Dr Anisa Mahomed

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University

Research Interests

Scientific Background

Research Interests

My research, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, focuses on understanding the behaviour of biomaterials for use in the body or as a medical device. Particular aspects of interest are:

novel systems to deliver actives in a controlled manner, from a hydrogel-based carrier, to the location where the drug is required within the body. This also includes vehicles that are “friendlier” in administering the drug, reduce the need for hospitalisation or prolong lifespan of antimicrobial efficacy e.g. ocular drug delivered by a contact lens, medicated wound bandage that induces less trauma, antimicrobial nanoparticle complexes.
transport properties of salts, nutrients and other species through hydrogel membranes for applications related to artificial membranes (e.g. renal and albumin dialysis) and organs.
design of bio inspired hydrogels for therapeutic applications (e.g. wound dressings, ostomy adhesives, tissue scaffolds and electrodes) using conventional and sustainable materials.
novel hydrogel and medical device processing systems and methods (e.g. additive manufacturing).

Research Groups

Aston Polymer Research Group

Engineering for Health Research Centre

Advanced Materials Research Centre

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Organised, Guiding and Collaborative.

Provision of Training

During our initial meeting, and subsequent meetings, we will discuss two aspects of training needs, subject specific and transferable skills (mapped against the national Vitae Researcher Development Framework). I will initiate the subject specific training but expect you to lead on this as time progresses. You will be expected to book onto transferable skills courses via the HR system. I expect to be informed of any issues and will work with you to resolve these.

Progression Monitoring and Management

We will discuss expectations of your progression. I will expect you to work towards full ownership and become independent. If progression criteria are not met, we will discuss a plan of action together to help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Meetings will be set on a regular basis but I would like to be kept up to date when important discoveries are made or when problems are encountered. I will be available to provide advice as required but also expect you to develop independent thinking.

Communication

Communication is essential for an effective supervisor/student relationship. I use MSTeams for routine communication but may also drop in to communicate in person. Whilst I expect you to keep up with my/ team communications I will expect you to manage your work/life balance.

I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per fortnight

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per month

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

These meetings will mainly be face to face, and though I have an open-door policy, my pattern of being contactable for an instant response is not predictable.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

Blended Hydrogel Cellular Matrices

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Blended Hydrogel Cellular Matrices

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Emma Shepherd

University of Registration: Aston University

BBSRC Research Themes: Integrated Understanding of Health (Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Tissue regeneration is a process that stimulates cell renewal and growth to repair or replace damaged tissue. This is important for wound healing but also offers an alternative to transplanting damaged organs. For the latter, external support, namely tissue scaffolds, provides a platform for cell migration to the affected site to form new tissue. Thus, these tissue scaffolds are key in the regeneration of damaged tissue and organs.

Functional materials that bear a resemblance to the native organisation of tissues, have enormous potential in aiding the reconstruction of clinically damaged tissue, e.g. skin, nerves, heart valves, tendons. Functional materials are essentially 3-D porous biomaterials that if required have the ability to(a) mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissue and promote cell-biomaterial interaction (b) provide the tissue with mechanical support (c) permit the transport of gases and nutrients for cell growth and (d) provoke a minimal immune response.

The ECM is heterogeneous and constantly renewed in a healthy environment. It consists of two main components glycoproteins (fibronectin, proteoglycans, laminin) and fibrous proteins (collagen, elastin). The ECM influences the differentiation as well as anchorage and attachment of connective tissue to enhance the healing process. [1]

The design of a material for use in tissue repair and regeneration that is capable of regulating ECM activity is therefore a desirable objective. In our group we focus on the design of hydrogel based polymeric networks with the potential to mimic the ECM. Hydrogels are 3-Dpolymeric networks with the ability to retain a large quantity of water whilst maintaining the network structure intact. The composition and processing of the hydrogel network influence the hydrogel properties and characteristics. Hydrogels possess key characteristics such as permeability to oxygen and nutrients. The choice and combination of the monomer and polymers for the hydrogel network enables hydrogel characteristics to be tuneable and thus customisable. This makes hydrogels a desirable material for specific biomedical and biological applications such as wound dressings, transdermal drug delivery devices and tissue scaffolds to name a few.

Hydrogels[2] are diverse and can be classed as either synthetic or natural in origin. Synthetic hydrogels can be designed to possess the desired mechanical properties. Synthetic hydrogels do not have inherent bioactivity but they can be engineered from a broad spectrum of synthetic monomers, such as sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate (NaAMPS), carefully chosen as potential ECM analogues. The sulphonate groups of NaAMPS mimic those of natural glycosaminoglycans found within the ECM. [3]

Natural-based hydrogels contain natural polymers, such as sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, chitin, gelatine, and hyaluronic acid. A disadvantage of natural hydrogels is a lack of mechanical strength. On the other hand, these can be combined with synthetic monomers, such as NaAMPS, and polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), to maximise the benefit of mechanical strength and desired bioactivity.

This multidisciplinary research project will investigate the influence that blended hydrogels matrices have in protecting cells, release of transferred cells and the influence on cell behaviour and activity [4].This project will assess the impact of design, processing and post-processing, as well as physiological parameters of hydrogel matrices on cellular activity. The first phase will focus on benchmarking a range of formulations using traditional polymerisation techniques on cellular activity. The second phase will then explore the effect of alternative manufacturing techniques on cellular activity.

References

[1] Potekaev et al. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 5947

[2] Gyles te al. Eu. Pol. J. 2017,88, 373

[3] Tighe & Mann. Advanced Wound Repair Therapies 201, 321-354

[4] Lu et al. Sig.Transduct. Target. Ther. 2024, 9, 166

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Emma Shepherd.

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Emma Shepherd.