Carmen Scholz, Ph.D

Professor, Chemistry Fellow of ACS POLY Division

Contact

301 Sparkman Drive
Materials Science Building
Room 221
Huntsville, AL 35899
Campus Map

256.824.6188
carmen.scholz@uah.edu

Biography

Research in Dr. Scholz’ group concentrates on the synthesis of polymers for potential applications in the biomedical realm.  Our research centers on poly(amino acid)s as they

  • consist of naturally occurring amino acids
  • can be synthesized by a living polymerization with a strict control over their molecular and without the use of any metal catalysts
  • lend themselves to block copolymerization
  • are comparatively stable in a biological environment yet susceptible to protease-catalyzed degradation

Current research focuses on the synthesis of PEGylated poly(amino acid)s, which serve as delivery vehicles for superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles to be used in Magnetic Particle Imaging.  Most recent activities focus on the synthesis of triblock copolymers with a middle block that is cross-linkable.  Self-assembly of these triblock copolymers followed by crosslinking of the middle block yields onion-like delivery vehicles with an exceptional stability. 

Poly(amino acid)s are very versatile and contribute a wealth of functionality, which can be exploited in various biomedical applications.  We have studied poly(amino acid)-based block copolymers as gene delivery vehicles, as polyelectrolytes for the use in gels and for the surface modification of (electrically active) implants.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany, 1991
  • M.S., Polymer Chemistry, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany, 1987

Honors & Awards

  • 2021 POLY Fellows Award
  • 2014 College of Science Service Award
  • 2000 Student-Government Association Outstanding Faculty Award
  • 1994 Fellowship of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Research on Cardiovascular Diseases
  • 1994 Humboldt Foundation Alumni
  • 1992 Feodor-Lynen Fellowship of the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation, Germany
  • 1991 graduated Dr. rer.nat. (Ph.D.) magna cum laude
  • 1987 graduated Dipl.-chem. (M.S.) cum laude

Expertise

  • Polymers

Recent Publications

  • Johnson, L.C., Johnson, L.E., Singh, N., Scholz, C. “Impact of Molecular weight on the Infrared Absorption Behavior of Poly(g-benzyl-L-glutamate) at Low Degrees of Polymerization”  ChemistrySelect 2025, 10, e03371  http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/slct.202503371

  • Kabil, M.F., Akinmola, A.T., Pan, A., Anik, M.I., Mills, R., Scholz, C., Walsh, E.G., Bothun, G.D. ”Multicore SPION Clustering within Poly(amino acid) Corrals for Enhanced MRI Contrast and Drug Release” Small, 2025  e09099  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202509099

  • Hession, B.J., Botcha, N.K., Mukherjee, A., Scholz, C. “Investigation of the effect of chelating nitrogenous bases on click reactions on poly(methyl acrylate-co-5-azido-1-pentene)” Polymer International, 2023, 72, 957-966 10.1002/pi.6524 

  • Johnson, L.C., Akinmola, A.T., Scholz, C. “Poly(glutamic acid): from natto to drug delivery systems” Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 2022, 40, 102292, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2022.102292

  • Thompson, M., Scholz, C. “Highly Branched Polymers Based on Poly(amino acid)s for Biomedical Applications” Nanomaterials, 2021, 11, 1119, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051119

  • Sanchez Santiago, J., Cerro, R., Scholz, C. “A Robust Affinity Chromatography System Based on Ceramic Monoliths Coated with Poly(amino acid)-based Polymeric Constructs” Polymer International, 2021, 70(1), 41-50 https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.6142

  • Vert, M., Chen, J., Hellwich, K.-H., Hodge, P., Nakano, T., Scholz, C., Slomkowski, S., Vohlidal, J. “Nomenclature and terminology for linear lactic acid-based polymers (IUPAC Recommendation 2019)  Pure Appl. Chem. 2020,  92 (1), 193-211, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2017-1007

  • Slomkowski, S., Fellows, C.M., Hiorns, R.C., Jones, R.G., Kubisa, P., Luscombe, C.K., Nakano, T., Russel, G.T., dos Santos, C.G., Scholz, C., Stingelin, N., Walter, M.  “List of keywords for polymer science”  Pure Appl. Chem. 2019,  91 (6), 997-1027, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2018-0917

  • Nkrumah-Agyeefi, S., Pella, B.J., Singh, N., Mukherjee, A., Scholz, C.  “Modification of polyhydroxyalkanoates: evaluation of the effectiveness of novel copper (II) catalysts in click chemistry”  Internat. J. Biolog. Macromolec. 2019, 128, 376-384, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.100

  • Ulkoski, D., Scholz, C. “Impact of Cationic Charge Density and PEGylated Poly(amino acid) Tercopolymer Architecture on their use as Gene Delivery Vehicles.  Part 2: DNA protection, Stability, Cytotoxicity, and Transfection Efficiency." Macromolecular Bioscience, 2018, 18,  1800109       https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201800108