Projects - past

Recent projects have included:

  • MOZART, (MesopOrous matrices for localiZed pH-triggered releAse of theRapeuTic ions and drugs), a large EU cross disciplinary project involving 8 different countries and 11 partners. Headed by Prof. Chiara Vitale Brovarone of Politecnico di Torino (Italy), as a group of around 40 reserachers we worked on the development of a library of inorganic nanomatrices to be used as smart platforms for effective, non-invasive and highly targeted therapies to treat delayed bone healing and non-healing chronic skin wounds. In Sheffield, we had the team of Joey, Prof Sheila MacNeil, Prof Ian Douglas before his retirement, Dr Tom Paterson, Dr Bob Turner, and Dr Anthony Bullock. Our part in the project was to test the components and the nanomatrices for both antimicrobial and pro-angiogenic properties, as well as teh developemnt of teh final product with respect to current market leading gold standards. The group got on so well that we continue to work together even after the end of the project to continue investigating data. Publications from Sheffeild arising from this project can be found here , here, and here. Funded by Horizon 2020

  • EPSRC funded grant to produce antibacterial objects via additive manufacturing, led by Dr Candice Majewski. We developed laser sintered 3D printed objects from a commercially available base polymer (polyamide 12) that had inherent antimicrobial properties, with a variety of potential uses. Results from this work hit the headlines in national and international press, and the first paper resulting from it can be read here

  • EPSRC-GCRF funded project to develop a low cost robust detection device for fungal eye infections, with Prof Sheila MacNeil and Prof Steve Matcher. In close collaboration with our colleagues at the LV Prasad Eye institute, Hyderabad, India, and with the help of a M.Eng student Jonathan Phillips, we built a prototype device to detect early stages of fungal corneal infection in the field. Our PDRA Dr Jacob Pattem took the prototype out to India for testing, and we are still working on improving the device.

  • MRC partnership with LV Prasad Eye institute, Hyderabad, India developing models of corneal bacterial and fungal infection and devising novel methods of detection and treatment of these infections. With Dr Prashant Garg, (LVPEI), Prof Sheila MacNeil, Prof Ian Douglas, and Prof Stephen Rimmer (University of Bradford)

  • Wellcome funded project to develop polymers that are able to rapidly diagnose corneal infections , in collaboration with LV Prasad Eye institute, Hyderabad, India with Dr Prashant Garg (LVPEI), Prof Stephen Rimmer (Bradford), and Prof Ian Douglas. Our colleagues at Bradford have developed several thermoresponsive PNIPAM polymers with functionalised endings with the aim of signalling the presence of bacterial or fungal infection on corneas.

  • A novel slow-release antimicrobial wound dressing funded by the MRC CiC scheme in collaboration with Prof Neil Bricklebank and team, Sheffield Hallam University. At Sheffield University, Dr Pat Harrison tested the dressing on our biofilm infected tissue engineered skin model.

  • The effects of acoustic vibration on bacterial biofilm growth and formation, in collaboration with Dr Mark Murphy, Liverpool John Moores University. We found that accoustic vibration (sounds within the audible range) could increase bacterial growth and biofilm formation according to frequency of the sound. You can read the paper here.

  • Using our tissue engineered model of skin wound healing, Dr Toby Holmes worked on the development of a novel therapeutic device in collaboration with and funded by Smith & Nephew.

  • Development of bacteria sensitive hyperbranched polymers (with Prof. Sheila MacNeil, Prof. Ian Douglas and Prof. Stephen Rimmer). This was EPSRC funded work in which we used the modified antibiotic funded polymers developed by our colleagues at Bradford University to remove bacterial burden from our biofilm infected tissue engineered skin model.