A5015167921- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Polydiacetylene-based materials and applications
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
- Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Corneal Surgery and Treatments
- Wound Healing and Treatments
- Layered Double Hydroxides Synthesis and Applications
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Circular RNAs in diseases
- Micro and Nano Robotics
University of Nottingham
2022-2024
AO Foundation
2023
University of Liverpool
2022
Queen Mary University of London
2018-2021
Transnational Press London
2019
University of York
2013-2016
Dibenzylidene-D-sorbitol (DBS) has been a well-known low-molecular-weight gelator of organic solvents for over 100 years. As such, it constitutes very early example supramolecular gel--a research field which recently developed into one intense interest. The ability DBS to self-assemble sample-spanning networks in numerous is predicated upon its 'butterfly-like' structure, whereby the benzylidene groups constitute 'wings' and sorbitol backbone 'body'--the two parts representing molecular...
We report a novel gelator functionalised with hydrazides (as replacements for carboxylic acids) which, as result, is able to assemble into hydrogels across wide pH range – this exhibits pH-switchable dye adsorption–desorption dependent on protonation of the target dyes and their resulting interactions self-assembled gel nanofibres.
Self-assembled nanofibers are ubiquitous in nature and serve as inspiration for the design of supramolecular hydrogels. A multicomponent approach offers possibility enhancing tunability functionality this class materials. We report on synergistic self-assembly involving a peptide amphiphile (PA) 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) gelator to generate hydrogels with tunable nanoscale morphology, improved stiffness, enhanced self-healing, stability enzymatic degradation. Using induced...
Abstract A hydrogel based on 1,3:2,4‐dibenzylidenesorbitol (DBS), modified with acyl hydrazides which extracts gold/silver salts from model waste is reported, preferential uptake of precious heavy metals over other common metals. Reduction occurs spontaneously in the gel to yield metal nanoparticles located nanofibers. High nanoparticle loadings can be achieved, endowing electrochemical activity. These hybrid gels exhibit higher conductances than doped carbon nanotubes, and used modify...
Abstract Synthetic osteo‐promoting materials that are able to stimulate and accelerate bone formation without the addition of exogenous cells or growth factors represent a major opportunity for an aging world population. A co‐assembling system integrates hyaluronic acid tyramine ( HA‐Tyr ), bioactive peptide amphiphiles GHK‐Cu 2+ Laponite Lap ) engineer hydrogels with physical, mechanical, biomolecular signals can be tuned enhance regeneration is reported. The central design element...
3D printing offers an exciting opportunity to fabricate biological constructs with specific geometries, clinically relevant sizes, and functions for biomedical applications. However, successful application of is limited by the narrow range printable bio-instructive materials. Multicomponent hydrogel bioinks present unique opportunities create materials able display high structural fidelity fulfill mechanical functional requirements in situ tissue engineering. Herein, perfusable...
Hybrid hydrogels combining both a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG, 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-D-sorbitol–p,p′-dicarboxylic acid) and polymer (PG, agarose) are reported. The dynamic assembly of the LMWG is explored in absence presence PG using NMR CD methods. It shown that still assembles into chiral nanofibres nanoscale network, although kinetics somewhat modified. As such, these hybrid materials can be considered as self-sorting multi-gelator gels. Importantly, retains its pH-responsive...
Abstract A simple approach to a patterned multidomain gel is reported, combining pH‐responsive low‐molecular‐weight gelator (LMWG) and photoinducible polymer (PG). Using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), NMR spectroscopy, CD, we demonstrate that self‐assembly of the LMWG network occurs in presence PG network, but has an influence on assembly kinetics morphology. The application mask during photoirradiation allows patterning network; define resulting system as “multidomain gel”—one domain...
A simple supramolecular hydrogel is able to extract acid-functionalised anti-inflammatory drugs<italic>via</italic>directed interactions with the self-assembled gel nanofibres and exhibits pH-controlled drug release.
Supramolecular chemistry offers an exciting opportunity to assemble materials with molecular precision. However, there remains unmet need turn self-assembly into functional and devices. Harnessing the inherent properties of both disordered proteins graphene oxide (GO), we report a protein-GO co-assembling system that through diffusion-reaction process disorder-to-order transitions generates hierarchically organized exhibit high stability access non-equilibrium on demand. We use experimental...
Synthetic nanostructured materials incorporating both organic and inorganic components offer a unique, powerful, versatile class of for widespread applications due to the distinct, yet complementary, nature intrinsic properties different constituents. We report supramolecular system based on synthetic nanoclay (Laponite,
Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with tumor progression therapy resistance. To further the understanding of how stiffening microenvironment (TME) contributes to aggressiveness, three‐dimensional (3D) self‐assembling hydrogel disease model developed based on peptide amphiphiles (PAs, PA‐E3Y ) designed tailor stiffness. The displays nanofibrous architectures reminiscent native TME enables study invasive...
Covalent co-assembly holds great promise for the fabrication of hydrogels with controllable nanostructure, versatile chemical composition, and enhanced mechanical properties given its relative simplicity, high efficiency, bond stability.
Abstract A hydrogel based on 1,3:2,4‐dibenzylidenesorbitol (DBS), modified with acyl hydrazides which extracts gold/silver salts from model waste is reported, preferential uptake of precious heavy metals over other common metals. Reduction occurs spontaneously in the gel to yield metal nanoparticles located nanofibers. High nanoparticle loadings can be achieved, endowing electrochemical activity. These hybrid gels exhibit higher conductances than doped carbon nanotubes, and used modify...
Self-assembling bioinks offer the possibility to biofabricate with molecular precision, hierarchical control, and biofunctionality. For this become a reality widespread impact, it is essential engineer these ink systems ensuring reproducibility providing suitable standardization. We have reported self-assembling bioink based on disorder-to-order transitions of an elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) co-assemble graphene oxide (GO). Here, we establish reproducible processes, optimize printing...
Abstract A simple approach to a patterned multidomain gel is reported, combining pH‐responsive low‐molecular‐weight gelator (LMWG) and photoinducible polymer (PG). Using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), NMR spectroscopy, CD, we demonstrate that self‐assembly of the LMWG network occurs in presence PG network, but has an influence on assembly kinetics morphology. The application mask during photoirradiation allows patterning network; define resulting system as “multidomain gel”—one domain...
Self-assembling bio-instructive materials that can provide a biomimetic tissue microenvironment with the capability to regulate cellular behaviors represent an attractive platform in regenerative medicine. Herein, we develop hybrid neuro-instructive hydrogel combines properties of photo-crosslinkable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and self-assembling peptide amphiphiles (PAs) bearing laminin-derived neuro-inductive epitope (PA-GSR). Electrostatic interaction ultraviolet light crosslinking...
Hydrogel wound dressings can play critical roles in healing protecting the from trauma or contamination and providing an ideal environment to support growth of endogenous cells promote closure. This work presents a self-assembling hydrogel dressing that assist repair process mimicking hierarchical structure skin extracellular matrix. To this aim, co-assembly behaviour carboxylated variant xyloglucan (CXG) with peptide amphiphile (PA-H3) has been investigated generate constructs tuneable...
Abstract The wound healing capacity of the fetal membranes after spontaneous or iatrogenic membrane rupture is unclear. We examined mechanisms in amniotic (AM) defects trauma. Traumatised human AM were cultured for 4 days. Markers nuclear (DAPI), cell type (vimentin, αSMA) and (Cx43, TGFβ 1 , collagen) by immunofluorescence (IMF) confocal microscopy, Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging RT-qPCR. After trauma, AMCs myofibroblasts migrated to edge. Within four days, αSMA expressing showed...