Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insi ....Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insights in colloid science, cell-laden biomaterials design, and BioInk processing. Structure-property-function guides for colloid-based BioInks and quality-assured bioprinting as outcomes represent significant benefits for researchers and industries alike engaged in biofabrication, cell therapy and biotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel ma ....Force-mediated dynamic chemistry in hydrogels. This project aims to develop a new class of biomimetic material, where applied force modulates the chemistry and mechanics by incorporating mechanochemical responsive linkages in hydrogel networks. This work intends to generate new knowledge in the chemistry and mechanical properties of soft materials using an interdisciplinary approach involving synthesis, computational modelling, and mechanical analysis. Expected outcomes include novel hydrogel materials that are mechanochemically active, tough, and fatigue resistant, along with design criteria for force-activated molecule immobilisation and release expected to provide significant benefit forbiomedical applications, additive manufacturing, soft robotics and flexible electronics.Read moreRead less
Biofabricated tissue mimics for nanoparticle design and development. Nanoparticles are widely used in commercial applications spanning biotechnology, health and environmental monitoring, and drug delivery. Materials scientists can generate large libraries of nanoparticles, but the toolbox available to test these nanoparticles is limited. We will use biofabrication to comprehensively evaluate the fate of polymer grafted nanocellulose across simulated tissue barriers. Model blood vessels with reci ....Biofabricated tissue mimics for nanoparticle design and development. Nanoparticles are widely used in commercial applications spanning biotechnology, health and environmental monitoring, and drug delivery. Materials scientists can generate large libraries of nanoparticles, but the toolbox available to test these nanoparticles is limited. We will use biofabrication to comprehensively evaluate the fate of polymer grafted nanocellulose across simulated tissue barriers. Model blood vessels with recirculating flow will help understand permeation; tunable matrices will establish ‘matrix structure—nanoparticle diffusion’ criteria. The outcome from this project will be an understanding of how plastic nanoparticles penetrate tissue, to guide nanomaterials design and mitigate risk associated with toxicity. Read moreRead less
Biomaterials with multifaceted tunability and bio-specificity. Polyurethanes, a family of polymers with independently tunable mechanical and biodegradation properties, will be developed as a versatile platform material for biomedical implants. Novel energetic ion treatments that allow the coupling of bioactive agents to surfaces will eliminate adverse reactions and enable integration with surrounding tissue.
Polyion complex micelles as smart nano-sized drug carriers for proteins. Novel treatments against diseases are often based on proteins, which are unstable against hydrolysis and sometimes difficult to deliver across the cell membrane. The aim of the project is to create a smart drug carrier that can encapsulate proteins efficiently. A range of block copolymers will be synthesised that are able to condense a positively charged protein resulting in the formation of polyion complex micelles. The po ....Polyion complex micelles as smart nano-sized drug carriers for proteins. Novel treatments against diseases are often based on proteins, which are unstable against hydrolysis and sometimes difficult to deliver across the cell membrane. The aim of the project is to create a smart drug carrier that can encapsulate proteins efficiently. A range of block copolymers will be synthesised that are able to condense a positively charged protein resulting in the formation of polyion complex micelles. The polymer structure will be fine-tuned to create a drug carrier that releases the protein efficiently once inside mammalian cells. The outcome will be the enhanced understanding of the relationship between polymer structure and the activity of the protein and ultimately the design of an advanced and smart drug carrier.Read moreRead less
Learning from nature: creating synthetic viruses using self-assembled structures with branched or dendritic glycopolymers on their surfaces. Viruses are nature's clever nanoparticles. Viruses use glycoproteins to find and invade their host cells. This project will aim to mimic nature by generating nanoparticles that carry synthetic glycopolymers on the surface to create better drug delivery carriers.
Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are d ....Precision porous polymer microparticles via integrated flow processes. This project aims at a step-change in functional, porous microparticle manufacture. To achieve this, the project will use precision flow chemistry techniques that will integrate emulsion preparation, microparticle production and chemical functionalisation in one continuous process. The expected outcome of the project is a process for the manufacture of a suite of designer porous polymer microparticles. Expected benefits are disruptive advances in a number of key technological sectors, including biomedicine, pharmacy, energy and bioprocessing. Platform technology for cartilage tissue engineering has been chosen as an exemplar of the power of precision microparticles.Read moreRead less