Materials, Advanced Design
&
Manufacturing
106
5.1
Bionanotechnology
Keywords
Nanoparticle synthesis and functionalisation, biomolecular
imaging, drug delivery, nanotoxicity, lab-on-a-chip,
microarrays, biosensors, microfabrication, atomic force
microscope
Expertise
Bionanotechnology is an interdisciplinary effort to harness
the properties of materials on the nanoscale to generate
new opportunities, especially for applications in healthcare.
The University of Liverpool is recognised as a leader in
several aspects of bionanotechnology, largely due to its
success in building interdisciplinary research teams that
address issues from various perspectives combine their
research expertise and experience in different areas.
We have pioneered methods for the nanoscale manufacture
of polymer, metal and ceramic components which enable
chemical control at the molecular level. This includes the
High-throughput production and screening of organic
nanoparticles prepared from small molecules as new
drug delivery vehicles, and the development of
functional nanoparticles as new tools for the analysis
of biomolecular function.
Our original developments in thiol-gold nanoparticle
interactions remain the most commonly employed
protocol worldwide for the preparation of ligand-stabilised
metal nanoparticles. We recently introduced novel polymer
and peptide-based capping ligands that uniquely allow
independent stabilisation and functionalisation of
nanoparticles for innovative biological applications.
We are currently working on a novel use of bionanoparticles
which can track the movement and behaviour of stem
cells in real time in patients using MRI.
The University is part of NanoCentral, an alliance of
industry organisations and other partners with access to
a broad range of leading edge technologies, equipment
and services.
Biomedical applications being developed at the
University include:
--
Multiplex diagnostics
--
Medical imaging
--
Stem cell therapies
--
In vivo stem cell tracking
--
Nanoparticles for drug delivery
--
Polymer nanoparticle drug carriers
--
Single molecule imaging in live cells.
Research teams are combining expertise in electronic
and surface engineering with their knowledge of
bionanomaterials to develop unique sensors and
microarray technologies.
Microarray technology enabled the genomics revolution,
but despite its success, DNA microarray technology
cannot be easily adapted to proteomics, mainly because
proteins interact with the surfaces on which they are
immobilised. An ideal surface – one that is universally
non-denaturating but assures a high and constant protein
concentration – is a logical impossibility when many
hundreds of thousands different biomolecules are
immobilised on the same surface.
We are developing methods to present biomolecules to
smart substrates that have ‘combinatorial surfaces’
maximising the biomolecule-surface interaction and helps
provide more ‘space’ for other biomolecular interactions.
Our researchers are designing and fabricating the
surfaces for use in micro- and nano-arrays using a variety
of techniques including microlithographically printed
combinatorial surfaces on photoresists, micro-ablated
polymer channels with combinatorial hydrophobicity,
and nanostructured surfaces for probing proteins at the
submolecular level.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility: a unique tool
for the creation of nanostructured fluids (emulsions,
dispersions) by high pressure and high shear mixing
•
Electron microscopy, including SuperSTEM
aberration corrected microscope for nanoparticle
characterisation
•
Imaging and detection platforms, including optical
and photothermal microscopy for real-time detection
of nanoparticle-labelled single molecules in live cells
•
Particle and chemical characterisation
•
Micro- and nanofabrication
•
Surface characterisation
•
Modelling and simulation of biomedical
microdevices.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Centre for Cell Imaging
•
Biomedical Electron Microscopy Unit
•
Centre for Materials Discovery
•
Superstem Laboratory
•
Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility
•
Surface Science Research Centre.
5.
Biomaterials
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Aerospace and automotive
•
Biotechnology
•
Defence and security
•
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
•
Food supply
•
Nanotechnology and advanced materials
•
Society & community
Also see:
Materials, Advanced Design &
Manufacturing –
4.
Functional/multifunctional
materials, page 101
Health & Wellbeing –
11.3
Medical imaging, page 52
Digital Technologies –
1.
Imaging and detection, page 141
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
