Professor Michael Monteiro
Professor

Michael Monteiro

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64164

Background

Professor Michael Monteiro has established an international reputation in the field of 'living' radical polymerization to create complex polymer architectures. He is now building designer polymers for various biomedical applications, including vaccines, drug delivery and stem cells. He is dedicated to translating research into commercial outcomes, with 7 PCT and provisional patents since 2005 and start-up company DendriMed Pty Ltd. He was awarded an ARC QEII Fellowship in 2004 and an ARC Future Fellowship in 2009. He has attracted ARC and NHMRC grants; and Queensland State Government funding in excess of $7 million.

International links

Professor Monteiro has built a strong collaboration with Professor Virgil Percec from the University of Pennsylvania to develop and understand the new SET-LRP. He has developed a collaboration with Professor Rachel O'Reilly from the University of Warwick to develop nanoreactors that mimic enzyme activity. In collaboration with Professor Eugenia Kumacheva from the University of Toronto, they developed temperature responsive micron-sized particles from encapsulation of cells.

Availability

Professor Michael Monteiro is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Chemical Sciences Engineering Macromolecular and materials chemistry Materials engineering Polymerisation mechanisms Polymers and plastics

Research impacts

Research

Designer polymers: Synthesis of complex polymer architectures.

Professor Monteiro's research aims to develop methods of synthesising complex polymer architectures in water, with controlled particle size, molecular weight and morphology. By understanding the structure-property relations of these novel nanomaterials, targeted properties can be manufactured for vaccine and drug delivery. Easily recycled polymers that could be used in a variety of products have been synthesised.

Memberships, funding and patents

  • Editorial Advisory Boards: Biomacromolecules (ACS Journal) (2013- ), Macromolecules (ACS Journal) (2008-2010), Journal of Polymer Science Part A Polymer Chemistry (2009-)
  • ARC Funding: DP120100973 Prof MJ Monteiro; Dr TP Munro, On-demand scaffolds for directed stem cell differentiation
  • Selected Patents: (i) Release Media Prov. AU2012902396, (ii) Polymeric dendrimers for siRNA delivery Prov. AU2012903138

Awards and plenaries

2013 UNESCO, Stellenbosch, SA Plenary 2013 ACS, New Orleans., USA – Invited lecture 2013 IPCG, Shanghi, China, Invited and Co-chair 2012 Australian Polymer Symposium, Hobart, Keynote 2012 IUAPC POC14, Qatar, Keynote 2011 Australian Leadership Award (ADC)

Search Professor Michael Monteiro’s works on UQ eSpace

321 works between 1994 and 2025
All (321) Journal Article (254) Book Chapter (7) Conference Publication (45) Book (1) Other Outputs (14)

181 - 200 of 321 works

2011

Conference Publication

RAFT-mediated microemulsion-like polymerization of styrene

Monteiro, Michael J . (2011). RAFT-mediated microemulsion-like polymerization of styrene. National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (242nd, ACS, 2011), Denver, CO, U.S.A., 28 August-1 September 2011. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.

RAFT-mediated microemulsion-like polymerization of styrene

2011

Journal Article

Nanoparticle-induced unfolding of fibrinogen promotes Mac-1 receptor activation and inflammation

Deng, Zhou J., Liang, Mingtao, Monteiro, Michael, Toth, Istvan and Minchin, Rodney F. (2011). Nanoparticle-induced unfolding of fibrinogen promotes Mac-1 receptor activation and inflammation. Nature Nanotechnology, 6 (1), 39-44. doi: 10.1038/NNANO.2010.250

Nanoparticle-induced unfolding of fibrinogen promotes Mac-1 receptor activation and inflammation

2011

Journal Article

Directing the pathway of orthogonal 'click' reactions by modulating copper-catalytic activity

Jia, Zhongfan, Bell, Craig A. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2011). Directing the pathway of orthogonal 'click' reactions by modulating copper-catalytic activity. Chemical Communications, 47 (14), 4165-4167. doi: 10.1039/c0cc05478j

Directing the pathway of orthogonal 'click' reactions by modulating copper-catalytic activity

2010

Journal Article

Nanoreactors to synthesize well-defined polymer nanoparticles: Decoupling particle size from molecular weight

Sebakhy, KO, Kessel, S and Monteiro, MJ (2010). Nanoreactors to synthesize well-defined polymer nanoparticles: Decoupling particle size from molecular weight. Macromolecules, 43 (23), 9598-9600. doi: 10.1021/ma1019889

Nanoreactors to synthesize well-defined polymer nanoparticles: Decoupling particle size from molecular weight

2010

Journal Article

Various polystyrene topologies built from tailored cyclic polystyrene via CuAAC reactions

Lonsdale, DE and Monteiro, MJ (2010). Various polystyrene topologies built from tailored cyclic polystyrene via CuAAC reactions. Chemical Communications, 46 (42), 7945-7947. doi: 10.1039/c0cc02904a

Various polystyrene topologies built from tailored cyclic polystyrene via CuAAC reactions

2010

Journal Article

RAFT-mediated polymerization - A story of incompatible data?

Klumperman, Bert, van den Dungen, Eric T. A., Heuts, Johan P. A. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). RAFT-mediated polymerization - A story of incompatible data?. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 31 (21), 1846-1862. doi: 10.1002/marc.200900907

RAFT-mediated polymerization - A story of incompatible data?

2010

Journal Article

Kinetic simulations for cyclization of α,ω-telechelic polymers

Lonsdale, Daria E. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Kinetic simulations for cyclization of α,ω-telechelic polymers. Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 48 (20), 4496-4503. doi: 10.1002/pola.24240

Kinetic simulations for cyclization of α,ω-telechelic polymers

2010

Journal Article

RAFT-Mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene with low reactive xanthate agents: Microemulsion-like behavior

Pepels, Mark P. F., Holdsworth, Clovia I., Pascual, Sagrario and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). RAFT-Mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene with low reactive xanthate agents: Microemulsion-like behavior. Macromolecules, 43 (18), 7565-7576. doi: 10.1021/ma101237u

RAFT-Mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene with low reactive xanthate agents: Microemulsion-like behavior

2010

Journal Article

Kinetic Simulations of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) in Light of Chain Length Dependent Termination

Johnston-Hall, Geoffrey and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Kinetic Simulations of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) in Light of Chain Length Dependent Termination. Macromolecular Theory and Simulations, 19 (7), 387-393. doi: 10.1002/mats.201000023

Kinetic Simulations of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) in Light of Chain Length Dependent Termination

2010

Journal Article

Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: A self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system

Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Zaman, Mehfuz, Urbani, Carl N., Lin, I-Chun, Jia, Zhongfan, Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Monteiro, Michael J. and Toth, Istvan (2010). Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: A self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 49 (33), 5742-5745. doi: 10.1002/anie.201002221

Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: A self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system

2010

Journal Article

Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: a self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system

Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Zaman, Mehfuz, Urbani, Carl N., Lin, I-Chun, Jia, Zhongfan, Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Monteiro, Michael J. and Toth, Istvan (2010). Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: a self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system. Angewandte Chemie, 122 (33), 5878-5881. doi: 10.1002/ange.201002221

Polyacrylate dendrimer nanoparticles: a self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system

2010

Journal Article

Kinetic analysis of nitroxide radical coupling reactions mediated by CuBr

Kulis, Jakov, Bell, Craig A., Micallef, Aaron S. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Kinetic analysis of nitroxide radical coupling reactions mediated by CuBr. Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 48 (10), 2214-2223. doi: 10.1002/pola.23991

Kinetic analysis of nitroxide radical coupling reactions mediated by CuBr

2010

Journal Article

Strategy for rapid and high-purity monocyclic polymers by CuAAC "click" reactions

Lonsdale, DE, Bell, CA and Monteiro, MJ (2010). Strategy for rapid and high-purity monocyclic polymers by CuAAC "click" reactions. Macromolecules, 43 (7), 3331-3339. doi: 10.1021/ma902597p

Strategy for rapid and high-purity monocyclic polymers by CuAAC "click" reactions

2010

Journal Article

Methyl acrylate polymerizations in the presence of a copper/N3S3 macrobicyclic cage in DMSO at 25 °C

Bell, Craig A., Sun, Qiao, Zhang, Hong, Smith, Sean C., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Methyl acrylate polymerizations in the presence of a copper/N3S3 macrobicyclic cage in DMSO at 25 °C. Polymer Chemistry, 1 (2), 207-212. doi: 10.1039/b9py00315k

Methyl acrylate polymerizations in the presence of a copper/N3S3 macrobicyclic cage in DMSO at 25 °C

2010

Journal Article

Copper(II) complexes of a hexadentate mixed-donor N3S3 macrobicyclic cage: Facile rearrangements and interconversions

Bell, CA, Bernhardt, PV, Gahan, LR, Martinez, M, Monteiro, MJ, Rodriguez, C and Sharrad, CA (2010). Copper(II) complexes of a hexadentate mixed-donor N3S3 macrobicyclic cage: Facile rearrangements and interconversions. Chemistry: A European Journal, 16 (10), 3166-3175. doi: 10.1002/chem.200902611

Copper(II) complexes of a hexadentate mixed-donor N3S3 macrobicyclic cage: Facile rearrangements and interconversions

2010

Journal Article

Functionalization of polymer nanoparticles formed by microemulsion RAFT-mediated polymerization

Pascual, Sagrario, Urbani, Carl N. and Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Functionalization of polymer nanoparticles formed by microemulsion RAFT-mediated polymerization. Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, 4 (3-4), 257-263. doi: 10.1002/mren.200900058

Functionalization of polymer nanoparticles formed by microemulsion RAFT-mediated polymerization

2010

Journal Article

Nanoreactors for polymerizations and organic reactions

Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Nanoreactors for polymerizations and organic reactions. Macromolecules, 43 (3), 1159-1168. doi: 10.1021/ma902348r

Nanoreactors for polymerizations and organic reactions

2010

Journal Article

Cellular uptake of densely packed polymer coatings on gold nanoparticles

Liang, Mingtao, Lin, I-Chun, Whittaker, Michael R., Minchin, Rodney F., Monteiro, Michael J. and Toth, Istvan (2010). Cellular uptake of densely packed polymer coatings on gold nanoparticles. ACS Nano, 4 (1), 403-413. doi: 10.1021/nn9011237

Cellular uptake of densely packed polymer coatings on gold nanoparticles

2010

Conference Publication

Rapid, selective and reversible nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions at ambient temperature

Monteiro, Michael J. (2010). Rapid, selective and reversible nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions at ambient temperature. 239th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, United States, 21-25 March 2010. Washington, United States: American Chemical Society.

Rapid, selective and reversible nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions at ambient temperature

2010

Journal Article

Ultrafast and reversible multiblock formation by the SET-nitroxide radical coupling reaction

Kulis, J., Bell, C.A., Micallef, A.S. and Monteiro, M.J. (2010). Ultrafast and reversible multiblock formation by the SET-nitroxide radical coupling reaction. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63 (8), 1227-1236. doi: 10.1071/CH10092

Ultrafast and reversible multiblock formation by the SET-nitroxide radical coupling reaction

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Next Generation Engineered Antiviral Coatings
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2023
    Precision-built dynamic and functional polymer vesicles
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Thin film microfluidic systems facility (ARC LIEF Project administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Cellular mechanics in unusual systems
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Development of polymer coated surface with a significantly greater surface area & functionality to capture and kill microbes - Phase 2
    Boeing Defence Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Designer Dendrimer Nanodevices with Biomimetic Function
    Vice-Chancellor's Research and Teaching Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Exosome and Bio/Nanoparticle Characterisation Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Reaching new heights in high-resolution electron microscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Precision-Engineered Polymer Nanomaterials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Improving the processing of low quality iron ores by the modification of particle interactions
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    A general platform technology for functional nanocomposites with advanced applications
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    On-Demand 3-Dimensional Polymer Scaffolds for Directed Stem Cell Differentiation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters - National Centre of Excellence in Desalination
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Fabrication and Testing Facilites for Mono-Dispersed Nanoporous Spheres in Advanced Bio-applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Rapid and high-resolution nanocharacterisation of proteins, nanoparticles and polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    Transformer 3D Nanostructures: Stimuli Responsive Polymers
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Designer Nanoreactors: An Environmentally Friendly Solution for Polymer Synthesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Enabling Software and Equipment for Computational Bio- and Nano-technology
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Engineered Polymer Nanoparticles: A Potent Weapon Against Cancer
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation (ARC LIEF Administered by Univeristy of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2014
    The Toxicology of Nanomaterials
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Amphiphilic multi-arm block copolymers for solvent-polarity switchable micelles
    UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Strategic Initiatives
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Automated Microvave Reactor for Polymer Chemistry, Materials Development and Nanotechnology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Quantitative Particle and Cell Size Distribution Facility: Accelerating the Development of Advanced Materials, Water Treamtnet and Mineral Processing at UQ
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Form Fundamentals to complex Architecture in Free-Radical Polymerisation
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Next Generation Polymer Nanostructures
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Ultra high molecular weight polymers with uniform chain length
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Next Generation Nanostructures
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2008
    QEII FELLOWSHIP: Synthesis of nanocomposite polymers with targeted properties
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Michael Monteiro is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Synthesis of well-defined thermoresponsive polymer structures.

    A general strategy through the use of direct azidation of alcohols allowed the sequence control of macromers via both the iterative sequential growth and iterative exponential growth methods. The chemistry was highly efficient in building polymers from a sequence of compositionally different macromers tethered together in close proximity. Using the DPPA/DBU method for near quantitative azidation of the benzyl alcohol moiety, sequence controlled polymers were made via a direct and one-step procedure for CuAAC activation. With four different macromers, spherical miktoarm star-like polymers of 50 000 molecular weight were prepared with a low dispersity, and the polymer coil size depended on the type of added macromer. Polymers made via the iterative methods opens the way for the design of advanced materials with predictable properties.

  • Water-borne nanocoating for rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

    The rise in coronavirus variants has resulted in surges of the disease across the globe. The mutations in the spike protein on the surface of the virion membrane not only allow for greater transmission but also raise concerns about vaccine effectiveness. Preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, its variants, and other viruses from person to person via airborne or surface transmission requires effective inactivation of the virus. Here, we report a water-borne spray-on coating for the complete inactivation of viral particles and degradation of their RNA. Our nanoworms efficiently bind and, through subsequent large nanoscale conformational changes, rupture the viral membrane and subsequently bind and degrade its RNA. Our coating completely inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (VIC01) and an evolved SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (B.1.1.7 (alpha)), influenza A, and a surrogate capsid pseudovirus expressing the influenza A virus attachment glycoprotein, hemagglutinin. The functional nanoworms can be easily modified to target viruses in future pandemics, and is compatible with large scale manufacturing processes.

  • Temperature-directed morphology transformation method to produce well-defined complex multifunctional polymer particles

    Producing synthetic soft worm and rod structures with multiple chemical functionalities on the surface would provide potential utility in drug delivery, nanoreactors, tissue engineering, diagnostics, rheology modifiers, enzyme mimics, and many other applications. Here, we have synthesized multifunctional worms and rods directly in water using a one-step reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated dispersion polymerization at high weight fractions of polymer (>10 wt %). The chain-end functionalities included alkyne, pyridyl disulfide, dopamine, β-thiolactone, and biotin groups. These groups could further be converted or coupled with biomolecules or polymers. We further demonstrated a nanorod colorimetric system with good control over the attachment of fluorescent probes

  • Shape Control over the Polymer Molecular Weight Distribution and Influence on Rheological Properties

    The shape, breadth, and average molecular weight of the overall molecular weight distribution (MWD) largely define polymer properties. In conventional free-radical polymerization, control over this distribution is through the many competing kinetic pathways dominated by radical termination events. “Living” radical polymerization mechanistically minimizes these termination events, providing a facile route to a desired Gaussian distribution with the distribution breadth dependent upon the activity of the catalyst or modulating agent. However, producing unusually shaped distributions can only be achieved through modeling of the complex polymerization kinetics and invoking feeding and other methods. Here, we construct square, slanted, and chair-like MWDs by blending two to four polymers made using a low-reactive RAFT agent with dispersities close to 2. The blending method described here overcomes many of the difficulties in producing unusually shaped MWDs and allows control over the shape and breadth of the MWD. The concept further provides a general synthetic strategy for studying important structure–property relationships of polymers with desired processing and performance characteristics.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of polymeric vessicles

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Precision-built dynamic and functional polymer dendrimers

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Translational meaning of the efficacy of immunotherapies as neoadjuvants to treat Head and Neck cancers.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Wenyi Gu, Dr Merja Joensuu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Triblock copolymer nanoparticles for anti-cancer delivery

    Principal Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Michael Monteiro directly for media enquiries about:

  • Dendrimers
  • Dendrons
  • Drug delivery
  • Emulsion polymerisation
  • Immunisation - delivery of
  • Living radical ploymerisation
  • Nanostructures
  • Polymer dendrimers
  • Polymer nanoparticles
  • Polymerisation
  • Vaccine delivery

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