Engineering Nanomaterials for and from Biology
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Engineering Nanomaterials for and from BiologyEngineering superior nanomaterials through greater understanding and exploitation of biology.It is now commonly recognized that materials with nanometre-scale dimensions have unique functional properties that can lead to novel engineering systems with highly useful characteristics. Most traditional approaches to synthesis of nanoscale materials, unlike those in biology, require stringent conditions and often produce toxic byproducts. Within biology itself, biomaterials are highly organized from the molecular to the nanoscale, with intricate architectures that allow for optimum functionality. The focus for this proposal is two-fold. In the first instance (Engineering Nanomaterials from Biology) I aim to rationally design and exploit the specific biomolecular interactions between biomolecules (peptides) to control the assembly and dis-assembly of bio-inorganic nanostructures. The engineering of such a novel generation of nanomaterials has applications in bio-sensing, devices and drug delivery. The second focus (Engineering Nanomaterials for Biology) is on exploiting our understanding of the natural biological nanostructures found in the complex extracellular matrix of tissues in order to engineer synthetic biomimetic nanostructures for improved cell growth and tissue regeneration. I now have a large creative research team with many developing international links. If successful with this proposal I will be able to manage my group to its full potential and to expand its influence and vision. The proposed research involves development of many new international collaborations in the basic sciences and is highly multidisciplinary in nature encompassing elements of engineering, biology, chemistry and physics and ranging from high-resolution techniques of surface analysis to peptide design and cell biology.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Molly Stevens (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Aili D
(2011)
Polypeptide folding-mediated tuning of the optical and structural properties of gold nanoparticle assemblies.
in Nano letters
Aili D
(2011)
Hybrid nanoparticle-liposome detection of phospholipase activity.
in Nano letters
Bell NC
(2012)
Emerging techniques for submicrometer particle sizing applied to Stöber silica.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Bertazzo S
(2012)
Correlative Light-Ion Microscopy for biological applications.
in Nanoscale
De La Rica R
(2013)
Plasmonic ELISA for the detection of analytes at ultralow concentrations with the naked eye.
in Nature protocols
De La Rica R
(2012)
Plasmonic ELISA for the ultrasensitive detection of disease biomarkers with the naked eye
in Nature Nanotechnology
Evans ND
(2010)
Extracellular matrix-mediated osteogenic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells.
in Biomaterials
Gentleman E
(2009)
Comparative materials differences revealed in engineered bone as a function of cell-specific differentiation.
in Nature materials
Ghadiali J
(2008)
Enzyme-Responsive Nanoparticle Systems
in Advanced Materials
| Description | My research programme is currently researching innovative approaches of designing and developing ultrasensitive nanomaterial-based technologies to detect biomarkers corresponding to particular disease states by outputting easy-to-discern readouts as part of a point-of-care device. We are building upon our established technologies for biosensing, which were reported in Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Protocols, Nature Materials and Nano Letters. Furthermore, many publications on scaffolds for tissue engineering were also published. |
| Exploitation Route | The research that is being performed on our nanomaterial-based technologies aims to be exploited within the nanotechnological-based research and academic communities for our understanding of synthesising such materials controllably and reproducibly, while our translational research will hopefully enable prototypes that can be evaluated for their commercial potential. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | The grant focussed on developing several technological platforms for diagnostic technologies based on inorganic nanoparticles as well as studying fundamental nanoparticles nanoparticle self-assembly. These technologies are engineered to detect specific biomarkers corresponding to particular diseases by giving accurate yet easily interpretable read-outs (e.g. easily discernible colour change) and have been reported in a number of Nature family journals and other high impact journals/outlets. The grant also focussed on developing material scaffolds for tissue engineering. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | EPSRC |
| Amount | £115,911 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/J013331/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2012 |
| End | 12/2013 |
| Description | 1st European Science Foundation Summer School in Nanomedicine, Cardiff. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This conference led to numerous collaborative discussions. There were numerous networking events that gave good input for this award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | 2008 MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, US |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The MRS is always a good event for collaborative discussions. My peers gave a positive response to my presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | 2011 MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The MRS is always a great venue for discussions and feedback. Numerous networking events and discussions led to excellent opportunities for collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | 3rd International NanoBio Conference, ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | There was a very positive response from my peers regarding my research activities. Several collaborative discussions followed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | BMES Cell & Molecular Bioengineering Conference (Keynote Lecture), Key Largo, FL, USA, 5 January 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Institute of Nanotechnology, London, UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This was a good event for presenting many of my projects. There were several collaborative discussions that took place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Invited lecture, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk led to good discussions at this venue. Numerous positive discussions with colleagues and peers took place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Materials Research Society Spring Meeting. San Francisco, US. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This is a popular meeting where good discussions always take place. There were several information discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | NanoBio & Med Conference, Bilbao, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Good conference; many discussions. There was several of my peers and colleagues present - many good discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | NanoBio Europe, Cork, Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Good conference; presented results pertaining to this award. There were numerous collaborative discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | NanoExpo, East Midlands Conference, Nottingham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This conference was a good event for discussions. Collaborative discussions took place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | Nanobiotechnology Conference, North Carolina, US |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | There were several good discussions afterwards. There was good feedback and input from the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | Nanomedicine Workshop, British Embassy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This was a good venue for delivering an exciting presentation. Numerous collaborative discussions followed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Nanotechnology in Medicine and Biotechnology, IMechE, London, UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This was a good event for possible collaborations. There was a good student turnout - good discussions afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | Stevens talk - 2018 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - 2018 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit, Phoenix, AZ, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - 255th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - Applied Nanotechnology and Nanoscience International Conference (Plenary), Berlin, Germany |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - Beilstein Nanotechnology Symposium (Speaker & Co-organizer), Rüdesheim, Germany |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting (Plenary Lecture), New York, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - Israel Materials Engineering Conference (Plenary Lecture), Dead Sea, Israel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - MNE 2018 (Plenary), Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stevens talk - Nanotexnology 2018 (Plenary), Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research talk given to international audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |