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Jindřich Kopeček

Distinguished Professor
NIH Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section, Chair, 2003-2006; Honorary Professorship, Sichuan University, China, 2007; US National Academy of Engineering, Elected Member, 2011; Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2014; Distinguished Mentor Award, University of Utah, 2017; US National Academy of Inventors, Elected Fellow, 2018.
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Research Council of Canada, Division of Applied Chemistry, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 1967-1968; Ph.D. Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1965; M.S. Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1961; D.Sc. Chemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1990;
Website: https://www.kopeceklab.com
Phone: 801-809-2520
Office: BPRB 205B
Lab: Biomedical Polymers Laboratory

Current Research

Research in the Biomedical Polymers Laboratory focuses on these main areas:


Evolution from Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics (DFMT) to Multi-Antigen T Cell Hybridizers (MATCH)
Macromolecular Therapeutics – Combination Chemo- and Immunotherapy
Brain Delivery of Macromolecular Therapeutics
Polymer-Enhanced Antibody-Drug Conjugates


Recent Publications



  • S. Li, J. Li, H. Al Faruque, P. Shami, B. Knoechel, J. Lohr, D. Sborov, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Self-Assembling Multi-Antigen T Cell Hybridizers for Precision Immunotherapy of Multiple Myeloma. Adv. Healthcare Mat., in revision. 

  • J. Li, S. Li, H. Al Faruque, J. Kopeček, D.W. Sborov, J. Yang, CD38-Targeted Antibody-Polymer Drug Conjugates for Enhanced Treatment of Multiple Myeloma. Biomaterials, in revision. 

  • M.T. Gambles, I. Kendell, J. Li, K. Spainhower, D. Sborov, S. Owen, A. Stark, D. Bearss, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Two-Component T-Cell Immunotherapy Enables Antigen Pre-Targeting to Reduce Cytokine Release Without Forfeiting Efficacy. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 67 (2025) 102825; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2025.102825. 

  • J. Li, H. Al Faruque, S. Li, M. Sima, D. Sborov, S. Hu-Lieskovan, T. Werner, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, PD-L1 Targeted Antibody-Polymer-Epirubicin Conjugate Prolongs Survival in a Preclinical Murine Model of Advanced Ovarian Cancer. J. Controlled Release 382, 113682 (2025); https://doi.org/ j.jconrel.2025.113682.. 

  • V.A. Ljubimov, T. Sun, J. Wang, L. Li, P.Z. Wang, A.V. Ljubimov, E. Holler, K.L. Black, J. Kopeček, J.Y. Ljubimova, J. Yang, Blood-brain Barrier Crossing Biopolymer Targeting c-Myc and Anti-PD-1 Activate Primary Brain Lymphoma Immunity: Artificial Intelligence Analysis. J. Controlled Release 381, 113611 (2025); https://doi.org/j.jconrel.2025.113611. 

  • J. Kopeček, Hydrophilic Biomaterials: From Crosslinked and Self-Assembled Hydrogels to Polymer-Drug Conjugates and Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics. J. Controlled Release 373, 1-22 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.012. Invited “Magnum Opus” manuscript. 

  • J. Li, M.T. Gambles, B. Jones, J.A. Williams, N.J. Camp, P.J. Shami, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Human Serum Albumin-Based Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics Induce Apoptosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patient Cells by Crosslinking of CD20 and/or CD38 Receptors. Drug Delivery Translational Res. 14, 2203-2215 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-024-01629-3. 

  • M.T. Gambles, S. Li, I. Kendell, J. Li, D. Sborov, P. Shami, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Multiantigen T-Cell Hybridizers: A Two Component T-Cell Activating Therapy. ACS Nano 18, 23341-23353 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c06500. 

  • J. Li, J. Arnold, M. Sima, H. Al Faruque, J. Galang, S. Hu-Lieskovan, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, Combination of Multivalent DR5 Receptor Clustering Agonists and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors for Treatment of Colon Cancer. J. Controlled Release 376, 1014-1024 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conrel.2024.10.062. 

  • M.T. Gambles, D. Sborov, P. Shami, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Obinutuzumab-Based Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics Synergizes with Topoisomerase Inhibitors. Macromol. Biosci. (2023) 2300375; https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202300375. 

  • M.T. Gambles, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Multi-Targeted Immunotherapeutics to Treat B Cell Malignancies. J. Controlled Release 358, 232-258 (2023); https://doi.org/10/1016/j.jconrel.2023.04.048. 

  • Z.-H. Peng, C.M. Jogdeo, J. Li, Y. Xie, Y. Wang, Y.M. Sheinin, J. Kopeček, D. Oupický, Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Polymeric iRGD and Doxorubicin Conjugates Reduce Spontaneous Lung Metastasis in an Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model. Pharmaceutics 14, 1725 (2022); https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081725. 

  • J. Wang, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Nanomedicines in B Cell-Targeting Therapies. Acta Biomater. 137, 1-19 (2022); htpps://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.024. 

  • M.T. Gambles, J. Li, D.C. Radford, D. Sborov, P. Shami, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Simultaneous Crosslinking of CD20 and CD38 Receptors by Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics Enhances B Cell Apoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo. J. Controlled Release 350, 584-599 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.08.045. 

  • M.T. Gambles, J. Li, J. Wang, D. Sborov, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Crosslinking of CD38 Receptors Triggers Apoptosis of Malignant B Cells. Molecules 26, 4658 (2021); https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154658. 

  • L. Li, J. Wang, D.C. Radford, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, Combination Treatment with Immunogenic and Anti-PD-L1 Polymer-Drug Conjugates of Advanced Tumors in a Transgenic MMTV-PyMT Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. J. Controlled Release 332, 652-659 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.02.011. 

  • Y. Li, L. Li, J. Wang, D.C. Radford, Z. Gu, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, Dendronized Polymer Conjugates with Amplified Immunogenic Cell Death for Oncolytic Immunotherapy. J. Controlled Release 329, 1129-1138 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1016/j/jconrel.2020.10.041. 

  • J. Kopeček, J. Yang, Polymer Nanomedicines. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 156, 40-64 (2020); https://doi.org/ 10/1012/j.addr.2020.07.020. 

  • J. Wang, Y. Li, L. Li, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Exploration and Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy of Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics in Collagen-Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis Mouse Model. Macromol. Biosci. (2020) 1900445; doi: 10.1002/mabi.201900445. 

  • D.C. Radford, J. Yang, M. Doan, L. Li, A.S. Dixon, S.C. Owen, J. Kopeček, Multivalent HER2-Binding Polymer Conjugates Facilitate Rapid Endocytosis and Enhance Intracellular Drug Delivery. J. Controlled Release 319, 285-299 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conrel.2019.12.049. 

  • L. Li, Y. Li, C.-H. Yang, D.C. Radford, J. Wang, M. Janát-Amsbury, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, Inhibition of Immunosuppresive Tumors by Polymer-Assisted Inductions of Immunogenic Cell Death and Multivalent PD-L1 Crosslinking. Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 1908961 (2020); doi: 10.1002/admf.201908961. 

  • L. Li, J. Wang, Y. Li, D.C. Radford, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Broadening and Enhancing Functions of Antibodies by Self-Assembling Multimerization at Cell Surface. ACS Nano 13, 11422-11432 (2019); doi.10.1021/acsnano.9b04868. ACS Editors’ Choice. 

  • J. Wang, L. Li, J. Yang, P.M. Clair, M. Glenn, D.M. Stephens, D.C. Radford, K.M. Kosak, M.W. Deininger, P.J. Shami, J. Kopeček, Drug-free Macromolecular Therapeutics Induce Apoptosis in Cells Isolated from Patients with B Cell Malignancies with Enhanced Apoptosis Induction by Pretreatment with Gemcitabine. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 16, 217-225 (2019). https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.nano.2018.12.011. 

  • J. Yang, L. Li, J. Kopeček, Biorecognition: A Key to Drug-free Macromolecular Therapeutics. Biomaterials 190-191, 11-23 (2019). 

  • L. Li, J. Yang, J. Wang, J. Kopeček, Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics Exhibit Amplified Apoptosis in G2/M Phase Arrested Cells. J. Drug Targeting (2018) doi: 10.1080/1061186X.2018.1521414. 

  • L. Zhang, Y. Fang, L. Li, J. Yang, D.C. Radford, J. Kopeček, Human Serum Albumin Based Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics: Apoptosis Induction by Coiled-Coil-Mediated Cross-Linking of CD20 Antigens on Lymphoma B Cell Surface. Macromol. Biosci. 18, 1800224 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201800224. 

  • L. Li, J. Yang, J. Wang, J. Kopeček, Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics Induce Apoptosis via Calcium Influx and Mitochondrial Signaling Pathway. Macromol. Biosci. 18(1), 1700196 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201700196. 

  • J. Yang, J. Kopeček, The Light at the End of the Tunnel – Second Generation HPMA Conjugates for Cancer Treatment. Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 31, 30-42 (2017). 

  • L. Zhang, Y. Fang, J. Kopeček, J. Yang, A New Construct of Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 103, 36-46 (2017). Selected Best Research Paper in European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2017. 

  • J. Yang, R. Zhang, H. Pan, Y. Li, Y. Fang, L. Zhang, J. Kopeček, Backbone Degradable HPMA Copolymer Conjugates with Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel: Impact of Molecular Weight on Activity toward Human Ovarian Carcinoma Xenografts. Mol. Pharmaceutics 14, 1384-1394 (2017). 

  • L. Zhang, Y. Fang, J. Yang, J. Kopeček, Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics: Impact of Structure on Induction of Apoptosis in Raji B Cells. J. Controlled Release 263, 139-150 (2017).