Engineered Protein Nanosheets at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces for Stem Cell Expansion, Sorting and Tissue Engineering

ProLiCell will design the biochemical and mechanical properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein nanosheets that can sustain the formation of adhesion protein complexes and support cell proliferation and culture on materials with very weak bulk mechanical properties (liquids).

Molecular Manufacturing of Macroscopic Objects - fellowship Stoyan Smoukov

This interdisciplinary proposal proposes a molecular basis for Manufacturing for the Future,[a1] to grow many types of particles in a nature-inspired way. It offers scalability, near-full utilization of the material, and the ability to carry out transformations at near ambient conditions. Manufacturing in nature spans the scales from intricate ...

FlexNanoFlow

2D nanomaterials hold immense technological promise thanks to extraordinary intrinsic properties such as ultra-high conductivity, strength and unusual semiconducting properties. Our understanding of how these extremely thin and flexible objects are processed in flow is however inadequate, and this is hindering progress towards true market applications. When processed in liquid ...

Open characterisation and modelling environment to drive innovation in advanced nano-architectured and bio-inspired hard/soft interfaces (OYSTER)

Major focus of the project is in surface design, controlled adhesion and development of surface characterisation techniques and their standardization. In particular, Nanoforce contribution in the project and relevant tasks are crossing other activity at SEMS what includes biofunctionalisation of surfaces to make hydrophobic surface hydrophilic and to produce thin polymeric films with micro-packaged bioactive agents. Also SEMS expertise in polymer processing will be expanded on polymer with drug coating. Further goal would be to make such a coating on various implants and stents. Developments of implants with designed mechanical properties could benefit with extra function added on it such as “micro-packaged” drug what could be used either to proliferate cell grow in case of grow factor encapsulation or, if needed, coatings antibacterial properties.

Advanced Polymer Dielectrics

Combined LAPS and SICM for multimodal live cell imaging

A novel instrument will be developed that will revolutionise the ability to monitor cellular processes and cell communication in polarised cells by simultaneously imaging cells apically and basally. This will provide information about apical cell morphology and basal ion concentrations and electrical signals such as cell surface charge and impedance.

Development of mechanically enhanced osteoinductive synthetic bone graft substitutes

The aim of this project is to develop and test a series of bone graft substitutes with novel pore structures using a perfusion based bioreactor system with flow to waste and closed loop capabilities, that is also able to subject real bone graft substitute granules to direct mechanical perturbation. This system has been validated using human mesenchymal stem cells seeded on BGS with varied strut porosity and will be further optimised to enable screening of new structures.

All-printed thermoelectric generators

Organic thermoelectric materials are in the early stages of development, and the excitement surrounding them lies in their low cost, solution processability (they can be printed) and their mechanical flexibility. In short, they could revolutionise thermoelectric power generation. In this project, an OTEG will be fabricated on paper by a novel printing process. It is a cheap, scalable process that is much-needed for OTEGs to become reality. Furthermore, this project follows the conviction that a fundamental understanding of OTEG device physics will accelerate the development of improved thermoelectric materials

HYPERTHERM - Hybrid organic-inorganic Perovskite Thermoelectrics

HYPERTHERM will investigate new thermoelectric materials, specifically hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, which are solution processable (printable), abundant and low cost. These materials are well-known in their undoped form in solar cells, and there are good indications that their superb electrical and thermal properties are well-suited to thermoelectric applications. However, to become good thermoelectric materials, they must be electrically doped to increase their conductivity. The principle scientific aim of this proposal is therefore to learn how to control doping in these exciting materials to boost their thermoelectric performance.

Understanding the excited states in carbon dots and hybrids for solar fuels production

2D composites with controlled nano-mechanisms

A long standing dogma in cell-based technologies is that bulk mechanical properties of solid substrates are essential to enable cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. However, the use of solid materials for cell culture constitutes an important hurdle for the scale up and automation of processes. We recently discovered that protein assembly at liquid-liquid interfaces results in mechanically strong protein layers sustaining cell spreading and directing fate decision. For long term culture, such interfaces lacked toughness and ruptured. This project will develop tough 2D nanocomposites assembled at oil-water interfaces and sustaining long term stem cell culture for applications in regenerative medicine.

Facility for Materials Engineering

MagMat is a unique capability in the UK for the synthesis and processing of materials in strong magnetic fields (SMF) known at MagMat.

ISCF Wave 1:Designing Electrodes for Na Ion Batteries via Structure Electrochemical Performance Correlations

ATHLETE Energy Entrepreneurs Fund

ATHLETE will develop and demonstrate innovative thermoelectric technologies for waste heat recovery that achieves increased energy efficiency through power generation.

University Research Fellowship

Organic Thermoelectrics in Multiple Structural and Transport Regimes.

THESIS

In this project, the Marie Curie Fellow will develop an optical fibre based image-guided surgery system based on the state-of-the-art optical-fibre laser technologies.

Novel Cross-linking Strategy

This project focuses on the design of novel crosslinking strategies for silicone materials. These will enable the design of a new generation of silicone based composites with controlle mechanical properties and displaying conductive behaviour. The project will explore the use of these materials for 3D printing.

GREENCARBON

NanoKiri

Rb based ferroelectrics

Ferroelectrics are materials characterized by a Curie point and polarization switching. The Curie point sets the upper limit on the application of ferroelectric ceramics for piezoelectric applications. The aim of this project is develop Rb-based ferroelectric ceramics for high temperature piezoelectric applications.

Bimodule material in highway construction and computational study

Finite element method and meshless finite block method are developed to study composites with bimodule materials.

LIGNOCAP - Lignin-derived carbon fiber flexible supercapacitors

3D Printed Osteogenic & Hierarchal Bio Mineralizing Scaffold

The project will look to develop 3D printed polymeric scaffolds capable of acellular mineralization for enhancing integration of implants in maxillofacial applications.

International Exchanges Scheme: China

The aim of this project aims is to build bilateral research and teaching collaborations between QMUL and Jiangsu Normal University in China.

Performance Enhancement of thermoelectric MgAgSb based composite from ferroelectric order

Composites including thermoelectric MgAgSb and ferroelectric nanoparticles (PbTiO3 and BaTiO3) will be fabricated via spark plasma sintering. The spontaneous polarization from ferroelectric ordering can tailor the carrier concentration and mobility of the matrix. In addition, ferroelectric nanoparticles can also scatter long/medium wavelength phonons, and improve the thermoelectric transport properties.

Hierarchical fibre-reinforced composites with nano-engineered interfaces for multifunctional lightweight structures

The aim of this project is to develop a multifunctional composite with integrated damage sensing, de-icing, and electromagnetic (EM) absorption capabilities based on nano-engineered interfaces, with the emphasis on lightweight engineering structures. The tailored electrical properties are utilised for in-situ damage detection based on electrical sensing method, as well as the EM absorption and de-icing applications.

Impact of Physiogel on tribological properties and structural integrity of the skin

MASSIVE Materials

The MASSIVE project will develop scale-up manufacturing capability and know-how for the synthesis, processing and manufacture of un-commercialised thermoelectric, piezoelectric and related materials and devices, which contain volatile and air-sensitive elements and compounds, with engineered nano- and non-equilibrium phases and structures.

Bridgestone Rubber Research

This grant supports the work of the soft matter group in investigating the nature of the polymer filler interactions that are present in tyre compounds.

EPSRC - MASSIVE - flash-sps of functional ceramics

The MASSIVE project will develop scale-up manufacturing capability and know-how for the synthesis, processing and manufacture of un-commercialised thermoelectric, piezoelectric and related materials and devices, which contain volatile and air-sensitive elements and compounds, with engineered nano- and non-equilibrium phases and structures.

International Exchanges Scheme: Italy

The purpose of this project is to develop a deep understanding of the role selfassembly in tuning thermoelectric properties of organic materials. Organic thermoelectric materials are heavily doped organic semiconductors. Despite their propensity for self-assembly into a range of intriguing morphologies, this mechanism has not been fully investigated and developed in the context of thermoelectrics.

Bifunctional Hybrid Electrocatalysts

The high cost of the noble metal catalysts employed in energy devices is one of the major drawbacks to their full development and exploitation. There are many reports new materials that can overcome state-of-the-art limitations. However, not much research has been done to understand the structure-property relationships to allow an improved performance. This project aims to create transition metal perovskite/nitrogen-doped carbon electrospun nanofibres as alternative cost-efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts to replace noble metals in energy conversion and storage devices. At the same time, we will develop new in situ studies that will allow a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationships allowing for further optimisation.

Development of a new class of adaptable self-supporting hydroxide-ion conducting membranes

We are making self-supporting membranes based on MOF nanofibres, which have a high intrinsic hydroxide ion conductivity.

ZINCLAPS2

In this project, we propose to develop a novel LAPS setup with high spatiotemporal resolution combined with two-photon fluorescence microscopy that allows imaging of physiological processes with submicron resolution and in real time.

DEFCOM

Some of the most pressing global issues today are related to energy consumption, dissipation and waste. There is a great promise to address these issues by developing high-performance, cost-effective and eco-friendly materials for thermoelectric applications.

Rb-based Dielectric Materials

Dielectric capacitors play an essential role in advanced energy storage and electrical power pulse electronic systems and related devices due to their ultrahigh power density and ultrafast charge and discharge speeds. This aim of this project is develop Rb-based dielectric for high power energy storage.

Biomimetic mineralization for enamel regeneration - ENAMULATE

Dental enamel has a unique chemical composition and a remarkable well-defined hierarchical structure, which together are responsible for its outstanding properties and critical functionality. Once lost, this tissue cannot be regenerated and is directly involved in a variety of dental problems that affect a large percentage of the world population. ...

X-Ray microtomography of bone repair within bone graft substitutes

X-ray micro computed tomography (XMT) is a powerful tool for obtaining high resolution images of bone growing within synthetic bone graft substitute scaffolds with the aim of investigating and quantifying the effect the different grafts have on the bone that forms within the graft. However, before the bone structure and volume can be quantified, the images produced need to accurately segmented into their different regions. The aim of this project was to develop an automated operator independent method of segmenting XMT images to enable quantification of bone regeneration and graft remodelling in 3D.

Investigation of chemotaxis in modulating smart behaviour in synthetic bone graft substitutes

Silicate substituted apatite bone grafts have an enhanced capacity to stimulate bone regeneration. Moreover, altering the level of strut porosity has the capacity to confer osteoinductive behaviour to these graft materials. The aim of this project is to investigate whether these phenomena are related to more efficient cell recruitment and tasking, through (i) exchange of Ca, PO4 and SiO4 ions, and/or (ii) optimal sequestering and enrichment of native signalling molecules.

Fabrication of aligned nanofibrous gels through a vitrification process

This project will apply simple methods, self-assembly and vitrification, to fabricate nanofibrous hydrogels with controlled nanofibre alignment able to recreate the corneal stroma nano/microarchitectural organization.

Schlumberger PDRA Project Funding

This grant is used to employ a PDRA, Dr Richard Windslow, to apply the knowledge he gained during his PhD program focused on Dynamic Seals and apply this towards a RCD Sealing Element. It will extend the modelling capabilities at Schlumberger and address challenges encountered to date for Sealing Element modelling.

Towards in-vivo electrochemical imaging with flexible, light-addressable electrodes

High-resolution mapping of chemical activity of cells on surfaces is important for the understanding biological processes. We are aiming to develop the first flexible and biocompatible electrochemical imaging chip for in-vivo imaging of cell activity. The groundwork for this will be laid by this PhD project by developing novel organic semiconductor coatings suitable for high-resolution photocurrent imaging and measurement of cell-signalling processes such as cell impedance, cell surface charges, release of metabolites and neurotransmitters.

Materials development for carbon dioxide gas sensors

In this project, a novel carbon dioxide sensor material is developed for use in resistive gas sensors. The research is carried out in collaboration with McGowan Sensor Labs Limited.