| Title | Next generation wound dressings |
|---|---|
| Supervisor | Vania Moreira |
| Research Area | |
| Description | The health economic burden on the UK's NHS caused by chronic wounds, including pressure, diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers, is currently estimated as £5.0 billion, an amount matching the one spent in managing obesity.1 Chronic wounds inflict pain, loss of function and mobility as well as depression and social isolation that lead to chronic morbidity or even death. As chronic wounds provide optimal conditions for bacterial growth, limiting infection and bacterial aggregation that may lead to biofilm formation, i.e., bacterial clusters that can only be removed mechanically, is often required. This is managed with antimicrobial dressings containing silver that kills bacteria once released from the material, during the course of time.2 However, silver is highly toxic to both human cells and the environment and there are major concerns the promotion of resistance to metal antimicrobials.3 We are currently working towards a new generation of wound dressings based on biocompatible advanced polymers from nature and antimicrobial agents developed in-house.3- 6 The work in this project will be highly multidisciplinary and entail organic synthesis of compounds and materials fully supported by state-of-the-art structural elucidation techniques including 1D, 2D and MAS NMR, XPS, AFM, mass spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Computational molecular dynamics models are used to relate structure with function. The work offers training not only in organic syntheses but also in computational chemistry and basic microbiology techniques, including biofilm analysis. The project benefits from a large network of international and national collaborations as well as from strong connections to industrial partners in the UK. |
| Techniques Used | |
| References | 1. Guest, J. F.; Ayoub, N.; McIlwraith, Uchegbu, I., Gerrish, A., Weidlich, D., Vowden, K., Vowden, P. BMJ Open 2015: e009283. 2. Leaper, D.; Assadian, O.; Edmiston, C. E. Br. J. Dermatol. 2015, 173, 351–358. 3. Manner, S., Vahermo, M., Skogman, M., Kogerus, S., Vuorela, P., Yli-Kauhaluoma, J., Fallarero, A., Moreira, V. M. Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2015, 102, 68. 4. Helfenstein, A.; Vahermo, M.; Nawrot, D.; Demirci, F; İşcan, G.; Krogerus, S.; Yli- Kauhaluoma, J.; Moreira, V. M.; Tammela, P. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2017, 25, 132. 5. Moreira, V. M., Vahermo, M., Fallarero, A., Yli-Kauhaluoma, J., Vuorela, P. WO 2016/051013 A1, April 7th 2016. 6. Hassan, G.; Forsman, N.; Wan, X.; Keurulainen, L.; Bimbo, L. M.; Johansson, L.-S.; Sipari, N., Yli-Kauhaluoma, J.; Saris, P. E. J.; Zimmermann, R., Stehl, S. Werner, C.; Saris, P.E., Österberg, M.; Moreira, V. M. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2019, 7: 5002-5009. |
| Conditions | Applicants should possess or be about to obtain a 1st class or 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline in addition to receipt of satisfactory references and an IELTS score of 6.5 where appropriate. |
| Bench Fee | Running costs of £4500 - 5000 p.a. will be associated with this project in addition to University tuition fees. |
| Apply Now |