Ectosecretions

The field of ectosecretions is a completely untapped resource from a scientific standpoint as it is taking materials science to biology, offering a novel perspective from the field of Biomaterials where scientific queries tackled the other way round. The study of ectosecretions delivers new paradigms and routes to market for a range of bioinspired materials, processes and ultimately products. Specifically, this studentship is delving into the details of venoms, mucus and natural surfactants/adhesives (such as those found in gastropod mucus) which will produce both high quality publications and press attention with a good chance of some commercially relevant IP. Most ectosecretions have never been looked at through a materials science lens.

This studentship will develop fundamental materials science techniques, such as rheology, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) Spectroscopy, and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), to overcome the challenges of analysing native ectosecretions. Looking at these materials outside of the context of animal biology will provide an opportunity to view them within the framework of synthesising synthetic ectosecretions. Currently, the effective application of ectosecretions is hindered by the lack of appropriate knowledge of the relationship between their structure and function. T

hrough analysing ectosecretions in their native state, this studentship will help to ascertain exactly how Nature exploits protein hydration to create an array of unique properties, and to discover other contributing biological mechanisms, with a view to develop the groundwork for a range of applications including: medical models, biodegradable adhesives and soft robotics.