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Smart Microcapsules Through Controlled Macromolecular Coating

Andrew Surman Research Image

New approaches to control molecular ingress/egress from capsules in microfluidic devices (making them ‘smart’) offers the potential to develop new highly selective tools for biochemical analysis/manipulation. Initial reports of polymer-coating microcapsules show selective permeability can be achieved, but were limited the by range of polymers which are commercially-availability.

In this interdisciplinary project we will synthesise new polymeric coatings (Synthetic Chemistry), characterize their ability to coat gel microcapsules and selectively control permeability (Supramolecular Chemistry), incorporate production/manipulation of these into microfluidic devices (Engineering), and explore development of new microfluidics tools for bioanalysis & manipulation (Biotech/Bioanalysis; in collaboration with an industrial partner).

Disciplines and Techniques
Project supervisor/s
Dr. Andrew Surman
Andrew’s interests are broad. One common thread is Supramolecular Chemistry – the chemistry of non-covalent interactions, or “playing Lego with molecules”.
King's College London
Dr. Ali Saleh-Reyhani
Chemistry
King's College University
References
[Mao, 2017, Nat. Mat.] = Nature Materials (2017) volume 16, pages 236–243
Mao
Nature Materials volume 16, pages 236–243
2017
[Spasojevic, 2014, PLoS One] = PLoS One (2014) Vol 9, Issue 10, e10983
Spasojevic
PLoS One Vol 9, Issue 10, e10983
2014
[Kulseng, 1997, Cell Transplantation] = Cell Transplant. 1997 Jul-Aug;6(4):387-94.
Kulseng
Cell Transplant
1997