Synthetic and hybrid tissue engineering

Project Summary

Materials & Devices for Life Sciences researchers are developing synthetic tissues: compartmented materials with tissue-like properties but containing no genome, which are fabricated by 3D printing and related techniques. Of current interest to us is bioiontronics (biological materials sense and signal with ions rather than electrons) and we have built a variety of soft devices that can process electrical signals, for example an electrocardiograph of millimeter dimensions. The candidate will develop devices that can interact with living tissues, for example to take part in wound repair. Further, hybrid tissues incorporating both living cells and dropletronic material will be integrated to produce new forms of living matter including microrobots.

Advisors

• Professor Hagan Bayley (Principal Scientist, EIT & Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Oxford)
• Professor Yujia Zhang (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
• Dr Linna Zhou (Group Leader, EIT)

Skills Recommended

• A 4-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering).
• Research experience with skills in laboratory techniques and data analysis, ideally in areas such as polymer chemistry, cell biology and electronics.
• Strong self-motivation and enthusiasm for research in a dynamic and evolving field.
• Clear and effective communication skills, written and verbal, with an interest in working across disciplines.

University DPhil Courses 

• DPhil from the University of Oxford

Relevant Literature

• Zhang, Y., Riexinger, J., Yang, X., Mikhailova, E., Jin, Y., Zhou, L. and Bayley, H. A microscale soft ionic power source modulates neuronal network activity. Nature 620, 1001-1006 (2023).
• Zhang, Y., Tan, C., Toepfer, C.N., Lu, X. and Bayley, H. Microscale droplet assembly enables biocompatible multifunctional modular iontronics. Science 386, 1024-1030 (2024).

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