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

这个博士项目是关于一类新型多孔无机材料的合成和表征，将探索基于溶胶-凝胶和凝聚过程的新型模板策略，用于合成具有极高表面积、可调节孔径和分布的介孔磷酸盐基玻璃（MPG）。特别是，该方案旨在利用超分子化学方法合成具有二维（二维，六边形）孔隙通道和溶液中三维（三维，立方）互联孔隙排列的溶胶-凝胶MPG。高多孔材料是生物医学应用的优秀候选者，特别是用于靶向递送治疗分子/离子到受损部位并同时进行组织再生（硬和软）。MPG将嵌入抗菌金属离子（如Ag+， Cu2+, Zn2+）；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，中孔的有序排列将促进治疗离子和分子的吸收和传递。介孔纳米复合材料的结构和形态表征将使用多种技术方法进行研究，包括表面/孔径和体积分析，包括物理吸附、热分析、透射和扫描电子显微镜（TEM/SEM）、x射线衍射和x射线吸收衍射/光谱。该提案横跨材料科学、化学、生物学和医学，是真正的多学科。博士候选人将在NPL开发一系列互补技能，包括制造（溶胶-凝胶，超分子模板，凝聚），抗菌测试和尖端表征技术，以及在微米和纳米尺度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