Synthesis and characterisation of mesoporous phosphate-based glasses for biomedical applications

这个关于一类新的多孔无机材料的合成和表征的博士项目，将探索基于溶胶-凝胶和凝聚过程的新型模板策略，用于合成介孔磷酸盐基玻璃（MPG），具有非常高的表面积，可调的孔径和分布。特别地，该提议旨在通过使用超分子化学合成具有二维（2D，六边形）孔通道和三维（3D，立方体）互连孔排列的溶胶-凝胶MPG。高度多孔的材料是生物医学应用的优秀候选者，特别是用于将治疗分子/离子靶向递送到受损部位并同时进行组织再生（硬组织和软组织）。MPG将嵌入抗菌金属离子（如Ag+，Cu 2+，Zn 2+）;离子释放和抗菌活性将被研究，并与多孔结构相关。与目前的生物可吸收材料相比，有序排列的介孔将有助于治疗离子和分子的吸收和递送。将使用多种技术方法研究介孔纳米复合材料的结构和形态表征，包括通过物理吸附、热分析、透射和扫描电子显微镜（TEM/SEM）、X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜（TEM/SEM）和透射电子显微镜（TEM/SEM）进行的表面/孔径和体积分析。和X射线吸收衍射/光谱在同步辐射设施。跨越材料科学，化学，生物学和医学，这是真正的多学科的建议。博士候选人将在制造（溶胶-凝胶，超分子模板，凝聚），抗菌测试和尖端表征技术方面发展一系列互补技能，除了在NPL的微米和纳米级测量方面的独特培训和专业知识

This PhD project on the synthesis and characterisation of a new class of porous inorganic materials, will explore novel template strategies based on the sol-gel and coacervation processes for the synthesis of mesoporous phosphate-based glasses (MPG) with exceptionally high surface areas, tunable pore size and distribution. In particular, the proposal aims to synthetize sol-gel MPG with two dimensional (2D, hexagonal) channels of pores and three dimensional (3D, cubic) arrangements of interconnected pores in solution by using supramolecular chemistry. Highly porous materials are excellent candidates for biomedical applications, in particular for targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules/ions into the damaged site and simultaneous tissue regeneration (hard and soft). MPG will be embedded with antibacterial metallic ions (e.g. Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+); ion release and antibacterial activities will be investigated and correlated with the porous structure. Compared to the current state of bioresorbable materials, an ordered arrangement of mesopores will facilitate the absorption and delivery of therapeutic ions and molecules.Structural and morphological characterization of the mesoporous nanocomposites will be investigated using a multi-technique approach involving surface/pore size and volume analysis via physisorption, thermal analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM/SEM), X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption diffraction/spectroscopy at synchrotron radiation facilities.Spanning across materials science, chemistry, biology and medicine, this proposal is truly multidisciplinary. The PhD candidate will develop a range of complementary skills in fabrication (sol-gel, supramolecular templating, coacervation), antibacterial testing and cutting-edge characterisation techniques in addition to unique training and expertise in measurements at the micro and nanoscale at NPL