A sector specific library

Researchers

Zuoxin Zhou

Zuoxin Zhou (University of Nottingham)

Zuoxin Zhou has developed a high-throughput screening approach that uses a liquid handler containing multi-pipette heads to achieve expedited formulation of new inks for material jetting Additive Manufacturing. This approach essentially combines rapidly preparation inkjet formulations in a micro-array format, and subsequently measure the printability for each in a high-throughput manner.

The throughput is 96 formulations per 13.1 working hours, 15 times more rapid than conventional methods. The methodology and the material database established using this HTS technique will allow academic and industrial users to rapidly select the most ideal formulation to deliver printability and a predicted processing window for a chosen application.

Zuoxin Zhou has investigated supramolecular gelation of UV-curable monomers triggered by low molecular-mass organic gelators. The gelators investigated have different chemical structures and gelation triggering mechanisms including temperature, pH, ultrasound, and hydrophobic association. Gelation speed, gel-sol temperature, and rheological properties have been studied to identify the gel formulations that can rapidly trigger sol-gel transition upon deposition and subsequently form self-supportive structure prior to UV irradiation. Double-network gels constituting both physical and chemical networks are therefore constructed which potentially benefit to the improvement of mechanical performance, curing kinetics, self-healing capability and multi-drug loading.

Zuoxin Zhou research

Former Researchers

Laura Ruiz Cantu

Laura Ruiz Cantu (University of Nottingham)

Laura’s main research focuses on the use of high throughput methods for creating a library of 3D printing materials. The use of 3D printing for manufacturing personalised medicine is a new area that the pharmaceutical industry recently started to explore. However, the lack of commercially available materials that can be printed limits the use of this manufacturing technique. The objective of her project was to create a library of biodegradable materials (inks) for inkjet 3D printing drug delivery subdermal implants. The research involves developing and rapid screening new photocurable inks using high throughput methodologies. The new library aims to contain inks with different properties so they can be selected depending on individual patient requirements such as type of drug, dose and dosing time.

PhD Students

yuyang wu 1

Yuyang Wu (University of Nottingham)

Project: Develop 3D Printing Materials for Reactive Extrusion (REX)

Supervisors: Ricky Wildman, Derek Irvine, Chris Tuck, Zuoxin Zhou, Amy Stimpson

Research summary: Yuyang works on developing new formulation for reactive extrusion (REX) 3D printing, using polyurethane or poly-urea chemistry. The objective of this project is to tackle the intrinsic anisotropic issue related to 3D printing, both improve the interlayer adhesion and enhance mechanical strength of the extrusion-based 3D printed objects. It is anticipated that the in-situ reaction during printing could synchronise the development of shear modulus and the crosslinking between layers. The potential curing at ambient temperature could mitigate the thermal distortion during the printing.

So far, he has managed to design one polyurethane formulation which’s suitable for REX system, by balancing the reaction kinetics and rheology profile. He studied a number of parameters related to polyurethane reaction, including the different isocyanates (di or poly-functional); different diols (ABA or BAB block copolymers, where A stands for polyethylene glycol and B stands for polypropylene glycol); different filler type and level; catalyst level and etc. Besides, the printing parameters including printing speed, dosing speed and Z-gap have also been investigated and tailored for specific formulation.

Lin Xin

Ling Xin Yong (University of Nottingham)

Project: Development of Materials for Fungal and Bacterial Resistance for Biofunctional Device

Supervisors: Derek Irvine, Ricky Wildman, Simon Avery

Research summary: Ling Xin’s research aim is to screen for potential polymer with antimicrobial properties to be used as a UV curable additive manufacturing material. The use of antimicrobial polymer for application such as medical devices would in turn reduce mortality rate from microbial infection and also reduce complication in patient’s health from frequent changes of medical devices. Voice prosthesis and catheter are example of such devices. Additive manufacturing method would then be advantageous in terms of low volume manufacturing and customization.

High throughput methodologies had been utilized for this screening. Till date, standardization of test method had been established and several potential homopolymers had been evaluated for its ability to inhibit Candida Albicans (one of the most prevalent and infectious yeast). The selected homopolymers were then tested for their degree of polymerization and glass transition temperature. These homopolymers with good anti-microbial behavior would be mixed in different ratio copolymers, the formation of such copolymers would potentially improve its rheological and mechanical properties, this in turn widens the option of additive materials available for medical technology industry.

Ling Xin research

Andrea-Alice-Konta2

Andrea Alice Konta (University of Nottingham)

Project: Design of new materials for two photon polymerisation

Supervisors: Derek Irvine, Ricky Wildman, Cameron Alexander and Laura Ruiz Cantu

Research summary: Alice graduated in the summer of 2017 in a 5 year Pharmacy degree (undergrad and master) from the Complutense University of Madrid. She started her PhD at University of Nottingham in the fall of 2017.

In the first instance of her PhD, she will develop new materials with different functional groups and architecture for two photon polymerisation, to expand the library of materials available for the technique and get a better understanding of it. Later on, these will be applied to biomedical devices.