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The Team

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions cofund EUTOPIA-SIF Research Fellow

Evelina Liarou

2022-2024: MSCA-Eutopia SIF Fellow | Advanced Electron Microscopy of Polymerization Mechanisms | Dep. of Chemistry - Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Warwick

2020-2022: FWO Postdoctoral Fellow | Light Stabilized Dynamic Polymer Transformations | Dep. of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Belgium - Du Prez group

2016-2020: PhD in Chemistry | thesis: Oxygen Tolerant Cu-mediated Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization | Dep. of Chemistry, University of Warwick, UK - Haddleton group

2014-2016: MSc in Chemistry | thesis: Synthesis and Characterization of multifunctional diblock terpolymers of the type poly(ethylene oxide)-block- poly(histidine-co-tyrosine). Aggregation phenomena in aqueous media | Dep. of Chemistry, University of Athens, Greece

2009-2013: BSc in Chemistry | Dep. of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece

Research Focus: Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Advanced Electron Microscopy, Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy

Publication List: Google ScholarLink opens in a new window | email: evelina.liarou.1@warwick.ac.uk | Dep. of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Library Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

PDRA

Bryn Jones

PhD

Mohammed Aljuaid
Mahir Mohammed (Oct 2019 - )

 

First year PhD student working under Dr Paul Wilson. My game is electrochemical synthesis, specifically on the nanoscale. Most syntheses are inorganic redox reactions, involving the transfer of electrons. For example, most people are familiar with industrial electrochemical synthesis of water to literally split it into hydrogen and oxygen molecules, involving a transfer of electrons between O2- and H+. These industrial reactions could in principle be done on the nanoscale. This is where my PhD comes in. Nanoscale electrochemical synthesis is not new: Cu2+ ions can be reduced to Cu atoms on the nanoscale and this has been done already. r-shaped copper nanostructures can be formed by precisely directing an electrochemical probe in different positions in the cell and inducing electrochemical reduction at the probe. This research, while highly interesting, does not lend itself to formation of materials with the wide variety of interesting properties that could be attained by organic reactions. Organic chemistry is known for its ability to build an infinitely large range of molecules, and we hope to tap into the power of organic chemistry by bringing electro-organic reactions to the nanoscale.

Copper electrodeposition

My PhD centres around the localised electrochemical synthesis of polymers on the nanoscale using aqueous surface eATRP, a more sophisticated reaction. Most people enjoy doing polymer chemistry in vials or in larger containers, but it is possible to do the same in tiny electrochemical cells. The tiny electrochemical cells are between 10-9m3 and 10-11 m3 in volume. Since each electrochemical cell is a droplet on a much larger substrate, you can end up with massive arrays of dots on the substrate surface The polymer reaction can be induced by applying a voltage to the cell.

The localised nature of these syntheses lends itself to command over - for instance - polymer length and properties. Oxygen, however, readily dissolves in water during surface eATRP, and can itself be reduced to the reactive initiator, the oxygen radical anion, resulting in unwanted bulk polymerization and loss of control. Essentially, one is left with nanolitres of something a skilled polymer chemist could make millions of times greater in volume on a lab desk. To counter this unfortunate result, a multitude of bulk cyclic voltammetric measurements are being performed to accurately and reliably identify the voltages necessary for catalyst activation without simultaneous oxygen activation. They can then be translated onto the nanoscale to further our research goals. Interests include running, cooking, and photography. If you would like to speak with me, please contact Dr Wilson in the first instance via p.wilson.1@warwick.ac.uk.

Surface patterning of polyacrylamide gel using scanning ...

First figure on copper deposition reproduced from: D. Momotenko, A. Page, M. Adobes-Vidal and P. R. Unwin, ACS Nano, 2016, 10, 8871–8878.

Second figure on SECCM spiral reproduced from: E. E. Oseland, Z. J. Ayres, A. Basile, D. M. Haddleton, P. Wilson and P. R. Unwin, Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 9929–9932.

Boyu Zhao (Jan 2020 - )

Project Title: Precision synthesis using nanoscale electrochemistry

First-year PhD student and my preferred name is Boyu Zhao.The long-term goal is to develop high precision probe-based electrosynthesis on the micro, meso and nanoscale by expanding the capabilities of scanning electrochemical probe microscopy. In addition, I have used electrasyn to do Cu2+ and Fe3+ CV experiments. I'm currently running SICM to get film topography.

If you have any question, just email:Boyu.Zhao@warwick.ac.uk

Muzhao Wang (Oct 2021 - )
Alexandros Magiakos (Oct 2021 - )

Alex

I am coming from Greece, where I obtained my BSc degree (top 10%) in Chemistry from the University of Athens, which included a dissertation thesis on characterization and biological evaluation of novel inorganic drugs (Zn, Cd, Cu). I graduated from the same university with a Master of Science (hons) in Bioinorganic Chemistry (2020). During my MSc studies under the supervision of Pr. Constantinos Methenitis, I worked on the synthesis and characterization of platinum group complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives and their biological evaluation. Specifically, I focused on the drugs' interaction studies with DNA and protein BSA, following their in vitro exploration of anticancer activity. I also spent 4 months in University of Warwick (Erasmus+ traineeship programme), under the supervision of Dr Paul Wilson, which allowed me to undertake a project on the development and characterization of arsenic/platinum-containing hydrogels as potential therapeutic agents.

Currently, I am a PhD student in Dr Wilson’s Group. You can see a brief view of my research projects below. For further information or questions don’t hesitate to contact me via email: Alexandros.Magiakos.1@warwick.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can contact my supervisor Dr Paul Wilson.

Main Project: Sustainable routes to N2 reduction and N-functionalisation of polyenes

The research project is part of the SCIENCE Prosperity Partnership between Lubrizol, University of Nottingham and the University of Warwick. Collectively, we aim to develop transformative methods and more sustainable platforms for the synthesis and production of functional molecules, such as surfactants and dispersants. Specifically, my project (PhD) is focused on delivering electrosynthetic and electro-/photocatalytic routes to N2-functionalisation and N-functionalisation of alkenes. We are currently scoping out and screening efficient methods for (photo)catalytic hydroamination of unactivated alkenes and working on translating these to electrosynthesis/catalysis using small molecule alkenes and PIB as model unsaturated compounds. Optimized batch reactions are subject to intensification through translation to a continuous flow process. In the longer-term, the overarching aim of the project is to explore the feasibility of directly capture of N2, through reduction to NH3 (bioinorganic electrosynthesis, catalysis) which is subsequently employed to functionalise target unsaturated (macro)molecules via the hydroamination methods currently under development.

Side Project: Development of platinum containing polymeric arsenicals for biomedical application

The overarching aim of this research project is to expand on polymeric arsenicals as a platform for functional nanomaterials by developing arsenoplatino-nanomaterials with a view to employing them to treat infectious (antimicrobial hydrogels) and non-communicable diseases (e.g. nanoparticles for cancer therapy). Designing polyarsenical block copolymer scaffolds that undergo simultaneous self-assembly and loading of metal complexes into supramolecular formulations (NPs, hydrogels), can achieve the goal of efficient drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic activity, by employing dual pharmacophore properties. Moreover, following the presence of heavy metals and/or metalloids attached to a polymer chain could also overcome existed limitations in electron microscopy and allow for high resolution imaging of the polymer behaviour. The materials are fully characterized and evaluated to determine size, shape, stability (NPs) and physical properties (gels) before undergoing biological evaluation (e.g. cell viability, anticancer/antimicrobial activity) in School of Life Sciences.

Bethanie Dean (2022 - )

A portrait picture of Bethanie Dean, a young white female with dark brown hair and eyes, smiling at the camera.

Hello! I am a first year PhD student in the Wilson Group, focusing on the electrosynthesis of polymers at the nanoscale. You can find out more about myself and my research project here.

Owen Tooley (2022 - )

AS CDT: 2021-25

PhD Project: Screening and optimisation of active targeted polymeric systems for cancer therapy - In this project, we will screen and optimise the conditions of the conjugation reaction and purification of the active targeted polymeric materials as these factors directly impact the effectiveness and quality of these materials.

MSc Mini-Project 1, Supervisor Professor Jozef Lewandowski: Understanding the Behaviour of PROTACs in bio-relevant media - Using a mixture of different NMR experiments to observe the conformational behaviour of PROTACs in aqueous media that simulates the upper gastrointestinal tract.

MSc Mini-Project 2, Supervisors Dr Paul Wilson and Dr Daniel Lester: Screening and optimisation of active targeted nanomedicines for cancer therapy - Using a combination of techniques including GPC, HPLC, DLS, Zeta-Potential and NMR to synthesise, characterise and investigate processes to synthesise novel dendrimer conjugates.

MChem (Hons) Cardiff University 2021 with year in industry at AstraZeneca working on developing accelerated stability modelling for new modality compounds using RP-HPLC.

MChem project, supervised by Dr Niklaas Buurma, worked on synthesising and characterising different carrier prodrug model systems involving the use of NMR and Mass Spectrometry. Then, comparing and characterising their release kinetics using UV-Visible Spectroscopy and RP-HPLC.

Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (AMRSC)

Registered Scientist (RSci)

MSc

Kieran Stakem

MRes Project (under the supervision of Dr Paul Wilson and Dr Hannes Houck): Thiomaleimides; their photocycloadditions and subsequent applications in polymer chemistry.

Ned Sawdy

MChem

Alex King

Visitors

Alex Rajakanthan (Monash Institute of Pharmacetical Sciences, joint PhD with Kristian Kempe)