Integrated Molecular Design of Melt-processable Bioresorbable Engineering Nanocomposites for Healthcare (BENcH)

This proposal will deliver novel, integrated methodologies for the design and scalable manufacture of next generation resorbable polymer nanocomposites, linking the science and engineering principles which underpin successful processing of such materials. This will enable new smart health-care materials in applications from bone fracture fixation to drug delivery. The methodologies will be optimised on a system comprising novel nanoparticles, selected blends of medical-grade degradable polymer and specifically designed molecular dispersants. Optimised methodologies will be applied at scale on industrial equipment to produce demonstrator resorbable implants with specific structural attributes and degradation timescales. Wider applications include degradable food packaging and products requiring end-of-life disposal.

The investigators will benefit via extension of collaborative work, improvement of facilities and a strong basis for downstream research and prestige gained through dissemination. The work would also open up opportunities for external collaboration both with academic institutions and industrial parties.

The students and researchers will benefit from extensive cross-disciplinary training and development of critical skills both in terms of laboratory capability and ability to communicate to peer and lay groups. In addition they will establish an international presence in the field, interacting with their peer groups and developing international links.

The wider academic community will benefit from gaining new understanding of nanocomposite materials, surfactants and associated methods developed during the course of the project. Collaborations developed as part of the project will help to foster links between groups and further collaborative and interdisciplinary research into associated fields such as manufacturing. The project is expected to develop from a foundation of understanding into a widely applicable field of research that will feed into new fields.

The University of Nottingham benefits directly though prestige publications on the work and the contribution to REF that will help to maintain its top 10 status.

Industrial parties linked with the project and members of the strategic advisory group will benefit through: (a) direct access to the results of the work, (b) the ability to influence the direction of the work stream, (c) the opportunity to be first to exploit the technology as it develops in the form of IP and first to market products.

Industrial parties outside of the core strategic group will also benefit from the work through knowledge transfer activities making them aware of the project and its outcomes.

Society as a whole will benefit through the availability of new material types applicable to medical use - providing improved quality of life. Extension of these materials and knowledge of their manufacture into additional fields will provide new products in different sectors (e.g. packaging), where the degradable character will offer routes to reducing waste in commodity products. Naturally derived polymers such as PLA could also help to reduce the requirements for oil in these sectors.

The economy will benefit through the development of new material types via the establishment of new companies or technology lines, providing job creation and revenue generation. The materials under investigation are a new development in a field not well understood and the UK has an opportunity to take a lead in this area. Basic materials could well be under industrial development within the duration of the project, with more advanced materials available within 5 - 10 years.