Researcher Summary
Research interests include:
- Scaffold/biomaterial design for functional tissue-engineered implants: cell-biomaterial interactions; articular cartilage, bone, neural/nerve tissue engineering; smart/instructive biomaterials (i.e. inductive materials/architectures, growth factor/drug release, cell free solutions); engineered porous scaffold architectures (topology optimisation); anisotropic/biphasic scaffold design; biodegradation and mechanical function with respect to tissue integration; in vitro/in vivo models using committed, progenitor and stem cells.
- Solid Free-from Fabrication (SFF) of porous biomaterials: engineered porous scaffold architectures; development of SFF “friendly” biomaterials; SFF of porous polymeric, Ti/Ti-alloys, and ceramic biomaterials; electro-spinning; bone in-growth surfaces; bio-manufacturing/cell printing; clinical applications for customised implants/joint reconstruction.
- Mechanobiology of cells/connective tissues: measurement/optimisation of nutrient gradients (e.g. oxygen, glucose) and their subsequent effects on tissue formation; cellular responses to mechanical stimuli; computational/in vitro models; bioreactor design.
- Orthopaedic applications: total joint arthroplasty; proprioceptive ability of patients following TKA; wheelchair propulsion ability in SCI subjects; spinal fusion devices; biodegradable conduits for nerve/spinal cord regeneration; cell therapy/tissue engineering applications in regenerative medicine.