:Donald Tomalia
{{short description|American chemist (born 1938)}}
Donald A. Tomalia (born September 5, 1938) is an American chemist who is known as one of the early discoverers of dendrimers.
Biography
Tomalia earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Michigan State University. He worked at Dow Chemical for many years as a research scientist then moved to the Michigan Molecular Institute as a Senior Lead Scientist. In 1979, Tomalia first reported on the synthesis{{Cite journal |last=Tomalia |first=D. A. |last2=Baker |first2=H. |last3=Dewald |first3=J. |last4=Hall |first4=M. |last5=Kallos |first5=G. |last6=Martin |first6=S. |last7=Roeck |first7=J. |last8=Ryder |first8=J. |last9=Smith |first9=P. |date=1985-01-01 |title=A New Class of Polymers: Starburst-Dendritic Macromolecules |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/pj198510 |journal=Polymer Journal |language=en |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=117–132 |doi=10.1295/polymj.17.117 |issn=1349-0540}} of dendrimers, which have been used in nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals.{{cite journal|last1=Halford|first1=Bethany|title=Dendrimers branch out|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|date=June 13, 2005|volume=83|issue=24|pages=30–36|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8324dendrimers.html|accessdate=February 3, 2017|doi=10.1021/cen-v083n024.p030|url-access=subscription}} The first dendrimer synthesis was noted by winning the Leonardo da Vinci Prize (Paris, 1996).
In 1990, he joined the Michigan Molecular Institute (MMI) as Professor and Director of Nanoscale Chemistry &Architecture (1990–1999). In 1992, Tomalia founded his own company, Dendritech. The company was purchased by Dow Chemical a few years later. Tomalia was the scientific director of the Center for Biologic Nanotechnology at the University of Michigan Medical School. In 2001, Tomalia started Dendritic NanoTechnologies at Central Michigan University; Starpharma of Australia provided seed money for the venture and Dow took an equity position a few years later.{{cite journal|last1=McCarthy|first1=Alice A.|title=Dendritic NanoTechnologies, Inc.|journal=Chemistry & Biology|date=May 2005|volume=12|issue=5|pages=499–501|doi=10.1016/j.chembiol.2005.05.006|pmid=15911366|doi-access=free}}
In 2010, Tomalia founded NanoSynthons, LLC, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.{{cite web|title=Donald A. Tomalia|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/donald-a-tomalia|website=Science History Institute|accessdate=March 21, 2018|language=en|date=2016-06-29}} In 2016, he was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.{{cite web|title=2016 AAAS Fellows honored for advancing science to serve society|url=https://www.aaas.org/news/2016-aaas-fellows-honored-advancing-science-serve-society|website=American Association for the Advancement of Science|accessdate=February 2, 2017|language=en|date=November 21, 2016}} He has been named a Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate.{{cite web|title=Hall of Citation Laureates|url=http://sciencewatch.com/nobel/hall-citation-laureates|accessdate=February 3, 2017}}
References
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Category:21st-century American chemists
Category:University of Michigan alumni
Category:Bucknell University alumni
Category:Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science