Postgraduate research opportunities Developing multifunctional biomaterials: an anti-infective and pro-endothelialisation polymer graft

Overview:

We are seeking a PhD candidate for a fully funded 4-year Medical Research Scotland scholarship (UK home fees) to develop novel biomaterials mimicking the multi-functionality of native cells and biological tissue. To demonstrate the concept, the candidate will develop synthetic polymer vascular grafts (i.e., blood vessel replacements) with surfaces that exhibit both anti-bacterial properties as well as promote cell and tissue integration. The project will take a chemical approach as well as exploit natural biomolecules, e.g., polyphenols and peptides, to enable the required biochemical and materials functionalities.

This project is one of 14 four year PhD Studentships funded by Medical Research Scotland (MRS) to be delivered jointly by the University of Strathclyde and an industry partner, Terumo Aortic. The Studentship will provide first-class academic, and additional training provided by the industry partner, needed to equip the successful candidate for a science career in an increasingly competitive market.

Our programme is deeply committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We actively seek candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join the NIA doctoral school.

Scientific Background and Project Aims:

The surface of a biomedical device constitutes the physical and biochemical interface controlling device performance. It remains a grand scientific challenge to mimic the multifunctionality of native cell and tissue surfaces, which will lead to improved biomaterials, devices and patient outcome. For treating cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally, a damaged or blocked blood vessel may be bypassed with a synthetic blood vessel replacements (i.e., vascular grafts). However, the risks of infection and blood clotting inside the graft remain major drawbacks of current technology that gravely degrade patient outcome and increase treatment costs. It is in principle possible to control the biological response by modifying a biomaterial’s surface with biomolecular cues, because the surface constitutes the physical interface mediating the body’s response. However it remains a challenge to chemically modify the surface with a sufficient number of different cues for improving medical device performance and outcome. This project will build on recent research of the academic team and their long-standing work with Terumo Aortic, a global leader in synthetic grafts, to develop novel chemical modification approaches of synthetic graft polymers. The approach will enable both release of an antibiotic with a “polyphenol” layer for attaching further biomolecules that resist bacterial attachment while promoting cell proliferation for improving tissue integration. Infection is in fact a common cause of failure for many other biomedical devices, and future treatments such as tissue regeneration also require biomaterial surfaces displaying cell-adhesive cues. Therefore the technology developed in this project may in future also be applied to enhancing a wide range of biomedical device applications.