials for biologic storage, rapid diagnostics and sustainable biotechnologies. thanks @nwarren.bsky.social for advice on this. Especially excited for aqueous DOSY!