Dr Ray Smith PhD

Position:	Senior Lecturer
Tel:	+44 (0)20 7882 7748
Location:	Mile End, Eng, 117A
Email:	ray.smith@qmul.ac.uk
Vcard:
Expertise:	Biodegradeable polymers, FTIR spectroscopy

Major interests in:

1. The development of biodegradable polymers with controlled degradation rates and improved mechanical properties. This involves the synthesis of copolymers from cyclic esters and organophosphorus compounds by ring opening polymerisation techniques. These copolymers have in built functionality that can be utilised in, for example, the control of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the copolymer, attachment of drug moieties for drug delivery applications and direct bonding to particulate fillers or fibres. A number of different copolymers have been developed and characterised.

2. Standardising methods for monitoring degradation of polymers in vitro. Involving techniques such as infrared/Raman spectroscopy, GPC, DSC and DMA.

3. Vibrational spectroscopy of natural tissues.