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Explore our diagnosis and therapy research

Exploring the design, synthesis and biomedical applications of biomaterials, biosensors, drugs and drug delivery systems

Our research investigates bioactive molecules and biocompatible materials for their potential use as drug carriers, bioadhesives, therapeutic and diagnostic agents, tissue regeneration scaffolds and surgical implants.

We work on both natural and synthetic polymeric materials, giving them enhanced properties, such as the ability to respond to stimuli of different nature (smart materials), to simulate body structure and function (biomimetic materials), enhance diagnostic techniques and target drugs to specific parts of the body.

Our work is supported by expertise in:

  • molecular modelling and molecular dynamics techniques
  • polymer synthesis and characterisation
  • production of nano materials (polymeric or lipid nanoparticles, silver and gold nanostructures, DNA based constructs)
  • medicinal chemistry
  • formulation science
  • quantitative analytical techniques
  • developing biomedical technologies for clinical cancer diagnosis
  • biological evaluation of biomaterials with both cells and microorganisms
  • manufacturing technologies such as nanoparticles self-assembly,  emulsion and suspension techniques, 3D printing and electrospinning

Collaborations

We frequently collaborate with researchers from other disciplines – such as clinicians and engineers – within the University, and with industrial partners, and the National Health Service (NHS). Our research projects have been funded by major organisations, including ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Hospitals NHS Trust, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), GlaxoSmithKline and Haleon.

Publication highlights

  • Zhao, Y., Chandrasekaran, A. R., Rusling, D. A., Woloszyn, K., Hao, Y., Hernandez, C., Vecchioni, S., Ohayon, Y. P., Mao, C., Seeman, N. C. and Sha, R., (2023), "The formation and displacement of ordered DNA triplexes in self-assembled three-dimensional DNA crystals", Journal of the American Chemical Society.

  • d’Arcy, R., El Mohtadi, F., Francini, N., R. DeJulius, C., Back, H., Gennari, A., Geven, M., Lopez-Cavestany, M., Yesim Turhan, Z., Yu, F., Bong Lee, J., R. King, M., Kagan, L., Duvall, C. L. and Tirelli, N., (2022), "A reactive oxygen species-scavenging ‘stealth’ polymer, poly(thioglycidyl glycerol), outperforms poly(ethylene glycol) in protein conjugates and nanocarriers and enhances protein stability to environmental and biological stressors", Journal of the American Chemical Society.

  • Roncada, T., Bonithon, R., Blunn, G., and Roldo, M. (2022) "Soft substrates direct stem cell differentiation into the chondrogenic lineage without the use of growth factors", Journal of Tissue Engineering

Facilities

RIS 2019 Photoshoot

Marta Roldo Lab

Learn more about the research Marta and her team are conducting as a part of the Advanced Materials for Diagnosis and Therapy Research Group.

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Our members

Karen Elizabeth Ball Portrait

Dr Karen Ball

Head of School

Karen.Ball@port.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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Paul Cox Portrait

Professor Paul Cox

Professor of Materials Chemistry

Paul.Cox@port.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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Dr Farah El Mohtadi

Senior Lecturer

Farah.ElMohtadi@port.ac.uk

PhD Supervisor

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Susanna Maria Van Der Merwe Portrait

Dr Marisa Van Der Merwe

Associate Dean (Academic)

Marisa.Vdmerwe@port.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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Priyanka Dey Portrait

Dr Priyanka Dey

Senior Lecturer

priyanka.dey@port.ac.uk

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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David Anthony Rusling Portrait

Dr David Rusling

Senior Lecturer

David.Rusling@port.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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Roja Hadianamrei Portrait

Dr Roja Hadianamrei

Senior Lecturer

Roja.Hadianamrei@port.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

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View our areas of expertise

These areas of expertise are part of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences research area.

Nanomaterials for Drug and Gene Delivery

We're helping to create targeted, safe and effective medicines to positively impact patients' lives.

STANDARD LICENSE; PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL ASSET FOR FULL LICENSE TERMS.
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Diagnostics

We develop novel technologies for disease diagnosis at an early pre-symptomatic stage using a synergistic combination of gold nanostructures and unique Raman spectroscopic techniques

Femtosecond Laser Ablation (LA) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) system
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Biomaterials for tissue engineering

We work at developing products that will be used in the repair of damaged tissue, in particular cartilage, bone, tendons and muscles.

16th & 17th January 2019
Centre for Enzyme Innovation Bid
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Theory, Modelling and Drug Design

Discover how our research identifies new drug molecules and improves drug design

SHSSW photo shoot, November 2018
Nursing, Operating Department Practice (ODP) and Paramedic Science students.
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