Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Hybrid star polymers grown from carbohydrate clusters. The aim of the project is to make complex polymer architectures based on stars grown from sugar clusters. The star molecules are expected to have unique properties for transporting guest molecules in drug delivery systems. The outcome will be the development of totally biodegradable, non-toxic cluster/star structures capable of complexing to drugs. This is the first attempt to utilise these clusters ....Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Hybrid star polymers grown from carbohydrate clusters. The aim of the project is to make complex polymer architectures based on stars grown from sugar clusters. The star molecules are expected to have unique properties for transporting guest molecules in drug delivery systems. The outcome will be the development of totally biodegradable, non-toxic cluster/star structures capable of complexing to drugs. This is the first attempt to utilise these clusters, with sugar-based vinyl monomers for star synthesis.Read moreRead less
Novel Hydrogels for Bioseparations in Clinical Applications. The project aims to design and synthesise new highly swollen hydrophilic membranes for use in biological separation processes and purifications such as the removal of viruses from blood. Typical membrane problems like membrane fouling or low flux should be minimized by a narrow pore size distribution. The regular nano-patterning should be obtained by molecular impriniting technique. Novel thermoresponsive polymers, which will be polyme ....Novel Hydrogels for Bioseparations in Clinical Applications. The project aims to design and synthesise new highly swollen hydrophilic membranes for use in biological separation processes and purifications such as the removal of viruses from blood. Typical membrane problems like membrane fouling or low flux should be minimized by a narrow pore size distribution. The regular nano-patterning should be obtained by molecular impriniting technique. Novel thermoresponsive polymers, which will be polymerized via controlled free radical polymerization techniques, will be used as biocompatible membrane material.Read moreRead less
Polymer Stabilized and Bio-functionalised Metal Nanoparticles As Potential Vectors For Drug Therapies. The project aims to make novel nanoparticles (extremely small, nano means one billionth of a metre) that carry medicines to very specific sites of the body and then release them. This would result in much improved outcomes for conventional chemotherapy but may also allow new gene therapies where diseases can be silenced at their source.
Controlled Grafting of Polymer Surfaces for Biotechnology Applications. The aim of this project is to utilise novel polymerization methods to create highly functional polymer surfaces. We anticipate that the resultant structures will be useful for a number of applications including solid-phase organic synthesis and proteomics.