Chemistry: Fully Funded Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Multimodal nanomaterials for combating antimicrobial resistance

Funding providers: Swansea University

Subject areas: Chemistry, nanomedicine, Antimicrobials

Project start date: 

• 1 April 2024 (Enrolment open from mid–March)
• 1 July 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-June) 

Project supervisors: 

• Dr Martin Gill (m.r.gill@swansea.ac.uk) 
• Professor Juan Mareque-Rivas 
• Dr Sumati Bhatia

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

Applications are invited to undertake an exciting interdisciplinary research project that combines bioinorganic chemistry and nanomedicine to combat the significant challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our vision is to develop a chemical approach to expand the repertoire of antibiotics and inhibit a novel form of cell death (known as ferroptosis) that can disrupt the pathogenic potential and promote infection clearance by the immune system. 

This project will utilise dual imaging/therapeutic “theranostics” combined with nanomaterials that activate the immune system and modulate ferroptosis. Integration of these agents within polymer-based flexible glycosylated nanogels will allow encapsulating isolated candidate molecules to selectively deliver the therapeutic contents to trigger a multi-mode drug action against the target pathogen. Ultimately, this can achieve high anti-microbial activity and selectivity, whilst the distinct and dual or even triple mechanism of action can combat drug resistance, with the low impact on human cells translating to a favourable safety profile. Recent publications from the supervisory team include doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c11111, doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00408, doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101499. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated candidate with research interests in the chemistry/life science interface. The candidate should have a good undergraduate or master’s degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.  

This project will take place in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University (SU) which provides state-of-the-art equipment for small molecule synthesis and characterisation, nanoparticle formulation, and nanogel synthesis. The synthesized nanosystems will be characterized in our modern and well-equipped labs, and in The Advanced Imaging of Materials (AIM) Facility and Centre for NanoHealth (CNH). The efficacy of these materials will be assessed against different bacterial strains in the Institute of Life Sciences at Swansea University and with external collaborators. A comprehensive training program will be provided by an interdisciplinary supervisory team with complementary interests and expertise in chemical biology and drug-protein/nucleic acid interactions (Dr Gill), inorganic chemistry and nanomedicine (Professor Mareque-Rivas), and polymer synthesis and organic chemistry (Dr Bhatia). Training in all techniques will be provided along with mentorship and personal development.