@article { , title = {Bacteria-instructed synthesis of polymers for self-selective microbial binding and labelling}, abstract = {The detection and inactivation of pathogenic strains of bacteria continues to be an important therapeutic goal. Hence, there is a need for materials that can bind selectively to specific microorganisms for diagnostic or anti-infective applications, but that can be formed from simple and inexpensive building blocks. Here, we exploit bacterial redox systems to induce a copper-mediated radical polymerization of synthetic monomers at cell surfaces, generating polymers in situ that bind strongly to the microorganisms that produced them. This 'bacteria-instructed synthesis' can be carried out with a variety of microbial strains, and we show that the polymers produced are self-selective binding agents for the 'instructing' cell types. We further expand on the bacterial redox chemistries to 'click' fluorescent reporters onto polymers directly at the surfaces of a range of clinical isolate strains, allowing rapid, facile and simultaneous binding and visualization of pathogens. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.}, doi = {10.1038/nmat3949}, eissn = {1476-4660}, issn = {1476-1122}, issue = {7}, journal = {Nature Materials}, pages = {748-755}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, url = {https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/995360}, volume = {13}, keyword = {Mechanical Engineering, General Materials Science, Mechanics of Materials, General Chemistry, Condensed Matter Physics}, year = {2014}, author = {Magennis, E. Peter and Fernandez-Trillo, Francisco and Sui, Cheng and Spain, Sebastian G. and Bradshaw, David and Churchley, David and Mantovani, Giuseppe and Winzer, Klaus and Alexander, Cameron} }