Our Story
Born from breakthrough research at Stellenbosch University, Nanosene began when PhD work on advanced amphiphilic polymers evolved into a shared vision to build Africa’s first bespoke polymer innovation company. What started in an academic lab has grown into a deep-tech start-up developing precision-engineered materials for tackling some of the most complex drug targets.
Using controlled polymerization techniques such as RAFT, we design next-generation amphiphilic polymers with narrow dispersity, reproducible performance, and tunable functionality. These tailored materials form the foundation of our growing product portfolio, enabling researchers to isolate, stabilize, and study membrane proteins and other challenging biological systems with greater precision.
Today, Nanosene blends scientific depth with collaborative partnership. Through strategic global collaborations and ongoing technology development, we continue expanding the capabilities of our polymer platform and its applications across the life sciences.
At our core, we are a team committed to pushing the boundaries of polymer science and delivering tools that accelerate discovery, with frontier biomaterials developed and manufactured on the African continent.
Our Team
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Gestél Kuyler | CEO
Gestél co-founded Nanosene in 2022 with the ambition to build Africa’s first bespoke polymer innovator. She earned a dual-award PhD from Stellenbosch University and Coventry University, where her research on novel amphiphilic polymers for isolating pharmacologically relevant drug targets (GPCRs) laid the foundation for Nanosene’s technology and product portfolio.
Her expertise spans polymer science, nanodisc technology, and molecular pharmacology applications. In addition to her role at Nanosene, she serves as Research Manager of the Klumperman Research Group at Stellenbosch University and is an active contributor to the global SMALP community.
As CEO, Gestél leads Nanosene’s scientific vision and commercial strategy, driving the company’s mission to translate pioneering polymer innovation into transformative global impact.
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Elaine Barnard | COO
Elaine joined Nanosene in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer, bringing expertise in polymer chemistry, research and development, and scientific startup operations. She holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Stellenbosch University and completed postdoctoral research at KU Leuven in Belgium, where she further strengthened her foundations in advanced macromolecular design.
A key milestone under Elaine’s leadership was scaling a world-first RAFT-mediated polymerisation process from gram- to kilogram-scale while maintaining molecular precision. This enabled the reliable production of Nanosene’s polymer nanodisc tools for studying complex biological targets.
Elaine pairs scientific insight with operational leadership, driving the company’s development of bespoke polymer technologies and ensuring that Nanosene’s innovations translate into meaningful real-world impact.
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Bert Klumperman | CTO
Bert is the co-founder of Nanosene and a Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science with more than three decades of expertise in advanced polymerisation techniques and poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) chemistry. As a recognised leader in his field, he has embraced the SMALP technology, making it a central research theme in his group at Stellenbosch University.
With numerous academic achievements and milestones, including earning a second doctorate (DSc) at Stellenbosch University in 2012, his work spans reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP), SMALP innovation, and functional polymer design.
His long-standing commitment to polymer innovation brings depth and expertise to Nanosene’s scientific foundation and continued development.
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Stefan Erasmus | Strategic Finance Advisor
Stefan Erasmus is a qualified CA(SA) with extensive post-qualification experience across diverse industries, ranging from South African and UK SMEs to large NASDAQ-listed biotech companies. With a strong background in financial reporting, auditing, and project management, he brings sharp technical insight and strategic financial support to Nanosene’s long-term planning for sustainable growth.
