The Henry Royce Institute (Royce) is the UK’s home of advanced materials research and innovation. The £235m Institute will allow the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced materials science, an area which is fundamental to all industrial sectors and the national economy. Royce brings together world-leading academics from across the UK, and works closely with industry to ensure commercialisation of fundamental research. Strategic investment in the Biomedical Materials research area has enabled us to develop comprehensive suites of equipment to ‘make, characterise and test’ biomedical materials which will help accelerate the development of advanced materials in the healthcare sector.
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The Technical Specialist will be primarily responsible for experimental techniques associated with cell culture and analysis of cell/tissue behaviour on surfaces, and the imaging of cell and materials in biologically relevant environments. You will grow and oversee an internal and external user community of researchers, students and industry collaborators and customers. You will provide training, advice and support to facility users on the use of a wide range of scientific equipment and the interpretation of acquired data.
You will be an experienced experimentalist, with an ability to acquire high quality data using advanced and highly specialised cell culture techniques to assess biological interactions with materials and surfaces. A proactive and energetic approach is important, as is an ability to establish a good rapport with research students, staff, external customers and visitors. A degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant science or engineering discipline is required, as well as experience of working in a research facility environment associated with cell culture practices, safety protocols relating to the operation of a Class 2 Biosafety lab and the imaging and characterisation of cells and materials using light based fluorescent techniques. A postgraduate degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology or related field is desirable.
Researchers have taken a major step towards 3D laser-printed materials that could be used in surgical procedures to implant or repair medical devices.
A team of scientists, led by researchers at Lancaster University, have developed a method to 3D print flexible electronics using the conducting polymer polypyrrole, and they have shown that it is possible to directly print these electrical structures on or in living organisms (roundworms).
Although at a proof of concept stage, researchers believe this type of process, when fully developed, has the potential to print patient-specific implants for a variety of applications, including real-time health monitoring and medical interventions, such as treating epilepsy or pain.
Microscopy image showing live C. elegans worms in silicone grooves with 3D printed polymer (star and square shapes) printed onto them. Credit Alexandre Benedetto
A microscopic image of an example interlocked structure that the researchers have printed in the material using a nanoscribe showing how this technique could be used to print bespoke electronic circuitry
A microscopic image of an example gyroid structure that the researchers have printed in the material showing how this technique could be used to print bespoke electronic circuitry
Dr John Hardy, Senior Lecturer in Materials Chemistry at Lancaster University and one of the lead authors of the study, said: “This approach potentially transforms the manufacture of complex 3D electronics for technical and medical applications – including structures for communication, displays, and sensors, for example. Such approaches could revolutionize the way we implant but also repair medical devices. For example, one day technologies like this could be used to fix broken implanted electronics through a process similar to laser dental/eye surgery. Once fully mature, such technology could transform a currently major operation into a much simpler, faster, safer and cheaper procedure.”
In a two-stage study, the researchers used a Nanoscribe (a high-resolution laser 3D printer) to 3D print an electrical circuit directly within a silicone matrix (using an additive process). They demonstrated that these electronics can stimulate mouse neurones in vitro (similar to how neural electrodes are used for deep brain stimulation in vivo).
Dr Damian Cummings, Lecturer in Neuroscience at University College London, a co-author of the study who lead the brain stimulation work, said: “We took 3D printed electrodes and placed them on a slice of mouse brain tissue that we kept alive in vitro. Using this approach, we could evoke neuronal responses that were similar to those seen in vivo. Readily customised implants for a wide range of tissues offers both therapeutic potential and can be utilised in many research fields.”
In the second stage of the study, the researchers 3D printed conducting structures directly in nematode worms demonstrating that the full process (ink formulations, laser exposure and printing) is compatible with living organisms.
Dr Alexandre Benedetto, Senior Lecturer in Biomedicine at Lancaster University, and another lead author of the study, said: “We essentially tattooed conductive patches on tiny worms using smart ink and lasers instead of needles. It showed us that such technology can achieve the resolution, safety and comfort levels required for medical applications. Although improvement in infrared laser technology, smart ink formulation and delivery will be critical to translating such approaches to the clinic, it paves the way for very exciting biomedical innovations.”
The researchers believe these results are an important step highlighting the potential for additive manufacturing approaches to produce next-generation advanced material technologies – in particular, integrated electronics for technical and bespoke medical applications.
The next steps in the development in research are already underway exploring the materials in which it is possible to print, the types of structures it is possible to print and developing prototypes to showcase to potential end users who may be interested in co-development of the technology. The researchers believe the technology is around 10 to 15 years from being fully developed.
The research was supported with funding from a variety of sources including: the Engineering Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Royal Society, the Wellcome Trust, and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
This year our annual conference will be hosted by Ulster University in Belfast. This is set to be an amazing event, with great science, an lively conference dinner at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, and lots of fun with a traditional Irish band! Please ensure to save the date!
20-21st June 2023Ulster University Belfast City Centre Campus, York Road
The members of the HealthTech4EU Alliance are invited to enrich the discussions & future consortia.
1) HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
FREE BUT MANDATORY REGISTRATION for the ETPN matchmaking event on “ATMPs for rare diseases”: BY CLICKING HERE.
Deadline to register: Nov. 24, 2022 at 5PM (CET)
You may send additional documents regarding your projects ideas and/or offers of collaboration for the call on ATMPs for rare diseases on this shared folder.
During the registration process on Zoom events, you will be asked to fill-in a short form that will allow us to collect in advance your expression of interest in the Call #3 topic #4 & the other various upcoming calls, and hence organize the most efficient and useful online brokerage session for you.
2) WHY THIS ETPN MATCHMAKING EVENT ?
We are convinced that the rich community of ETPN & HT4EU members can help you to prepare stronger consortia, matching the industry needs, with unique cross-tech solutions coming from the 7 European Technology Organizations united in HT4EU. Our goal is therefore to offer you to the opportunity to:
1. virtually meet with new potential partners in advance,
2. learn more about the IHI calls & their process for application
3. start expressing your interest in getting involved in common proposals answering these calls, in particular Call 3 Topic 4 on ATMPs for rare diseases.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: the official launching of the 3rd and 4th IHI calls for proposals is about to happen by December 2022. Therefore, the information provided in this form is still tentative and is prone to potential changes in the coming weeks. Please always refer to the official information provided by IHI: https://www.ihi.europa.eu/apply-funding/future-opportunities
ABOUT HealthTech4EU Alliance HealthTech4EU Alliance is the 1st cross-technology platform for healthcare in Europe. It unites 7 European technology organisations (ETOs) – namely, Photonics21, EPoSS, DIH HERO, EUMAT, ESB, ETP Textiles, and ETPN – ranging from photonics, electronics, robotics, advanced (bio)materials, textiles, to nanomedicine, to think about, co-develop and implement cross-technology solutions needed for the personalized, preventive, and digitized precision medicine of the future.
We thank you very much for your active participation in this initiative of the ETPN & HT4EU Alliance! Any questions? Please contact us at any time : contact@healthtech4.eu
Check out this FREE 3-day conference hosted by the University of Exeter in the beautiful heart of the South West of the UK, 5th – 7th September 2022.
A unique in-person networking opportunity for early career researchers (ECRs).
The conference focusses on next generation healthcare technologies and will combine discussions on the latest developments in:
Disease detection & monitoring with DEEP RAMAN & other spectroscopic techniques
Design of TARGETED NANOPHARMACEUTICALS & imaging distribution/accumulation with MULTIPHOTON TECHNIQUES
Tuning of BIOCOMPATIBLE NANOPARTICLE CONTSRUCTS for clinical applications
PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY
Clinical translation of novel THERANOSTIC HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES
Currently confirmed to speak:
Prof. Ji-Xin CHEN, Prof. Paola TARONI, Prof. Warren CHAN, Prof. Bhavya SHARMA, Prof. Hatice ALTUG, Dr. Sanathana KONUGOLU VENKATA SEKAR & Dr. Holly BUTLER
