The design and manufacture of 3D peptide gels for tissue engineering applications

This is a cross-faculty project where the student will be based in the Department of Eye and Vision Science in the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease while working intimately with the School of Engineering. The project is also supported by SpheriTech Ltd, an SME based in Runcorn, approximately 18 miles from The University of Liverpool. A stipend will be provided at the standard Research Council rate.

We have recently developed a novel peptide hydrogel and demonstrated that we can tailor the properties of the hydrogel to encourage the attachment and growth of human cells onto the gel. This project will develop these gels into 3D structures using a range of printing technologies. There are multiple different ways to produce the 3D structures and the choice of technique will be dependent on the final structure of the gel required for a specific application. The project will involve exploration of different printing technologies and determination of the most appropriate ones for this material, optimisation of the hydrogel chemistry for the different printing technologies, characterisation of the material properties of the 3D structures and evaluation of the response of human cells to these structures.

This is a truly multidisciplinary project and the student will be trained in the chemical synthesis of the gels, a range of 3D printing technologies, materials characterisation techniques as well as in vitro cell culture techniques. The project will concentrate on the application of these gels in tissue engineering applications in the eye but the opportunity to evaluate other application areas, particularly with the company interest, will be available.

The Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease is fully committed to promoting gender equality in all activities. In recruitment we emphasize the supportive nature of the working environment and the flexible family support that the University provides. The Institute holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of on-going commitment to ensuring that the Athena SWAN principles are embedded in its activities and strategic initiatives.

The applicant should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above or a masters in a materials or physical science, engineering, biomaterials or biomedical engineering discipline. Experience of biological sciences or cell biology is not necessary but an interest in this area is clearly important. Candidates whose first language is not English should have an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.