Synthesis, characterisation and biofunctionalisation of magnetoelectric nanoparticles for biomedical application

Magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENP) are nanoparticles that can exhibit ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously. The coupling between the two properties is significant because it facilitates a direct control of ferroelectricity or ferromagnetism. Although, there are several ways of achieving magnetoelectric effect, combining a ferromagnetic material with a ferroelectric material in a core-shell nanostructure has gained significant interest in recent years due to large magnetoelectric effects. The magnetic nanoparticle used in this study will be cobalt ferrite due to its high magneto strictive coefficient and the ferroelectric phase will be barium titanate due to its high piezoelectric coefficient.

The synthesis of monodisperse MENP and control of its size and morphology is of vital importance in biomedical application as the properties of nanoparticles are dependent on these variables. The hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles affects factors such as nanoparticle concentration profile in a blood vessel, affects nanoparticle clearance from circulation, and affects the permeability of nanoparticles out of the vasculature. Similarly, the shape affects nanoparticles circulating time with anisotropic NP like rod shape NP with higher aspect ratio having longer circulation time and higher bioavailability compared to spherical nanoparticles. Furthermore, in the case of MENP, it is also the coupling between the magnetic and electric phases that is dependent on size and morphology. As MENP for biomedical application is a recently emerging field, the current roadblock in the advancement of MENP is the controlled synthesis of MENP with tuneable size and morphology that can also be reproducible. Along with the synthesis, characterisation of MENP is vital to evaluate their properties. Techniques such as X-ray Diffraction for purity analysis, Transmission Emission Microscopy for size and morphology analysis, Dynamic Light Scattering for hydrodynamic size study, Infrared Spectroscopy for surface composition study, Superconducting Quantum Interference Device for magnetic properties, a modified Scanning Probe Microscope for magnetoelectric characterisation among others will be utilised in my research. Finally, the synthesised MENP will be functionalised for specific biomedical application. To conclude, my research focuses on studying the shape and size effect of MENP on the coupling of electric and magnetic phases at the interface and its new functionalities for biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery.

The production and processing of materials accounts for 15% of UK GDP and generates exports valued at £50bn annually, with UK materials related industries having a turnover of £197bn/year. It is, therefore, clear that the success of the UK economy is linked to the success of high value materials manufacturing, spanning a broad range of industrial sectors. In order to remain competitive and innovate in these sectors it is necessary to understand fundamental properties and critical processes at a range of length scales and dynamically and link these to the materials' performance. It is in this underpinning space that the CDT-ACM fits.

The impact of the CDT will be wide reaching, encompassing all organisations who research, manufacture or use advanced materials in sectors ranging from energy and transport to healthcare and the environment. Industry will benefit from the supply of highly skilled research scientists and engineers with the training necessary to advance materials development in all of these crucial areas. UK and international research facilities (Diamond, ISIS, ILL etc.) will benefit greatly from the supply of trained researchers who have both in-depth knowledge of advanced characterisation techniques and a broad understanding of materials and their properties. UK academia will benefit from a pipeline of researchers trained in state-of the art techniques in world leading research groups, who will be in prime positions to win prestigious fellowships and lectureships. From a broader perspective, society in general will benefit from the range of planned outreach activities, such as the Mary Rose Trust, the Royal Society Summer Exhibition and visits to schools. These activities will both inform the general public and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The cohort based training offered by the CDT-ACM will provide the next generation of research scientists and engineers who will pioneer new research techniques, design new multi-instrument workflows and advance our knowledge in diverse fields. We will produce 70 highly qualified and skilled researchers who will support the development of new technologies, in for instance the field of electric vehicles, an area of direct relevance to the UK industrial impact strategy.
In summary, the CDT will address a skills gap that has arisen through the rapid development of new characterisation techniques; therefore, it will have a positive impact on industry, research facilities and academia and, consequently, wider society by consolidating and strengthening UK leadership in this field.