Neotherix has recently begun a 3.5 year collaborative project with the University of Manchester to evaluate the control of process conditions for the uniform production of novel electrospun bioresorbable medical devices. The PhD studentship project is funded by Neotherix and EPSRC through an Industrial CASE award, and takes advantage of the combined expertise of Neotherix and the Schools of Materials and Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester. The project will evaluate the impact of various process conditions on the electrospinning of bioresorbable polymers under controlled conditions for the manufacture of 3D electrospun scaffolds. Optimising the process parameters to consistently produce uniform high-quality fibres is paramount for the successful commercial development of this technology for Regenerative Medicine applications, such as wound and soft tissue repair and musculoskeletal disorders. Comprehensive characterisation of the resulting scaffolds will allow us to gain a better understanding of the often complex interactions between the various parameters. In addition, in vitro assessment will allow us to characterise the effect of scaffold architecture and surface properties on the behaviour of clinically relevant cell types. A greater understanding of the complex interplay between process conditions will facilitate more effective translation of electrospun scaffold technology from the laboratory to the clinic and the market. Links to the EPSRC  web site and the web sites of the School of Material Science and School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester |
