Research Supervisors: Brian Rodriguez & Gareth Redmond (UCD)
Collaborators:
Katia Gallo, KTH‐Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Madhu Bhaskaran & Sharath Sriram, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia
Scientific
Cellular interactions with mechanically nanostructured and chemically functionalized surfaces,
and substrates with stiffness gradients have been well‐studied for understanding cellular mechanotransduction; however, these approaches generally neglect electrostatics and electromechanical coupling, which are always present in biological systems. The ultimate objective of this project is to use charge‐functionalized and mechanosensitive surfaces to address and understand the role of charge and electromechanically‐active substrates on surface‐bound
Project
We will use substrates with locally reversible surface charge (i.e., organic and inorganic ferroelectric materials with reversible polarization), which can be charge‐patterned from the length
The charge will be exploited for charge‐patterning‐directed self‐assembly, adsorption of proteins and molecules, and local reactivity. Local charge conditions can be further modified using thermal or optical excitation, thus allowing both static and dynamic effects of the patterning on protein adsorption and chemical reactivity to be determined. The cellular response to charge and protein‐patterned surfaces will also be investigated, broadening our understanding of mechano‐ and electrotransduction. This research is expected to have a significant impact on biomimetic design of engineered tissues and implants.
Funding
4 year PhD position (PRTLI5) & Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Applications
EU‐applicants related for the project, along with the contact details of two referees to brian.rodriguez@ucd.ie with the a suitable applicant is found.
PRTLI5_PG_BR2011b.pdf
More information:http://www.nanofunction.org/brian‐rodriguez/
Cellular interactions with mechanically nanostructured and chemically functionalized surfaces,
and substrates with stiffness gradients have been well‐studied for understanding cellular mechanotransduction; however, these approaches generally neglect electrostatics and electromechanical coupling, which are always present in biological systems. The ultimate objective of this project is to use charge‐functionalized and mechanosensitive surfaces to address and understand the role of charge and electromechanically‐active substrates on surface‐bound
Project
We will use substrates with locally reversible surface charge (i.e., organic and inorganic ferroelectric materials with reversible polarization), which can be charge‐patterned from the length
The charge will be exploited for charge‐patterning‐directed self‐assembly, adsorption of proteins and molecules, and local reactivity. Local charge conditions can be further modified using thermal or optical excitation, thus allowing both static and dynamic effects of the patterning on protein adsorption and chemical reactivity to be determined. The cellular response to charge and protein‐patterned surfaces will also be investigated, broadening our understanding of mechano‐ and electrotransduction. This research is expected to have a significant impact on biomimetic design of engineered tissues and implants.
Funding
4 year PhD position (PRTLI5) & Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Applications
EU‐applicants related for the project, along with the contact details of two referees to brian.rodriguez@ucd.ie with the a suitable applicant is found.
PRTLI5_PG_BR2011b.pdf
More information:http://www.nanofunction.org/brian‐rodriguez/
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