About the Project
Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) treat living cells as sensing elements that can detect quantitatively functional information of biologically active analytes. Examples of CBB applications are exploring the sensitivity of receptors to agonists, analysing the effect of pharmaceutical compounds on a given physiological system, or studying the mechanism of action of second messengers. A critical hurdle in developing CBBs is the selection, culture and maintenance of living cells. Our partner company, Biogelx [1], designs and supplies peptide hydrogels for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture which are precisely tuned to the requirements of each cell type. Their hydrogels provide a realistic 3D environment for cell survival and proliferation. They have marketed products with applications in cell based assays, toxicity screening, drug development, bioprinting, microfludics, which may ultimately be translated to cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Biogelx has identified that modification of their hydrogels with non-animal, extracellular-matrix mimicking components improves the hydrogels’ functionality in cell culture and cell-based applications.
Biogelx interest in developing new biosensor technologies has recently resulted in a Collaborative Eurostars award (CellSenseGels project). The Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine has established a collaboration with Biogelx to explore the modification of their peptide-based hydrogels with collagen proteins produced recombinantly using a technology developed in the University [2]. The aim of this PhD project is to produce customized collagen-hydrogel matrices that will provide a robust platform for cell-based biosensor assays.
Techniques associated with this project will include peptide assembly, molecular and cell biology, protein biochemistry and biophysics, and cell culture. The University of Manchester supervisory team combines extensive expertise in the biology and culture of stem cells and their interaction with novel biomaterials (Professor Hoyland) [3-4] and the biochemistry and structural biology of collagen (Dr Bella) [2, 5].
This is a potential studentship to be funded via the MRC Doctoral Training Programme. Projects under this scheme are competitively funded; i.e. there are more projects advertised than available.
Funding Notes
Please make direct contact with the Principal Supervisor to arrange to discuss the project and submit an online application form as soon as possible. There is no set closing date; projects will be removed as soon as they are filled.
Applications are invited from UK/EU nationals. Candidates from outside of the UK must have resided in the UK for 3 years prior to commencing the PhD in order to be eligible to apply. Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
References
[1] Biogelx, http://biogelx.com/
[2] Bella, J. (2011) Collagen (PCT/GB2011/052217), WO2012063088 A2
[3] Smith, C., Board, T. N., Rooney, P., Eagle, M. J., Richardson, S., & Hoyland, J. (2017). Human decellularized bone scaffolds from aged donors show improved osteoinductive capacity compared to young donor bone. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177416.
[4] Milani, A. H., Saunders, J., Nguyen, N., Ratcliffe, L.P.D., Adlam, D., Freemont, A., Hoyland, J., Armes, S.P. & Saunders, B. (2017), Synthesis of polyacid nanogels: pH-responsive sub-100 nm particles for functionalisation and fluorescent hydrogel assembly. Soft Matter, 13: 1554-1560.
[5] Bella, J. (2016). Collagen structure: new tricks from a very old dog. Biochemical J, 473(8): 1001-1025.
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