UM-Flint alum, Citrucel inventor, shares experience with chemistry students

A University of Michigan-Flint alum known for his invention of Citrucel and being one of the top 40 most cited scientists in his field recently visited campus and gave a lecture about his love of chemistry and his discoveries in nanomedicine and nanotechnology.

Donald Tomalia, who is originally from Flushing, shared his life story with students and faculty and gave a detailed account about what led him to become a chemist. 

"As long as I can remember, I've been curious about what life is, how it works and what its purpose is. Since chemistry is focused on the dynamics, behavior and composition of all matter in the universe, it seemed logical that chemistry would help me find those answers."

After graduating from high school, Tomalia set out in earnest to find those answers. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from UM-Flint in 1961 and then went on to earn a master's degree in the same subject at Bucknell University the same year. After receiving his graduate degree, he began working in the research and development department at Dow Chemical Company where he invented the dietary supplement known as Citrucel in 1962. He went on to receive a PhD in physical-organic chemistry from Michigan State University in 1968 while he was still working at Dow. 

Transitioning to a new role as a research fellow at Dow, Tomalia began researching how to create synthetic molecules and polymers that mimicked the growth and appearance of a tree, including its trunk, branches and leaves. This research led to his discovery of dendrimers. Today, dendrimers are found in therapeutic cancer drugs, antiviral agents that protect people from COVID-19, antiviral therapies for HIV and HPV as well as delivery of agrochemicals that enhance crop yields.

As his time at Dow ended, Tomalia launched his first startup company, Dendritech, in 1992. Dendritech, which would be acquired by Dow just six years later in 1998, supplies dendrimers for a device used to diagnose acute heart attacks in less than five minutes as well as anti-fouling paint, or specialized coating applied to ships and boats to slow growth of algae or other aquatic organisms.

His next startup, Dendritic Nanotechnologies was founded in 2001. The company, acquired by Australia's Starpharma in 2006, uses dendrimers to enhance cancer treatment drug delivery, thereby ensuring the drug reaches the right part of the body at the right time. 

Tomalia's current company, NanoSynthons LLC, founded in 2010, focuses on the development, production and distribution of high-quality, well-defined carbon molecules.

Tomalia says that his discoveries of dendrimers and building his companies have been a journey.

"I use the term 'journey' as a code word for learning," he said. "I've learned so much along the way. I never thought I would have discovered something as important as dendrimers.'