Gibson Group News
PhD Vacancies in Group
We have vacancies now open for PhDs in the team. Using biomaterials, to probe important health-related challenges. All vacancies listed here.
COVID-19 detection in a rapid glycan-based diagnostic device
Our latest work, investigating SARS-COV-2 glycan interactions, and translation to diagnostic technology has been published in ACS sensors. Last year we discovered that the SARS-COV-2 spike protein could bind sialic acids (glycans found on cell surfaces and in the respiratory tract) using our glyconanoparticle platform. With our partners at Iceni Diagnostics and UHCW (Coventry Hospital) we integrated this into a flow-through device - similar to a lateral flow device - where the sample is dried, rather than captured on a test line. Using this, we show that primary swab samples of positive/negative patients can be identified correctly by this technology, and demonstrating the principle that rapid (eg lateral flow) devices that currently use antibodies as the detection agents, can be modified to use glycans instead. We also show that the spike proteins from variants of concern can still be detected in this format. Whilst still a prototype and this shows that glycan recognition can be deployed for infection monitoring and we are actively pursuing this technology.
Read the paper here; <span class="hlFld-Title">Glycan-Based Flow-Through Device for the Detection of SARS-COV-2</span>
Press release here. https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/alternative_to_antibodies
Welcome to Yanan Gao our new PhD visitor
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Yanan has joined the Gibson Group as a PhD student in October. Her research will involve development of 3D spheroid models for application on new polymers-based cryopreservation evaluation. |
Toward Glycomaterials with Selectivity as Well as Affinity
Our perspective article on glycomaterials has been published in JACS Au. Glycans (sugars) coat the surface of mammalian cells (the Glycocalyx) and >50 % of all proteins are estimated to be glycosylated. These glycans provide a vast range of roles, such as 'markers of self' and as sites for pathogen adhesion. Presenting glycans on polymers, particles or surfaces is an appealing means to mimic/interfere with these processes, and due to the cluster glycoside effect, displaying lots of glycans on the same scaffolds leads to remarkable enhancements in affinity, which has been widely studied. This perspective discusses examples where selectivity, as well as affinity has been introduced into materials. Most current glycomaterials show high affinity, but will bind a wide range of protein targets (such as lectins), but we summarise how materials-solutions can be deployed to selectively target one protein, over another, even when they 'like' the same glycan. This is crucial if glycans are to be deployed in sensing, and other application areas.
Read the paper here!
Gibson Group welcomes Dr Akalabya Bissoyi
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Akalabya Bissoyi studied for his Ph.D at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India, and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 2015 with a thesis on “Cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cell and tissue-engineered constructs using non-toxic cryoprotective agents ”. As a former postdoctoral student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, his research focuses on the role that antifreeze and ice-nucleating proteins play in tissue cryopreservation. His research will involve cryopreservation (freezing) of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional cell models. The project will make use of macromolecular cryoprotectants which can protect the cell from cold damage as well as preventing ice growth, and are inspired by ice-binding proteins found in extremophiles. |
Welcome to our new PhD Students: Natalia Gonzalez-Martinez, Erin Thompson & Douglas Soutar
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Natalia has joined the group after graduating in June with a First-Class degree in Biomedical Science with a Sandwich Year from the University of Kent. Her PhD project focuses on improving cellular recovery and function after cryopreservation, with a special focus on immune cell cryopreservation. |
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Erin is joining the Gibson Group from the University of Bristol, where she graduated with a master’s degree in Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. She is beginning her PhD project at Warwick to work on developing polymeric materials with advanced functions for the cryopreservation of therapeutic cells and proteins to protect them from cold-induced damage. The initial stages of her work will involve protein bioengineering to allow site-specific attachment of cryoprotectant polymers. |
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My name is Douglas Soutar, I am joining the group as a PhD student and will be working on polymer synthesis for biologic cryopreservation. I have been at Warwick a while, I finished my undergraduate chemistry studies in 2019, studied for an MSc in polymer chemistry in 2020 and worked as a research assistant for BonLab for the past year, so you might recognise me from the corridor. |
Panos joins RSC Chemical Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Group
Panos has been elected to join the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemical Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Group committee as a PhD representative. Current committee members enjoy the opportunity to give something back to the broader community and welcome the chance to influence and participate in organising the programme of activities. The Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Group (CNN) is one of the RSC's many Interest Groups. The Interest Groups are member-driven groups that exist to benefit RSC members and the wider chemical science community, in line with the RSC's strategy and charter.
Former Student, Robyn Wright, work featured in the Guardian
Dr Robyn Wright, who was co-supervised by the group (in a project led by Joseph Christie-Oleza from SLS) discussed her work in the Guardian newspaper. Specifically she discussed her findings of the 'plastisphere' - the complex microbial communities which can form on waste plastic in the oceans.