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  • Biomaterials and drug delivery

Biomaterials and drug delivery

These pages hold legacy content of completed research. Our new online home with details of our most recent achievements is the Biomaterials and Medical Devices and Drugs Research and Enterprise Group on the university research portal.

For a list of all university research groups and centres, visit the University of Brighton's page on organisational research units.

The biomaterials research group aims to provide material based solutions to emerging global health and environmental priorities. In broad terms we undertake research into the structure, design and functional performance of natural and synthetically derived pure and composite biomaterials with diagnostic or therapeutic impact on living systems. Our research is organised into the overlapping research areas of nanostructured biomaterials, smart and bioresponsive biomaterials and the biointerface. Key strengths are in the blend of fundamental and applied research involving international innovation networks with academic, industrial and clinical partners to maximise research training potential and translational impact. This allows a range of diverse and multidisciplinary research interests surrounding the structure, design and functional performance of advanced materials for use in biological and environmental systems. The applications for these materials range from medical device technologies and tissue constructs, nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, cardiovascular stenting, biosensor systems in disease diagnosis, ophthalmic biomaterials, materials which moderate host response biology, environmental decontamination and smart textile design.

Our biomaterials research aims to provide material based solutions to emerging global healthcare and environmental priorities.

Ongoing innovation through research partnership

A sustained joint research partnership with Biocompatibles UK Ltd has stimulated innovation underpinning the company’s product development pipeline. Products include a family of soft contact lenses, enhanced medical device coatings, and novel treatments for liver cancer. Innovative enhancements, such as the unique non-biofouling nature of the company’s ocular and cardiovascular devices and the practical utility of its drug eluting therapies for targeting liver malignancies, have delivered improved clinical performance and differentiated these products from those of competitors in the same markets. Data produced by our researchers underpinned the submission to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the claim: ‘may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear’; this is the only contact lens worldwide cleared for this claim.

Innovation oversight has been managed by Professor Andrew Lloyd and Professor Andrew Lewis (Biocompatibles UK Ltd) and further informed through Lloyd’s appointment as an ongoing scientific consultant to the company. The joint advancement of knowledge through the partnership has stimulated and supported innovation within the company, leading to ongoing marketing benefits for existing products, new material applications, new products and patents. The company’s continuing success in developing innovative medical technology products was recognised by the sale of Biocompatibles UK for £177m in 2011.

MRM-LHP-lab-to-marketDownload the From lab to market article in our Making research matter publication.

Research projects

ENSOR

ENSOR

Exploring the controlled production and chemical modification of a variety of novel nanocarbons

NOMAD-banner

NOMAD

Nanostructured materials for the control of contaminants detrimental to health

OncoNanoBBB-thumbnail

OncoNanoBBB

Applications for brain cancer therapeutics

Cyro-bacteria-reactor

Cryo bacteria reactor

Developing a new technology for selective and effective purification of contaminated water

GLIOMA-image

GLIOMA

Targeting glioblastoma using combinatorial therapeutic nanovaccine

Research team

Dr Jimi Adu
Dr Iain Allan
Dr Liana Azizova
Dr Lara Barnes
Dr Dmitriy Berillo
Dr Venkata Avadhanam
Dr Cressida Bowyer
Dr Prabal Chatterjee
Dr Ian Cooper
Dr Carol Howell
Dr Matt Illsley
Dr Ganesh Ingavle
Professor Andrew Lloyd
Prof Sergey Mikhalovsky
Dr Lyuba Mikhalovska
Dr Keng Ng
Dr Sreejith Raveendran
Dr Susan Sandeman
Dr Dipak Sarker
Dr Irina Savina
Dr Yishan Zheng

The Drug Delivery research theme team

Dr Ananth Pannala (theme lead)
Professor John Smart
Dr Alison Lansley
Dr Matt Ingram

PhD students

Mira Buhecha
Gee Dichello
Benjamin Elisha-Lambert
Rahaf Issa
Tochukwu Ozulumba
Kais Shaban

Past PhD students

Elsie Fok

Outputs

Key Publications

Activated carbon for healthcare applications

  1. S.R Sandeman, C.A Howell, GJ Phillips, JG Davies, AW Lloyd, SV Mikhalovsky, S.R Tennison, A.P. Rawlinson, O.P Kozynchenko.(2008) Inflammatory cytokine removal by an activated carbon device in a flowing system. Biomaterials 29:1683-1644.
  2. S Yachamaneni, G Yishan, SH Yeon, Y Gogotsi, C Howell, S Sandeman, G Phillips, S Mikhalovsky (2010) Mesoporous carbide-derived carbon for cytokine removal from blood plasma. Biomaterials 18:4789-4794
  3. S.R. Sandeman, V.M. Gun’ko, O.M. Bakalinska, C.A. Howell, Y. Zheng, M.T. Kartel, G.J. Phillips, S.V. Mikhalovsky (2011) Adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes by activated carbons, PVA hydrogels and PVA/AC composite, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 358:582-592.
  4. C. Tripisciano, O.P. Kozynchenko, I. Linsberger, G.J. Phillips, C.A. Howell, S.R. Sandeman, S.R. Tennison, S.V. Mikhalovsky, V. Weber, D. Falkenhagen. (2011) Activation-dependent adsorption of cytokines and toxins related to liver failure to carbon beads. Biomacromolecules. 12(10):3733-3740.
  5. Macnaughtan J, Soeda J, Mouralidarane A, Sandeman S, Howell C, Mikhalovsky S, Kozynchenko S, Tennison S, Davies N, Oben J, Mookerjee R, Jalan R. (2012). Gut decontamination using nanoporous carbons reduces portal pressure and prevents liver failure in bile-duct ligated cirrhotic animals by reducing kupffer cell activation. Journal of Hepatology. 56:S230-231.
  6. V Presser, S-H Yeon, C Vakifahmetoglu, C A Howell, S R Sandeman, P Colombo, S Mikhalovsky, Y Gogotsi. 2012. Hierarchical porous carbide-derived carbons for the removal of cytokines from blood plasma. Advanced Healthcare Materials. 1(6):796-800.
  7. Y Zheng, V Gun’ko, C Howell, S Sandeman, G Phillips, O Kozynchenko, S Tennison, A Ivanov, S Mikhalovsky. 2012. Composites with macroporous poly (vinyl alcohol) cryogels with attached activated carbon microparticles with controlled accessibility of a surface. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 4:5936-5944.
  8. Mikhalovsky SV, Sandeman SR, Howell CA, Phillips GJ, Nikolaev VG. Ch. 21. Biomedical applications of carbon adsorbents, in: Tascon JMD, Novel Carbon Adsorbents, Elsevier Ltd, 2012, pp. 639–669. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097744-7.00021-1.
  9. Howell CA, Sandeman SR, Phillips GJ, Mikhalovsky SV, Tennison SR, Rawlinson AP, Kozynchenko OP.Nanoporous activated carbon beads and monolithic columns as effective haemoadsorbents for inflammatory cytokines. International Journal of Artificial Organs, 36(9): 624-32 (2013) DOI:10.5301/ijao.5000231.

Nanostructured biomaterials

10. Aneta Fraczek-Szczypta • Elzbieta Menaszek • Tahmina Bahar Syeda • Anil Misra • Mohammad Alavijeh • Jimi Adu • Stanislaw Blazewicz. 2012. Effect of MWCNT surface and chemical modification on in vitro cellular response. J. Nanopart. Res. 14: 1181. This article is published with open access at www.Springerlink.com.

11. Gladwin KM, Whitby RL, Mikhalovsky SV, Tomlins P, Adu J. In vitro biocompatibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with sensory neurons. Adv Healthc Mater. 2013 May;2(5):728-35.

12. Sarker, D.K. (2012) Ground-breaking changes in mimetic and novel nanostructured composites for intelligent, adaptive and responsive drug delivery therapies. Edited by Ashutosh Tiwari, Murugan Ramalingam, Hisatoshi Kobayashi and Anthony P. F. Turner. Part III: Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. Chapter 13: Biomedical Materials and Diagnostic Devices, Scrivener (Wiley) Publishing LLC, USA, pp395-434, ISBN: 978-11-1803-014-1.

Sarker, D.K. (2009) The Practical Use and Contemporary Methodologies Required for the Evaluation of Foam and Emulsion Aqueous Thin Liquid Films. Current Focus on Colloids and Surfaces, Chapter 12 (Research Signpost Science Series, Li, S., ed.), Transworld Research Network, India, pp 225-242. ISBN: 978-81-7895-438-7.

Di Mattia, C.D., Sacchetti, G., Mastrocola, D., Sarker, D.K., Pittia, P. (2010) Surface properties of phenolic compounds and their influence on the dispersion degree and oxidative stability of olive oil O/W emulsions. Food Hydrocolloids, 24: 652-658.

Sarker, D.K. (2010)  Structural patterning used for polyfunctional devices in diagnostics and for the delivery of therapeutics. Recent Patents in Material Science, 3(3): 191-202.

Sarker, D.K. (2013) The physics of foams, droplets and bubbles. School Science Review, 95 (350) pp45-52.

Biomaterials in corneal replacement and regeneration

13. X.M. Liu, Y.D. Cui, A.W. Lloyd, S.V. Mikhalovsky, S.R. Sandeman, C.A. Howell, L.W. Liao. (2008) Polymeric hydrogels for novel contact lens-based ophthalmic drug delivery systems: A review. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 31:57-64.

14. S.R Sandeman, H. Jeffery, C.A Howell, M. Smith, AW Lloyd, SV Mikhalovsky (2009) The in vitro corneal biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite coated carbon mesh. Biomaterials 30:3143-3149.

15. R. Huhtinen, S. Sandeman, S. Rose, E. Fok, C. Howell, L. Froberg, N. Moritx, L. Hupa, A. Lloyd (2013) Examining porous bio-active glass as a potential osteo-odonto-keratoprosthetic skirt material. Jn of Mat. Sc.: Mater. Med. 24:1217-1227.

16. Tingting Weng , Jianwei Guo , Xinming Li , Yingde Cui , Xuejiao Yang , Kun Zhang , Buning Zhang ,Guoqiang Yin , Sergey V. Mikhalovsky , Lyuba I. Mikhalovska , Irina N. Savina , Carol A. Howell & Susan R. Sandeman ,Designed Monomers and Polymers (2013): Synthesis of the polymerizable room temperature ionic liquid AMPS – TEA and superabsorbency for organic liquids of its copolymeric gels with acrylamide, Designed Monomers and Polymers. dx.doi.org/10.1080/15685551.2013.840480

17. Weng T, Guo J, Li X, Cui Y, Zhang B, Mikhalovsky SV, Sandeman SR, Howell CA, Mikhalovska LI, Savina IN. Synthesis, chloramphenicol uptake, and in vitro release of poly(AMPS–TEA-Co-AAm) gels with affinity for both water and alcohols. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 63(2): 73–79 (2013)

Biomaterials for cardiovascular stenting

18. Kalashnyk O, Petrova Yu, Lykhmus O, Mikhalovska L, Mikhalovsky S, Zhukova A,  Gnatenkoc D, Bahouc W, Komisarenko S, Skok M. Expression, function and cooperating partners of protease-activated receptor type 3 in vascular endothelial cells and B lymphocytes studied with specific monoclonal antibody. Molecular Immunology 54 (2013) 319– 326.

19. Mikhalovska L, Chorna N, Lazarenko O, Haworth P, Sudre A, Mikhalovsky S. Inorganic coatings for cardiovascular stents: In vitro and in vivo studies. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part B Applied Biomaterials, 96 B (2): 333-341 (2011). [2.147].

Polymer gels and networks

1. Gun'ko, V.M.; Savina, I.N.; Mikhalovsky, S.V. Cryogels: Morphological, structural and adsorption characterisation. Advances in Colloid and Interface Sciences, 2013, 187, 1-46 (IF 8.1).

2. Savina I.N., Gun’ko V.M., Turov V.V., Dainiak M.B., Phillips G.J., Galaev I.Yu., Mikhalovsky S.V. Porous structure and water state in cross-linked polymer and protein cryo-hydrogels. Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 4276-4283 (published on web as Advance article); (IF 4.5, corresponding author).

3. Gun’ko V.M., Mikhalovska L.I., Savina I.N., Shevchenko R.V., James S.L., Tomlins P.E., Mikhalovsky S.V. Characterisation and performance of hydrogel tissue scaffolds. Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 5351-5358; (IF 4.5).

4. Dainiak M.B., Allan I., Savina I.N., Cornelio L., James E., Mikhalovsky S.V., Kumar A., Jungvid H., Galaev I.Yu. Gelatin-fibrinogen cryogel dermal matrices for wound repair I: preparation, optimisation and in vitro study. Biomaterials, 2010, 31, 67-76; (IF 7.9).

5. Savina I.N., Dainiak M.B., Jungvid H., Mikhalovsky S.V., Galaev I.Yu. Biomimetic macroporous hydrogels: protein ligand distribution and cell response to the ligand architecture in the scaffold, J. Biomater. Sci. 2009, 20(12), 1781-1795; (IF 1.8)

6. Shevchenko R.V., Eeman M., Savina I.N.,Allan I.U.,James S.L., Salmon M., Mikhalovsky S.V., James S.E. A step towards an artificial skin: a novel supermacroporous anisotropic cryogel for wound healing applications (2010). International Journal of Artificial Organs 33, 426-427.

7. Dainiak M, Allan IU, Savina IN, Cornelio L, James SE, James SL, Mikhalovsky SV, Jungvid H, Galaev IY (2010). Gelatin-fibrinogen cryogel dermal matrices for wound repair: preparation, optimisation and in vitro study. Biomaterials 31(1), 67-76.

8. Allan IU, Shevchenko R, Rowshanravan B, Kara B, Jahoda CA, James SE (2009). The use of confocal laser scanning microscopy to assess the potential suitability of 3-D scaffolds for tissue regeneration, by monitoring extra-cellular matrix deposition and by quantifying cellular infiltration and proliferation. Soft Materials 7(4), 319 – 341.

Cryogels

Savina I.N., Gun'ko V.M., Turov V.V., Dainiak M.B., Phillips G.J., Galaev I.Yu., Mikhalovsky S.V. Porous structure and water state in cross-linked polymer and protein cryo-hydrogels. Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 4276-4283 (published on web as Advance article); (IF 4.5.
 
Junga M., Dainiak M.B., Sarnowska A., Jablonska A., Tripathi A., Plieva F.M., Savina I.N., Strojek L., Jungvid H., Kumar A., Lukomska B., Domanska-Janik K., Forraz N., McGuckin C.P. The performance of laminin-containing cryogel scaffolds in neural tissue regeneration. Biomaterials, 2011, 32, 3423; (IF 7.9).
 
Mikhalovsky S.V., Shevchenko R.V., Allan I.U., Illsley M., Savina I.N., Salmon M., Eeman M., Dainiak M.B., Jungvid H., James S.E., James S.L. Supermacroporous cryopolymers for tissue regeneration The International Journal of Artificial Organs, 2011; 34, 633: (IF 1.5).
 
Dainiak M.B., Allan I., Savina I.N., Cornelio L., James E., Mikhalovsky S.V., Kumar A., Jungvid H., Galaev I.Yu. Gelatin-fibrinogen cryogel dermal matrices for wound repair I: preparation, optimisation and in vitro study. Biomaterials, 2010, 31, 67-76; (IF 7.9).

Biofilms

1. Microbial biofilms: survival mechanisms of bacterial and fungal human pathogens on biomaterials and enirvonmental substrata. Current Research, Technology and Education Topics in Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology. (2011) Ed. A. Medez-Vilas. Formatex, Badajoz, Spain. 807-817.

2. Cooper I. R., Hanlon G. W. (2010) Resistance of Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 biofilms to chlorine-based disinfection. Journal of Hospital infection, 74: 152-159.

3. Cooper I. R., White J., Mahenthiralingam E., Hanlon G. W. (2008) Long-term persistence of a single Legionella pneumophila strain possessing the mip gene in a municipal shower despite repeated cycles of chlorination. Journal of Hospital Infection, 70: 1-6.

4. Paladini F, Cooper IR, Pollini M. (2013) Development of antibacterial and antifungal silver-coated polyurethane foams as air filtration units for the prevention of respiratory diseases. J Appl Microbiol. 2013 Nov 27. doi: 10.1111/jam.12402. [Epub ahead of print]

Natural biomaterials and environmentally friendly biomaterial design

20. Mikhalovska LI, Gun’ko VM, Rugal AA, Oranska OI, Gornikov YuI, Morvan C, Follain N, Domas C, Pakhlov EM, Mikhalovsky SV. Cottonised flax fibres vs cotton fibres: structural, textural and adsorption characteristics. RSC Advances, 2(5): 2032-42 (2012). [2.562]

Mikhalovsky SV, Gun’ko VM, Bershtein VA, Turov VV, Egorova LM, Morvan C, Mikhalovska LI. A comparative study of air-dry and water swollen flax and cotton fibres. RSC Advances, 2(7): 2868 – 2874 (2012). [2.562

Pitt SJ and Cunningham JM (2009) Biomedical Science in Professional and Clinical Education. Wiley.

Pitt, S and Cunningham, J (2010). Coterminus/integrated BSc degree programmes: employers’ views. Biomedical Scientist ,  54(4): 273-276

Cunningham J., Holmes D., Loweth A, Harland J and Pitt S (2011). A Learning Package to Develop and Assess Employability of Bioscience Students Taking Work Placements

Pitt S and Cunningham J (2011) Biomedical Scientist Training Officers’ evaluation of the integrated (‘coterminous’) Applied Biomedical Science BSc programmes: A multicentre study. British Journal of Biomedical Science 68, 79-85.

Wilson, R. J., Tyas, S. R., Black, C. F., Dymond, M. K., & Attard, G. S. (2010). Partitioning of ss RNA Molecules between Preformed Monolithic HII Liquid Crystalline Phases of Lipids and Supernatant Isotropic Phases. Biomacromolecules, 11(11), 3022-3027.

Black, C. F., Wilson, R. J., Nylander, T., Dymond, M. K., & Attard, G. S. (2010). Linear ds DNA Partitions Spontaneously into the Inverse Hexagonal Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Phases of Phospholipids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(28), 9728-9732.

Corsi, J., Dymond, M. K., Ces, O., Muck, J., Zink, D., & Attard, G. S. (2008). DNA that is dispersed in the liquid crystalline phases of phospholipids is actively transcribed. Chemical communications, (20), 2307-2309.

Materials analysis

Gun'ko, V.M.; Savina, I.N.; Mikhalovsky, S.V. Cryogels: Morphological, structural and adsorption characterisation. Advances in Colloid and Interface Sciences, 2013, 187, 1-46 (IF 8.1)

Savina I.N., Gun'ko V.M., Turov V.V., Dainiak M.B., Phillips G.J., Galaev I.Yu., Mikhalovsky S.V. Porous structure and water state in cross-linked polymer and protein cryo-hydrogels. Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 4276-4283 (published on web as Advance article); (IF 4.5.

Gun’ko V.M., Mikhalovska L.I., Savina I.N., Shevchenko R.V., James S.L., Tomlins P.E., Mikhalovsky S.V. Characterisation and performance of hydrogel tissue scaffolds. Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 5351-5358; (IF 4.5).

Sources/links

Activated carbons for biomedical applications:

The Biomaterials group have worked with MAST Carbon International for a number of years on projects to develop their advanced nanoporous activated carbons in bead and monolith form for the removal of inflammatory cytokines and bacterials toxins poorly removed by current treatments and most detrimental to health. This has led to patented technology and the formation of a company in 2011 called Rescala BioMed by MAST Carbon for the marketing of their carbons in the biomedical field.

www.mastcarbon.co.uk

www.rescala.com

EU IAPP project ACROBAT webpage

Natural Biomaterials

Biocare Marine project website

FLAX Interreg project

The press release of the research developed in FLAX Interreg project “Ancient fibre makes a comeback” University of Brighton, 23 April 2013.

Smart polymer materials

BioSmart project

Biomaterials Characterisation and polymer cryogel technology

Published by Sigma

The performance of laminin-containing cryogel scaffolds in neural tissue regeneration

Related links

www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Processing/Cryogel-bioreactor-pumps-out-antibodies-continuously

www.betsolutions.gr

about.brighton.ac.uk/carbosorb/mast.html

www.bme.teiath.gr/ni/EnglishVersion/Project_files/2011_OnconNanoBBB/teia.html

www.protista.se

Biofilms

NanobacterphageSERS project

Camstent project weblinks:

camstent.tumblr.com

camstent.wordpress.com/company/scientific-advisors

UoB research links:

www.brighton.ac.uk/set/news/2012/170112detection_of_human_faecal_pollution_in_water.php

Biomaterials for environmental health

en.bridge-ecocluster.eu

arts.brighton.ac.uk/projects/bridge/brightonbridgecircus

Collaborations

UK

Professor Andrew Lewis, Biocompatibles UK Ltd
Professor Steve Tennison, Rescala BioMed and MAST Carbon International, Basingstoke
Dr Kolitha Basnayake, Dr Owen Boyd, Sussex Kidney Unit and Clinical Investigation and Research Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton
Dr Andrew Davenport, UCL Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London
Professor Rajiv Jalan, Dr Nathan Davies, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, UCL, London
Professor Les Baillie, Cardiff University
Dr Yella Martin, Blond McIndoe Research Foundation
Dr Jack Taylor, Chemviron Carbon
Dr Mo, Pharmidex Pharmaceutical Services Limited, UK
Dr Rory Smith, Welland medical ltd. UK
Dr Martin Rides, National Physical Laboratories, UK
Antonio Quadrucci, The Bowel Function Healthcare Technology Co-operative, UK

International

Professor Yury Gogotsi, Nanomaterials Research Group, Drexel University, USA
Polymerics Gmb (Germany)
Albutec Gmb (Germany)
IEPOR (Ukraine)
IRSES grant partners here
Interreg grants partners here
University of Ghent (Belgium)
Universite d’Auvergne (France)
Ifremer (France)
Polymaris (France)
Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan)
Institute of Combustion Problems (Kazakhstan)
BET Solutions (Greece)
Technological Educational Institute of Athens (Greece)
Protista Biotechnology (Sweden)
Kazan Federal University (Russia)
Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry (Ukraine)
Dr Federica Paladini (Italy)
Professor Mouro Pollini (Italy)
Dr Jonathan Caplin (UK)
Dr Nino Chanishvili (Republic of Georgia)
Dr Sinan Egri (Turkey)
Professor Erhan Piskin (Turkey)

Dr Dipak Sarker is a collaborator with

  • Professor Zdravko Lalchev and Dr Georgi  Georgiev, Biophysics Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Professor Paola Pittia, Department of Food Science,  University of Teramo, Italy
  • Professors Jaques Meunier and Daniel Bonn, Physics Department, École Normale Supérieure, Paris
  • Professor Niaz Ibraev, Physics Department, Karaganda State University, Kazakhstan

Funding

Activated carbon for healthcare applications

  • National Institute for Health Research i4i project entitled “An adsorbent device to promote toxin removal during haemodialysis” (ADEPT). Start date 1-2-13. £378,234. PI –Susan Sandeman, Co-I Carol Howell, Research Fellow -Yishan Zheng
  • EU FP7 Marie Curie Industry-Academia partnerships and pathways (IAPP) project. “Adsorbent carbons for the removal of biological toxins” (ACROBAT). Start date 1-12-2012. €1451,705. PI –Susan Sandeman, Co-I Carol Howell, Contributing researchers -Yishan Zheng, Ganesh Ingavle, Irina Savina, Lyuba Mikhalovska
  • TSB:Sepsis II: advancing biomarker use in sepsis management. Validation of protein biomarkers to diagnose the early onset of sepsis. Start date 1-6-12. £389,550. Brighton Lead Carol Howell, Co-I Susan Sandeman
  • Kidney Research UK funded project “A Pilot Study to Investigate the Effects of Oral Mesoporous Carbon on Organic Azotaemic Toxins and Chronic Kidney Disease”. Start date 1-1-12. £38,601. Co-I Susan Sandeman and Carol Howell
  • Brighton Business Investment Fund award entitled “Mesospherical oral carbon for the treatment of liver disease” Start date 12-2010. £32,480. PI- Susan Sandeman, Co-I Carol Howell
  • National Institute for Health Research i4i FPD1 project entitled “The optimization of a novel carbon adsorbent filtration device to augment renal replacement therapy” (DART) 6-2010 to 8-2011. £99,040. PI- Susan Sandeman, Co-I Carol Howell
  • 2009 2011 “MONACO-EXTRA “Monolithic Adsorbent Columns for Extracorporeal Medical Devices and Bioseparations” European FP7 Industry Academic Pathways Partnership Scheme (IAPP). PI – Sergey Mikhalovsky, ECR Yishan Zheng
  • 7th European Community Framework Programme,FP7-PEOPLE- 2009-2013-IRSES, COMPOSITUM  (PI – Sergey Mikhalovsky)
  • 2010 FP7-PEOPLE-IRSES, ENSOR staff exchange programme between the EU, Russia and Japan focused on controlled production and chemical modification of a variety of novel-carbon based materials for specific end applications into the bio-organic field. (€264.9K). PI – Irina Savina
  • Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Nanostructured  Carbon adsorbents for hemoperfusion”. Start date 09-2012. £1,238,000, (Brighton lead Carol Howell. Co-I Susan Sandeman)
  • FP7 IRSES MEAD-ET:Novel medical adsorbents for extracorporeal treatment of life threatening conditions. Start Date 12-2010. €113,400. PI Carol Howell
  • FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES ABREM ' Advanced Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine' €635,400. PI Sergey Mikhalovsky. Project includes: QMUL (UK), CNRS-Orleans (France), University of Krems (Austria), Rostock University (Germany), Hacettepe University (Turkey), BiyoMedTek (Turkey), NanKai University (Tianjin, P.R. China), NorthWestern Polytechnic University (Xi'an, P.R. China), ZhongKai University of Agriculture and Technology (Guangzhou, P.R. China) and Teer Coatings Ltd (UK). 2010-2014.
  • ‘Advanced First Response Respiratory Protection’, (FRESP) FP7-SEC-2007-01 – €300,000, Co-I Sergey Mikhalovsky, Researchers Dr Carol Howell and Susan Sandeman

Nanotechnology

  • FP7 People-IAPP, NMS-CNT, The project evaluated the biocompatibility of carbon nanoparticles with tissues of the neuromuscular system (€633,648)Coordinator & PI: Jimi Adu 2009
  • MRC Training Grant MR/J006661/1 ‘Nanosystems for targeted drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier’ £109,288 (Principal Investigator Sergey Mikhalovsky. Co-investigators: Dr. RDL Whitby and Dr. M. Alavijeh (Pharmidex Ltd). 2012.

Biomaterials in corneal replacement and regeneration

  • PhD Student Elsie Fok, Lead Supervisor Susan Sandeman
  • MD Student Dr Venkata Avadhanam, Lead Supervisor Susan Sandeman, Co-S Ganesh Ingavle

Biomaterials for CV stenting

  • INTERREG IIIa project 'Epidemiology, Risk Factors and New Technology in Coronary Stenting'  The total cost of the project is £1,212,886, of which the total contribution of INTERREG is £482,056, including £258,620 to the University of Brighton and £223,436 to the University of Lille. Team Leader of the University of Brighton. Co-ordinator of the project Prof. J-M Lablanche, University of Lille. 2005-
  • 7th European Community Framework Programme,FP7-PEOPLE- 2013-2016-IRSES, “NANOBIOMAT”  (PI Lyuba Mikhalovska)

Polymer gels and networks

  • 2009 Project Grant of the President of the Russian Federation for Young Scientists, Novel materials for nerve grow (£4,500) PI Irina Savina (in collaboration with Dr. J. Adu and Dr. L. Mikhalovska).
  • 2011 FP7-PEOPLE-RG, Bio-Smart, Novel smart materials for biomedical application, individual reintegration grant to support research at the host university (45k EUR, £60K, £10K).PI Irina Savina
  • 2012 Project grant of Russian Federal Programme for Russian scientists living abroad: "Tissue engineering materials based on macroporous cryogels and non-viral delivery systems, growth factors: the development and testing in peripheral nerve injury and therapeutic angiogenesis" № 14.A18.21.1236 (2,800,000 RUB, ~£60,000) Russian collaboration grant. PI Irina Savina
  • 2012 Project Grant of the President of the Russian Federation for Young Scientists, Novel cryogel materials for biomedical application (£6,300). PI Irina Savina

Biomaterials characterisation

  • 2010, 2012, Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) research grant (provide neutron beams and instrument access at the ILL in Grenoble, France. The project aim is studying adsorption of proteins on the carbon based materials PI- Irina Savina
  • 2013Novel collagen and hydroxyapatite scaffold for the repair of age related bone and cartilage defects. Programme of the Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Kazakhstan (PI- A Pannala, Co-Is I. Savina and L. Mikhalovska) (£327K)
  • 2012 “Development and evaluation of a quantitative imaging technique for assessment of nanoparticle drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier: Applications for brain cancer therapeutics.” FP7 IAPP project, OncoNanoBBB, PI Sergey Mikhalovsky, Contributing researchers - I. Savina, M. Illsley and L. Mikhalovska

Biomaterial approaches to wound healing and antimicrobial resistance

  • 2012 UB Grand Challenge Award of £46,000 Light Integrated Gel Healthcare Technology (LIGHT) PI- Iain Allan. This is in collaboration with Dr Joan Farrer of the Faculty of Art.
  • Carbon Polymer Dressings. £260,000 Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Kazakhstan, under the Longevity (Ageing) Programme. This project is in collaboration with Nazarbayev University. PI Iain Allan, Co-I Matt Illsley
  • Microwave wound dressing £18,000Republic of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with Nazarbayev University. PI Matt Illsley.
  • 2006-2010MATISS – ‘Biomaterials for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration’€1,170,000. Marie Curie Host Fellowships for the Transfer of Knowledge (ToK) Industry-Academia Partnership Scheme. PI Sergey Mikhalovsky, project involves University of Brighton, MAST Carbon International Ltd, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, Welland Medical Ltd (UK), Lund University, Protista AB (Sweden), StratiCELL and Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (Belgium)
  • MOD (UK) A battlefield wound dressing based on a polymer cryogel – activated carbon composite £375,000 PI Sergey Mikhalovsky, Research Fellow Matt Illsley, with Dstl, MAST Carbon Ltd and Brightwake Ltd. 2007-

Biofilms

  • 2013 Society for Applied Microbiology New Lecturer grant of £8,000. An Investigation into the persistence of virulent, antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli O157 within freshwater epilithic biofilms and agricultural animal populations over a ten-year period. (New Microbiology Lecturer of the Year Grant 2013). PI Dr I Cooper.
  • 2012 Camstent Ltd. Consultancy project award of £7,878. PI Dr I Cooper.
  • 2012 Camstent Ltd. Consultancy project award of £32,826. PI Dr I Cooper & Dr A Guildford
  • 2011-14 “NanoBacterphageSERS” European FP7 Industry Academic Pathways Partnership Scheme (IAPP), University of Brighton. £314,998. Dr J Caplin PI, Co-I Dr I Cooper.
  • 2011 Camstent Ltd. Consultancy project award of £4,860. PI Dr I Cooper & Dr A Guildford

Natural biomaterials and environmentally friendly biomaterial design

  • Interreg IV A France (Channel) – England 2007-2013 European Programme, Flax, Increasing its value for Society €2,500,750 (PI Sergey Mikhalovsky, Co-I Lyuba Mikhalovska). Partners are: CNRS-Rouen, University of Rouen, University of Le Havre, Linière de Bosc Nouvel S.A. (France).
  • Interreg 2-Seas IVA award Biocare Marine £1.6 million. The consortium consists of UB (lead partner), University of Gent (Belgium), Ifremer (Governmental organisation, France) and Polymaris (Biotech SME, France). The project is funded until September 2014. PI- Iain Allan

Environmentally friendly biomaterial design

  • TSB ‘Fully Flushable Ostomy Pouch with Accelerated Bio-degradation’, £1,098,629 University of Brighton team leader. Brighton’s share is £293,629 – 80% of FEC, total FEC £367,036. Welland Medical is the lead partner, another partner is National Physical Laboratory. 2009-2012
  • HTD (Department of Health) 'Novel connection system for ostomy collection devices (ONYCS)', £117,850, Project manager and University of Brighton team leader. Brighton's share is £89,350, of which 80% of FEC is funded by HTD. Welland Medical Ltd is the industrial partner. 2009-2012
  • Interreg IVA (South) project 3923 The Building Research and Innovation Deals for the Green Economy BRIDGE. €2.4 million in total. July 2012 – December 2014. PI Dr Joan Farrer (Faculty of Arts), Co-I Cressida Bowyer, Iain Allan French partners: MIRIADE, ESITPA, ESITC Caen, Normandie Incubation, Orne Development and ISPA.

Awards. recognition, impact

University of Brighton Innovation Award (2005) for work developing a novel carbon device for the treatment of sepsis.

The group were awarded a research innovation award by the University of Brighton to organise a networking event in September 2009 focussed on exploring applications for natural hemp and flax. The event brought together a multi-disciplinary group of industrial and academic researchers from the UK and other European partners with expertise in civil and geotechnical engineering, environmental lifecycle analysis, biomaterials, food and packaging, architecture and product design and an interest in the growth and application of hemp and flax derived products. The overall aim was to establish collaborative research links and generate funding initiatives.

The BRIDGE Circus event (December 2013) was a symposium, business-to-business networking event and exhibition to showcase the University, students and staff work alike alongside local businesses. The event was held as part of The Building Research and Innovation Deals for the Green Economy (BRIDGE) project. In February 2014 theBiocare Marine consortium will hold a public engagement event at the Sea Life Centre, Brighton, to showcase the project. This was a high profile event and was part of the programme of the Brighton Science Festival. In 2014, there was a further major dissemination event for the project, held in Brest, France.

Outreach activities

The Big Bang Fair South East is part of a nationwide Big Bang programme, the biggest single celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people in the UK. The event on the 29 June 2016 hosted over 6,000 students. Download The Big Bang Fair South East 2016 (pdf) details of our involvement.

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