Funded PhD: Optimising host response biology to advance wound dressing efficacy

Project in brief

Chronic, non-healing wounds affect 22 million patients annually. Whilst advances have been made in antimicrobial and moisture protecting dressings there remaining significant challenges in providing dressings which can resolve chronic inflammation within the non-healing wound bed. One of the most important considerations is optimisation of the interface between the dressing and the wound bed in order to moderate hyper-inflammation and promote wound healing. This can be done through biomimicry in which host response biology is taken into account to improve protein interactions, prevent biofouling and other negative triggers which repress wound resolution. In this project you will develop methods to profile the wound bed environment for optimization of wound resolution processes using surface modified dressings. You will work in an interdisciplinary research environment at the interface between biomaterials, tissue engineering and bioengineering.

Key Facts

Location: Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Themes: Wound dressings, wound healing, protein interactions, fluid dynamics, tissue engineering

Research centre: Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices

Application deadline: 01 September 2022, 17.00

Expected interview date: 12 September 2022

Mode of study: Full-time or part-time

Start date: October 2022 with potential for a later start

Find out how to apply

Project supervisors

Dr Susan Sandeman

I supervise students in research areas related to biomedical materials and tissue engineering. I'm particularly interested in cell-biomaterial interactions and in strategies to understand changing tissue dynamics in disease and injury in order to optimise functional tissue repair and replacement.

Current PhD Students

Natalia Noriega (2019-2022) Optoelectronic bionanomaterials for ophthalmic biosensing

Grace Cooksley (2019-2022) Optoelectronic nanomaterials to reduce the complications associated with cataract surgery

Neda Hedari (2017-2021)The role of senescence in bioartificial liver design

Emma Ward (2017-2021)A new class of two dimensional optoelectronic materials in accommodating intraocular lens design

Dr Vankata Avadhanam (2013 - current)Clinico-radiological study of OOKP lamina and development of a synthetic lamina

Previous PhD Students

Wulan Koagouw (2017-2021)Integrative Assessment of Marine Pollution - Impact of Pharmaceuticals on Marine Bivalves

Flavia Bonalumi (2017-2020)Engineering a bioartificial liver prototype using cell loaded macroporous hydrogel scaffolds

Tochukwu Ozulumba (2015 - 2019)Nanostructured scaffolds for remediation of environmental and biological tissue contaminants

Elsie Fok (2013) The development of advanced corneal epithelial stem cell delivery systems for the treatment of corneal epithelial defects

Yishan Zheng (2012) Hybrid filtration adsorbent systems for extracorporeal applications

Prof Cyril Crua

I supervise research students in experimental thermofluids, including the development of optical measurement techniques for droplets, sprays and other complex flows. These subjects are often linked to applications in energy (fuel efficiency, energy recovery, carbon capture), manufacturing (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) and medical devices (bioartificial organs, optical implants).

I have supervised 14 PhDs to completion and examined 20 PhDs in the UK, France, Denmark, Malaysia, and Australia. I currently supervise 3 PhDs researching spray systems and complex fluids (Paul McGinn, Alex Gander, Louis Dacanay).

Dr Dipak Sarker

My research and supervisory interests cover materials science and nanotechnology (colloids) related subjects. These traverse synthetic inorganic chemistry (PhD - Gennaro Dichello; Dr Penko Nikolov; Dr Krassimir Genov), carbon nanotubes (PhD - Evgeniya Seliverstova), nanoparticle and gel-based drug delivery systems (PhD - Shaimaa Shagarki; PhD- Kais Shaban; PhD - Othman Al-Hanbali; PhD - Atia Naseem), nanoparticle sensor systems (Dr Yunlong Xu; Dr Samaa Salem) nanoparticle food systems (PhD - Carla DiMattia), nanoparticle biophysics systems (PhD - Georgi Georgiev) and specialist analytical techniques (Dr Karl Pavey; Dr David Howbrook). I routinely supervise Post-doctoral study, PhD's, Masters degree students, Erasmus students and industrially-linked researcher project work in the following areas:

Materials science - materials chemistry, polymer sciences (plastics and bioplastics), materials physics (photonics, plasmonics), mechanics and texture, design and device engineering
Nanotechnology - novel materials, fullerenes and graphene, micro- and nanoanalytics, sensing and diagnostic systems and applications
Condensed matter physics - complex fluids, wetting and detergency, dispersions (emulsions, foams, bubbles, droplets, gels), colloids (vesicles, micelles, nanobeads, SLNs), liquid crystals, rheology
Drug delivery system design - nanoparticle and coarse dispersion based systems
Sustainability and 3R's approaches (reduce, replace, recycle)
Materials specifically for food products and medical applications
Analytical chemistry and the theoretical basis for measurement science - physical sciences
Recycling and re-assignment of 'waste' materials
Packaging materials use and design
Composite materials and civil engineering construction materials
Environmental pollution and contamination with plastics (microplastics, nanoplastics) and plastic additives in addition to suspended and dissolved organic and inorganic pollutants
Mathematical modelling and simulation of real-world events
Industrial process improvement, quality control and quality assurance

Past and present PhD students from 2001PresentShima Khezri Aziz Far (2020- )

Responsive vesicular systems based on incorporated metallic nanoparticles

Natalie Huckle (2022- )Biocomposite materials for control of environmental pollutionSertan Kiziloz (2023-)Optimising host response biology to advance wound dressing efficacyPastGennaro Dichello (2012-2018)

Targeting of brain tumours with photo-dynamic therapy using liposomes and encapsulated metal nanoparticles

Kais Shaban (2014-2018)Levothyroxine drug stability and formulation in fast-dissolving oral filmsShaimaa Shakargi (2014-2018)Synthesis and therapeutic use of environmentally-sensitive polymeric micelles for drug deliveryCristina Boscariol (2015-2019)The physics of impacting droplets on model solid surfaces PhD students at the University of Brighton and OverseasEvgeniya Seliverstova (2014)Energy transfer mechanisms and the photo-optical effects of fluorophore-conjugated grapheneCarla Di Mattia (2009)Photo-oxidative changes in protein-stabilised olive oil emulsions Georgi Georgiev (2008)Phase transitions in striated foam films as models of cells membranes Othman Al-Hanbali (2008)A novel assay for block co-polymer non-ionic surfactants used in nanoparticle surface engineering Atia Naseem (2003)Approaches to enhancing the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs

Other collaborators

EPSRC Healthcare Technologies grant colleagues.

This PhD is part of a 6-year collaborative project with 10 other academics, 3 postdoctoral fellows and 4 industry partners.

Project in detail: Optimising host response biology to advance wound dressing efficacy

Chronic, non-healing wounds affect 22 million patients annually. Whilst advances have been made in antimicrobial and moisture protecting dressings there remaining significant challenges in providing dressings which can resolve chronic inflammation within the non-healing wound bed. One of the most important considerations is optimisation of the interface between the dressing and the wound bed in order to moderate hyper-inflammation and promote wound healing. This can be done through biomimicry in which host response biology is taken into account to improve protein interactions, prevent biofouling and other negative triggers which repress wound resolution. The aim of this study is therefore to profile and optimise wound resolution processes using dressings modified with biomimetic macromolecules for improved tissue integration and healing.

In the first part of the study a profile of the wound bed environment will be created using wound dressing exudate (Sandeman, Crua). The interaction and penetration of protein, cells and fluid within wound dressing materials will be considered (Sandeman, Crua, Sarker). Surface modification with biomimetic macromolecules and their impact on these interactions will then be investigated in order to optimise biointerfacial phenomena, improve dressing biocompatibility, efficacy and promote wound healing (Sandeman, Crua, Sarker).

Entry requirements

Academic entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in biomedical science/bioengineering or a related subject and desirably hold or expect to achieve excellent grades in a Master’s degree, in a relevant subject from a UK university or comparable qualifications from another recognised university.

Applicants are also required to submit a 1000-word research proposal.

Eligibility criteria

Due to the post’s funding, it is only open to home applicants as defined by the Fees Regulations.

English language entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must have successfully completed a Secure English language Test (SELT) in the last two years. Applicants who have obtained or are studying for a UK degree may apply without a SELT. However, the university may request a SELT is taken as part of any award made.

English language IELTS requirements are 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0.

We accept a number of English language qualification including IELTS. Please contact us if you have any queries arising from this. Further details can be found here:

Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Funding

This studentship funded by the University of Brighton and supports the EPSRC Healthcare Technologies grant, ‘A biomimetic macromolecular platform for tissue healing and diagnostics at medical device interfaces: a personalised wound dressing model’. Applications are welcomed from candidates considering a full-time or part-time mode of study. For students meeting the Home fee requirements, the studentship consists of full UK tuition fees as well as a Doctoral Stipend at the UKRI rate. For full-time study the studentship is for 3 years, for part-time student, the studentship is for 6 years, with the stipend being 50% of the UKRI rate.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the project, please contact the lead supervisor, Dr Susan Sandeman, via the contact details on their profile page above or on telephone +44 (0)1273 642113.

If you have any questions about the funding or application process, please contact DoctoralCollege@brighton.ac.uk.

Guide to making your application

We will only consider complete applications - the application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following: 

Your 1000-word research statement and response to the project. 
Copies of your bachelors and master certificates, including transcripts. 
Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable). 
Copy of your passport. 
Two references uploaded or requested - one must be an academic reference from your most recent period of study. Both must have been written within the last year.

Read the research proposal guide

Apply online

To submit your application please follow these steps: 

Click the 'apply online now' button, on the right. 
Select 'register and start a new application', to create your user account. 
Once you are logged in, select 'apply to a new course'. 
Select the type of course 'research degree'. 
Select mode of study 'full-time'. 
Select 'Doctoral College'. 
Select 'Optimising the wound dressing interface’
Click 'apply'.

You will now be able to complete the online application form. 

Apply online now