Jindřich Henry Kopeček
Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering
M.S. Institute of Chemical Technology, Czechoslovakia
Ph.D. Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czechoslovakia
D.Sc. Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Czechoslovakia
Jindřich Kopeček's Research Group Lab
Jindřich Kopeček's PubMed Literature Search
Research
Research in the Kopeček Research Group focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of biorecognizable biomedical polymers (home page http://www.pharmacy.utah.edu/pharmaceutics/groups/kopecek/).
Targetable polymeric anticancer drugs. Targetable water-soluble polymeric carriers are studied which contain recognition moieties, such as antibodies (or their fragments), saccharides, or oligopeptide epitopes, which presence leads to interaction with cell-surface antigens or receptors and specific uptake into the target (cancer) cells. The fate of polymer-drug conjugates on cellular and subcellular levels, as well as factors influencing biorecognition, such as chemical structure, aggregation and association of macromolecules in solution are being systematically studied. The potential of polymeric anticancer drugs to overcome multidrug resistance and the cell signaling pathways involved in modified gene expression (when compared to low molecular weight drugs) are the focus of current studies.
Novel approaches for the treatment of osteoporosis. Targeted drug delivery systems are being evaluated containing moieties to vector the conjugates toward hard tissue. Attachment of anabolic agents to the conjugates via spacers containing cathepsin K sensitive oligopeptide sequences will result in site-specific release, recruitment of osteoblasts, and bone formation.
Smart biomaterials and nanomedicines. The use of the coiled-coil and beta-sheet motifs in the design and synthesis of new biomaterials and drug delivery systems is being studied. The goal of the project is to design graft and block copolymers, whose reversible assembly into smart hydrogels will be modulated by the association of coiled-coil peptide domains. In addition, a new paradigm of apoptosis induction based on coiled-coil formation at cell surface is being studied.
References
1. Zhou Y, Yang J, Kopeček J (2012) Selective Inhibitory Effect of HPMA Copolymer – Cyclopamine Conjugate on Prostate Cancer Stem Cells. Biomaterials, 33:1863-1872
2. Wu K, Yang J, Liu J, Kopeček J (2012) Coiled-Coil Based Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics: In Vivo Efficacy. J Controlled Release, 157:126-131
3. Johnson RN, Kopečková P, Kopeček J (2012) Biological Activity of Anti-CD20 Multivalent HPMA Copolymer-Fab’ Conjugates. Biomacromolecules, 13:727-735
4. Liu J, Kopečková P, Pan H, Sima M, Bühler P, Wolf P, Elsässer-Beile U, Kopeček J (2012) Prostate Cancer Targeted N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) Copolymer-Docetaxel Conjugates. Macromol Biosci, 12:412-422
5. Yang J, Luo K, Pan H, Kopečková P, Kopeček J (2011) Synthesis of Biodegradable Multiblock Copolymers by Click Coupling of RAFT-Generated Heterotelechelic PolyHPMA Conjugates. Reactive Functional Polym, 71:294-302
6. Pan H, Yang J, Kopečková P, Kopeček J (2011) Backbone Degradable Multiblock N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide Copolymer Conjugates via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization and Thiol-ene Coupling Reaction. Biomacromolecules, 12:247-252
7. Luo K, Yang J, Kopečková P, Kopeček J (2011) Biodegradable Multiblock N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide Copolymers via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization and Click Chemistry. Macromolecules, 44:2481-2488
8. Segal E, Pan H, Benayoun L, Kopečková P, Shaked Y, Kopeček J, Satchi-Fainaro R (2011) Enhanced Antitumor Activity and Safety Profile of Targeted Nano-scaled HPMA Copolymer – Alendronate – TNP470 Conjugate in the Treatment of Bone Malignancies. Biomaterials, 32:4450-4463
9. Wu L, Yang J, Kopeček J (2011) Hybrid Hydrogels Self-Assembled from Graft Copolymers Containing Complementary b-Sheets as Hydroxyapatite Nucleation Scaffolds. Biomaterials, 32:5341-5353
10. Wu K, Liu J, Johnson RN, Yang J, Kopeček J (2010) Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics: Induction of Apoptosis by Coiled-Coil Mediated Crosslinking of Antigens on Cell Surface. Angew Chem Int Ed, 49:1451-1455
11. Kopeček J, Kopečková P (2010) HPMA Copolymers: Origins, Early Developments, Present, and Future. Adv. Drug Delivery Rev, 62:122-149
12. Liu J, Bauer H, Callahan J, Kopečková P, Pan H, Kopeček J (2010) Endocytic Uptake of a Large Array of HPMA Copolymers: Elucidation into the Dependence on the Physicochemical Characteristics. J Controlled Release, 143:71-79
13. Kopeček J (2009) Hydrogels. From Soft Contact Lenses and Implants to Self-Assembled Nanomaterials. J Polym Sci: Part A: Polym Chem, 47:5929-5946
Updated 4/9/2012
