Smart microcapsules through controlled macromolecular coating

Dr Andrew Surman (AJS) (primary)
Chemistry
King's College, London
Dr Ali Salehi-Reyhani (ASR) (secondary)
Chemistry
King's College, London

Abstract

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).


References

[Mao, 2017, Nat. Mat.] = Nature Materials (2017) volume 16, pages 236–243
[Spasojevic, 2014, PLoS One] = PLoS One (2014) Vol 9, Issue 10, e10983
[Kulseng, 1997, Cell Transplantation] = Cell Transplant. 1997 Jul-Aug;6(4):387-94.


BBSRC Area
Molecules, cells and industrial biotechnology
Area of Biology
BiotechnologyChemical Biology
Techniques & Approaches
BiochemistryChemistryEngineering