Embedded Files
I am a Professor of Healthcare Materials at the University of Leeds (UK), with a joint appointment in the School of Design /CCTMIH and School of Dentistry.
Research in my group is conducted at the interface of (bio-)polymer chemistry and textile manufacturing to address specific unmet clinical needs. Current target applications include wound care, bone grafting, and localised therapy for cancer and infection.
We also work on the design of biobased fibres with physical properties comparable to conventional plastics, aiming to achieve compliance with industrial manufacturing processes and reduce manufacturing reliance on fossil-derived raw materials.
Advanced wound dressing design
I have led the development of a patented collagen manufacturing technology (HyFaCol) yielding covalently crosslinked molecular networks with bespoke formats, including cast films, textile fibres and coatings. Resulting prototypes are tolerated by mammalian cells and show mechanical competence in the hydrated state. Functionalisation with a halochromic dye equips them with pH-induced colour change capability, which can be harnessed for visual infection diagnostics in chronic wounds.
As part of this translation journey, I co-founded HYFACOL Ltd, a University of Leeds spin-out company that is advancing HyFaCol to the next level of innovation in the design of advanced wound dressings and dentistry applications.
Clinical translation
The wound healing capability of HyFaCol wound dressing prototype was successfully demonstrated via a preclinical study in diabetic mice. Respective films proved to promote complete wound closure within 20 days of application, in contrast to untreated control wounds.
The wound healing capability of this prototype was confirmed in a recent first-in-human clinical trial with patients affected by either diabetic or pressure ulcers.
Textile biotechnology research
Currently, fossil-derived polyesters are the most widely used textile raw material, whose global production has more than doubled in the past twenty years. Polyesters originate from petrochemicals and their extraction and processing rely on non-renewable energy sources and chemicals. This, together with their limited end-of-life biodegradability, raises significant, long-term environmental risks, such as leakage of contaminants /dyes and release of microplastics.
To address this challenge, we are working on the development of fossil-free biobased polyester fibres through the valorisation of organic waste (e.g. spent coffee grounds) via microbial fermentation and green fibre manufacturing processes. Leveraging the chemical attributes of organic waste and the biodegradability of microbial polyesters, this textile biotechnology approach minimises competition risks for land and food security, as well as environmental risks associated with end-of-life plastics.
Google Sites
Report abuse