The Precise Control of Membrane Permeabilisation for Intracellular Delivery of Different Sized Payloads

Biopharmaceuticals represent a powerful new class of medicine with potential for treatment of a wide variety of previously intractable human diseases. However, it is very challenging to effectively and precisely deliver them through cellular membrane barriers to their intracellular targets. This creates a major obstacle to the screening, development and commercialisation of macromolecular drugs.

The aim of this PhD project is to develop a novel platform technology based on the use of novel Cell Permeating Polymers (CPPs), which can be widely applicable for targeted delivery of a wide variety of different sized biopharmaceuticals into a wide variety of mammalian cells. The project will involve synthesis and characterisation of new CPPs, understanding and controlling CPP-mediated membrane permeabilisation, and demonstration of CPP-mediated targeted intracellular delivery of different sized payloads.

MedImmune is the industrial partner and will provide an industry perspective to the project. The intention is to combine the chemistry and bioengineering expertise surrounding the polymer drug delivery (which resides within the Chen Lab at Imperial College London) with the biological expertise around the discovery and development of a variety of different sized drug payloads (which exists within MedImmune). It is envisaged that, as part of the PhD project, you will spend at least 3-12 months based at the MedImmune Granta Park site near Cambridge. The precise length of placement will be determined regarding where you are best able to perform your research to advance the project.

You will be expected to enroll for and complete a PhD degree in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London.

You should have a First Class or high 2.1 degree (or equivalent) in Biological engineering, Biology, Polymer Materials, Chemistry or a related discipline. You must have a background in the following areas, or have backgrounds indicating that you can acquire skills in these areas:

• Molecular biology and biochemistry experiments in order to clone, express and purify proteins of interest
• Chemical conjugations to proteins and subsequent analytical quality control
• Mammalian cell tissue culture
• Fluorescence / luminescence-based cell assays for protein uptake
• Working with and troubleshooting mammalian cell-based functional assays

A background in polymer synthesis and characterisation is desirable.

The on-line application form for applying for PhD study can be found from the webpage (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/admissions/howtoapplypg). In the application form please write “Dr Rongjun Chen” under the proposed Research Supervisor name and clearly state that you are applying for this BBSRC Industrial CASE PhD project.

Interested applicants can contact Dr Rongjun Chen ([Email Address Removed]) for more details of the project.

For general PhD information, please email [Email Address Removed]