Professor Sébastien Perrier

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Our research focuses on the synthesis of macromolecules with highly controlled and pre-determinable structures using modern polymer and organic synthetic methods. We exploit supramolecular interactions to organise these molecules into nanostructured materials, for applications in nanomedicine (e.g. drug delivery, vaccines, antimicrobial materials - our materials are tested in house and in our group at the Monash Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) in Melbourne, Australia), nanotechnology (e.g. components for optoelectronic applications), materials science (e.g. rheology modifiers) or chemistry (catalysis, processes, etc.).

Research Groups

Perrier Group

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: mentoring, organised, collaborative.

Provision of Training

Your training will be supervised predominantly by my experienced post docs/PhD students.

Progression Monitoring and Management

We will set out expectations for your progression together on a monthly basis. If these progression criteria are not met we will always discuss a plan of action together.

Communication

The team communicate regularly via email and Whatsapp. Whilst I expect you to keep up within reason with my team communications, I am a strong advocate of a healthy work/life balance and expect you will manage this balance.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

These meetings will be face to face. I am usually contactable for an instant response every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time.

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:

Targeted Gene Delivery in Insects for Agricultural Applications

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).

Targeted Gene Delivery in Insects for Agricultural Applications

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr David Chandler

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Strategic Research Priority: Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Plant and Crop Science)

Project Outline

This project is focused on crop protection via targeted pest control, by developing advanced polymers to successfully deliver RNA inference (RNAi) in insects. The use of RNA enables specific pest targeting, whilst reducing our dependence on harmful chemical pesticides. More specifically, this research will aim to build novel cationic polymers for gene delivery that enable targeting specific pests. The main objective is to create a new generation of agricultural pest control that is responsibly designed, carefully studied, and avoid indiscriminately harming the environment (humans and other wildlife). A highly interdisciplinary approach needs to be taken to achieve this ambitious project. Using the highly versatile nature of polymer chemistry, we can synthesise a wide variety of cationic polymers. This library of materials will be used to complex with RNA to form polyplexes whereby the polymer plays an important role in protecting the nucleotide from endogenous and exogenous degrading factors in the insects. This is vital for the successful delivery (i.e. transfection) of the genetic material. From the systematic study of their structure-activity relationship, this work will allow the design of safer, more sustainable vectors for gene silencing in particular insect pests.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Synthesis and characterisation of viable polymer candidates for RNA complexation. Explore the biocompatibility of cationic polymer candidates in insect cells.

2. Investigate the polyplex formation and its stability in biologically relevant conditions.

3. Study the intracellular uptake, transfection and gene silencing efficiency of the polymer candidates in insect cell lines. (In vitro testing)

4. Study the transfection on model insects and targeted insect pests. (In vivo testing)

This project, which addresses the critical issue of food security faced by modern society, is truly interdisciplinary, and will span from chemistry to materials science, to cell biology, including gene delivery, to in vivo testing on insects. The successful students will initially be trained in all these areas, enabling them to then specialise in their discipline of choice as the project progresses.

Advancing Drug-free Therapeutics for Combating Polymicrobial Sepsis

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).

Advancing Drug-free Therapeutics for Combating Polymicrobial Sepsis

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Robert Dallmann

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Strategic Research Priority: Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology)

Project Outline

In the intensive care unit, sepsis and multiple organ failure remain significant sources of morbidity and mortality, due to limited efficacy of current treatment options. This highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutic interventions. This project aims to develop a polymer-based therapeutic agent that a) exerts a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, b) reverts systemic inflammatory immune response, and c) protects against multi-organ dysfunction by providing immune tolerance. Our preliminary work has demonstrated that amphiphilic cationic polymers (ACPs) are effective in killing both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Excitingly, one of these ACPs, demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and reducing proinflammatory cytokine level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, the role of cationic and amphiphilic nature of the polymer in the anti-inflammatory activity remains unclear. Hence, the project will explore three parallel objectives:1) elucidating the structural and molecular influence of ACPs on the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, 2) investigating the cellular and molecular mechanism involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of ACPs in LPS-induced inflammation models, and 3) assessing the safety and validating the therapeutic efficacy of the RAFT-ACPs in advanced polymicrobial sepsis mouse model. The findings from this project will lead to the development of a novel ACP based therapeutics for the treatment of polymicrobial sepsis as well as various other infection-related diseases, including osteomyelitis and respiratory infections.

Graphical Summary

This project is truly interdisciplinary, and will span from chemistry to materials science, to cell biology, to in vivo animal testing. The successful students will initially be trained in all these areas, enabling them to then specialise in their discipline of choice as the project progresses.