Faculty Profile
Ivan Gitsov Ivanov

Director, of the Michael Szwarc Polymer Research Institute & Professor

Department of Chemistry
218 Jahn Lab

igivanov@esf.edu
315-470-6860

Education

• Ph.D. – 1986, Polymer Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS, Sofia;
• M.S. – 1979, Organic Chemistry, University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia (Bulgaria);

Employment

•  
• 2016-present, Professor, Department of Chemistry SUNY ESF
• 2015-present, Director, The Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute SUNY ESF
• 2015-2018, Chair, Department of Chemistry SUNY ESF
• 1996-2015, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry SUNY ESF
• 1996-2000, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University.
• 1990-1996, Visiting Scientist, Research Associate and Manager of the Polymer Characterization Facility, Cornell University and Cornell Center for Materials Research;
• 1987-1993, Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, R&D Institute for Special Chemicals, Sofia;
• 1979-1986, Chemist and Research Associate, Institute of Polymers, BAS, Sofia;

Service for Scientific Journals

Current Organic Chemistry, US Regional Editor: http://benthamscience.c0om/journal/index.php?journalID=coc

MDPI Molecules, Macromolecular Chemistry: Associate Editor-in-Chief: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/sectioneditors/macromolecular_chemistry

Frontiers in Soft Matter, Associate Editor Polymers: Loop | Ivan Gitsov (frontiersin.org)

Macromol, Editorial Board Member: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/macromol/editors

MDPI Polymers, Editorial Board Member: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/editors#editorialboard

Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute

• http://www.esf.edu/polymer

Honors

• 2023-present, Cortesy Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University
• 2021-2022: Fulbright Scholar, http://www.fulbright.pt/fulbrighters/u-s-grantees/academic-year-2021-2022/ivan-gitsov-ivanov/
• 2017: SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
• 2011, 2013: University Guest Professor, ETH-Zürich, Switzerland, Academic Guests – Polymer Chemistry | ETH Zurich
• 2011: External Honorary Member, Polymer Chemistry Group, ETH-Zürich, Switzerland, External Honorary Members – Polymer Chemistry | ETH Zurich 
• 2010: Guest Professor, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
• 1999: Cottrell Scholar (Research Corporation for Science Advancement);
• 1990: Greve Foundation Fellow (William & Mary Greve Foundation);

Research

   The research focus of our group is aimed at the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel polymers and copolymers with unique architecture, composition and properties that can be used for advanced applications. The synthetic projects involve extensive use of various methods for organic functional group (trans)formation, polycondensation techniques and multiple procedures for controlled or "living" chain-growth polymerization. State-of-the-art methods are used for isolation, identification and characterization of the macromolecules formed including size-exclusion chromatography with multiple detection, FT-IR, UV-Vis, Fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies, MALDI-TOF spectrometry and microscopy. The biological activity and biocompatibility of selected materials are evaluated in collaboration with other research groups and laboratories in USA and Europe. The combination of these methods places our research at the interfaces of organic chemistry, polymer science, biotechnology and molecular medicine (see a recent news reports on our activities in this area  https://nccnews.expressions.syr.edu/health/suny-esf-researchers-seek-revolutionary-cancer-treatment/ and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan_Gitsov

   Our efforts are almost equally divided between the creation of novel macromolecular architectures (linear-dendritic copolymers and hydrogels, hyperbranched macromolecules and linear-hyperbranched copolymers) and the evaluation of these materials for novel biomedical applications (polymeric prodrugs, systems for covalent or passive drug binding and sustained delivery) https://blog.suny.edu/2015/06/can-we-improve-cancer-treatment-with-the-tiniest-of-nanoparticles/ and for new biotechnological uses (formation of unique semi-artificial enzymes through site-specific nano-contacts and no chemical / genetic modification of the proteins).

   A leading motif throughout our research is the development and use of “green” and sustainable chemistry practices.

Thanks to the hard work and devotion of our students our research was ranked among the top 2% of most cited worldwide (among the top 1 % in polymers): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918

Novel Polymers

Solvent-free synthesis of biostable segmented polyurethane shape memory polymers for biomedical applications. J. Mater. Chem. B 12, 1217-1231 (2024); M. Ramezani, D. Getya, I. Gitsov, M.B.B. Monroe* https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB02472E

Polymerization Initiated by Graphite Intercalation Compounds Revisited: One-Pot Synthesis of Amphiphilic Pentablock Copolymers. Macromol 2(2), 184-193 (2022); N.G. Vladimirov, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol2020012

Nonionic Amphiphilic Linear Dendritic Copolymers. Morphology Tuning by Solvent-Induced Self-Assembly. Macromolecules 52(15), 5563-5573 (2019); X. Liu, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01023

Thermosensitive Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers with Embedded Metal Binding Sites. Synthesis and Self-Assembly. Macromolecules 51(14), 5085-5100 (2018); X. Liu, I. Gitsov*  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00700

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic Super-H Copolymers with Linear-Dendritic Architecture. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 53(2), 178-182 (2015); I. Gitsov,* I.V. Berlinova, N.G. Vladimirov https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.27318

 “Click” Synthesis of Intrinsically Hydrophilic Dendrons and Dendrimers Containing Metal Binding Moieties at Each Branching Unit. Macromolecules 47(6), 2199-2213 (2014); L. Wang, D.J. Kiemle, C.J. Boyle, E.L. Connors, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/ma500126f

Hybrid Linear-Dendritic Macromolecules: From Synthesis to Applications. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 46(16), 5295-5314 (2008) I. Gitsov

Hydrogels

Composite Hydrogels Based on Poly(Ethylene Glycol) and Cellulose Macromonomers as Fortified Materials for Environmental Cleanup and Clean Water Safeguarding. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24(8), 7558 (2023); D. Getya, A. Lucas, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087558

Synthesis and Characterization of Zwitterionic Polymer Brush Functionalized Hydrogels with Ionic Responsive Coefficient of Friction. Langmuir 36(14), 3932-3940 (2020); A. O. Osaheni, A. A. Shakoor, I. Gitsov, P. T. Mather, M. M. Blum* https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03566

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic Hydrogels with Covalently Attached Drugs and Fluorescent Markers, Macromolecules 43(23), 10017-10030 (2010); C. Lin, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/ma102044n

Novel Materials for Bioanalytical and Biomedical Applications: Environmental Response and Binding/Release Capabilities of Amphiphilic Hydrogels with Shape-Persistent Dendritic Junctions. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 43(18), 4017-4029 (2005) C. Zhu, C. Hard, C. Lin, I. Gitsov

Novel Functionally Grafted Pseudo Semi-Interpenetrating Networks Constructed by Reactive Linear-Dendritic Copolymers .J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125(37), 11228-11234 (2003) I. Gitsov, C. Zhu

Amphiphilic Hydrogels Constructed by Poly(ethylene Glycol) and Shape-Persistent Dendritic Fragments, Macromolecules 35(22), 8418-8427 (2002) I. Gitsov, C. Zhu

Materials for Biomedical Applications

Hydroxyapatite-poly(D,L-lactide) Nanografts. Synthesis and Characterization as Bone Cement Additives. Molecules 26, 424 (2021); K.L. Goranova, A.K. Kattenhøj Sloth Overgaard, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26020424

A Single Enzyme Mediates the “Quasi-Living” Formation of Multiblock Copolymers with a Broad Biomedical Potential. Biomacromolecules 21(6), 2132-2146 (2020); D.M. Scheibel, D. Guo, J. Luo, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00126

Synthesis and Hydrolytic Stability of Poly(oxyethylene H-phosphonates). J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 46(12), 4130-4139 (2008) I. Gitsov, F.E. Johnson

Immobilization of Aminothiols on Poly(oxyethylene H-phosphonates) and Poly(oxyethylene phosphate)s – an Approach to Polymeric Protective Agents for Radiotherapy of Cancer. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 45(7), 1349-1363 (2007) K. Troev*, I. Tsatcheva, N. Koseva, R. Georgieva, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.21906

Immobilization of Aminothiols on Poly(oxyalkylene phosphates). Formation of Poly(oxyethylene phosphates)/Cysteamine Complexes and their Radioprotective Efficiency J. Med. Chem. 45(26), 5797-5801 (2002) R. Georgieva, R. Tsevi, K. Kossev, R. Kusheva, M. Balgjiska, R. Petrova, V. Tenchova, I. Gitsov*, K. Troev* 

Dendritic-polymer drug delivery structures characterized by a novel triple detection method. Drug Disc. Today 6(2), 108-109 (2001) I. Gitsov*, P. Clarke https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6446(00)01603-2

Biocatalysis

Enzymes in “Green” Synthetic Chemistry: Laccase and Lipase. Molecules 29, 989 (2024); D.M. Scheibel, I.P.I. Gitsov, I. Gitsov*  https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29050989

Enzymatic synthesis and antimicrobial activity of oligomer analogues of medicinal biopolymers from comfrey and other species of Boraginaceae family. Pharmaceutics 14(1), 115 (2022); M. Merlani, D. Scheibel, V. Barbakadze, L. Gogilashvili, L. Amiranashvili, A. Geronikaki, V. Catania, D. Schillaci, G. Gallo, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14010115

Novel Amphiphilic Dendronized Copolymers Formed by Enzyme-Mediated “Green” Polymerization. Biomacromolecules 22(4), 1706-1720 (2021); X. Liu, L. Wang, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00124

Polymer-Assisted Biocatalysis: Polyamide 4 Microparticles as Promising Carriers of Enzymatic Function. Catalysts 10, 767 (2020); N. Dencheva, J. Braz, D. Scheibel, M. Malfois, Z. Denchev,* I. Gitsov*  https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10070767

Unprecedented Enzymatic Synthesis of Perfectly Structured Alternating Copolymers via “Green” Reaction Cocatalyzed by Laccase and Lipase Compartmentalized Within Supramolecular Complexes. Biomacromolecules, 20(2), 927-936 (2019); D.M. Scheibel, I. Gitsov* https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01567

Polymer-Assisted Biocatalysis: Unprecedented Enzymatic Oxidation of Fullerene in Aqueous Medium. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 50(1), 119-126 (2012); I. Gitsov,* A. Simonyan, L. Wang, A. Krastanov, S.W. Tanenbaum, D. Kiemle https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.24995

Enzymatic Nano-reactors for Environmentally Beningn Biotransformations. 1. Formation and Catalytic Activity of Supramolecular Complexes of Laccase and Linear Dendritic Block Copolymers. Biomacromolecules 9(3), 804-811 (2008); I. Gitsov, J. Hamzik, J. Ryan, A. Simonyan, J. P. Nakas, Sh. Omori, A. Krastanov, T. Cohen, S.W. Tanenbaum

Smart Polymer Recycling (partially with Prof. K. Troev)

Conversion and Removal Strategies for Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants and Landfills. Chem. Eng. J. 406, 126715 (2021); L. Hou, D. Kumar, C.G. Yoo, I. Gitsov, E.L.W. Majumder* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126715

Smart Polymer Recycling: Synthesis of Novel Rigid Polyurethanes Using Phosphorus-Containing Oligomers Formed by Controlled Degradation of Microporous Polyurethane Elastomer. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 105(2), 302-308 (2007) K. Troev*, G. Grancharov, V. Mitova, St. Shenkov, A. Topliyska, Ivan Gitsov*

Phosphorus-Containing Oligoamides Obtained by a Novel One-Pot Degradation of Polyamide-6.  Polym. Degrad. Stab. 91(4), 778-788 (2006) K. Troev*, N. Todorova, V. Mitova, St. Vassileva, I. Gitsov*

A Novel Catalyst for the Glycolysis of Poly(ethylene terephthalate). J. Appl. Pol. Sci. 90(4), 1148-1152 (2003) K. Troev*, G. Grancharov, R. Tsevi, I. Gitsov*

A Novel Depolymerization Route to Phosphorus-containing Oligocarbonates. Polymer 42(1), 39-42 (2001) K. Troev*, R. Tsevi, I. Gitsov*

Full List of Publications

• Full List