Polymer library synthesis
Diverse candidate polymers with systematically varied compositions, molecular weights, and functional-group combinations are synthesized automatically and in parallel.
NARA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYLaboratory of Macromolecular Systems DesignDivision of Materials ScienceRESEARCH 02
Automated Polymer Synthesis and Data-driven Design
We automate synthesis, purification, analysis, and functional evaluation at small scale to build an experimental platform for comparing diverse polymers under consistent conditions.
OVERVIEW
We connect human expertise, automated experimentation, and data science to efficiently explore complex polymer structure–function relationships.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Research focus
High-throughput evaluation
Biological activity, toxicity, and interactions with cell membranes are measured and quantified in parallel across many samples to accumulate comparable data.
Machine-learning-guided exploration
Bayesian optimization and machine learning propose the next experimental conditions, enabling a closed loop of design, synthesis, and evaluation.
METHODS
Methods supporting our research
- Automated liquid-handling robot
- Parallel polymer synthesis
- Multiplexed biological-activity measurements
- Machine learning, Bayesian optimization, and AI-assisted design
VISION