Targeted delivery strategies for DNA and viral therapeutics using a range of novel strategies, the improvement of the long term stability of biopharmaceuticals by lyophilisation and new affinity methods for their purification.

Bioscience and Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge, UK
url: vist or web page

Adv Mater Sci, DOI: 10.15761/AMS.1000131 (2017)
Alexander Chen, Sergio A Mercado, Nigel KH Slater
The design and synthesis of a dual-function, cell permeating polymer with an antioxidative property is described and its use for the intracellular delivery of the cryoprotectant trehalose into HeLa cells is demonstrated. The polymer, PVitE-25, was created by grafting the water insoluble hydrophobic […]

Soft Matter, 13, 3690-3700 (2017)
Sivaramakrishnan Ramadurai, Marco Werner, Nigel K.H. Slater, Aaron Martin, Vladimir A. Baulin, Tia Keyes
Deeper understanding of the molecular interactions between polymeric materials and the lipid membrane is important across a range of applications from permeation for drug delivery to encapsulation for immuno-evasion. Using highly fluidic microcavity supported lipid bilayers, we studied […]

Horsley Park, 22nd-24th September 2015

Researchers from the ITN-SNAL network have met again to discuss the frontiers in the biophysics and biochemistry of lipid membranes. Throughout the two-day meeting (22.09.2015 – 24.09.2015) held in Horsley Park, UK, young researchers had a unique opportunity for active interactions with experts in the field. By showing their latest results […]

Mechanisms behind temperature stabilisation of cells

Dates: 22nd-24th September 2015
Location: Horsley Park (Ockham Road South, East Horsley, KT24 6DT)

SCOPE
Lipid membranes are the basic building blocks for almost all living organisms. For years numerous reports have been focused on this area to establish a comprehensive understanding of membrane structures. More recently, the development of modern experimental techniques, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering and […]

Lectures on Physics of Graphene, Lipids and Proteins
Dates: 9-10 April 2015
Location: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

The lectures will be delivered by several invited experts as well as PIs in the training network. The courses will teach basic science and discuss recent advances in 2D materials research exploring their unique properties and […]

1-2 October 2014 – Cambridge, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge.

After months of discussions and proposals conducted by supervisors from each host institution and the program director, Dr. Vladimir Baulin, the management meeting in Cambridge sets the beginning of a great adventure!
In an atmosphere both earnest and casual, many topics have been […]

RNA-loaded liposome vaccines

Bioengineering of membrane associating polymers and polymer-protein complexes

S. Pogodin, N. K. H. Slater and V. A. Baulin

ACS Nano, 6(2), 1308-1313 (2012)

Under dehydration conditions, amphipathic late embryogenesis abundant proteins fold spontaneously from a random conformation into α-helical structures, and this transition is promoted by the presence of membranes. To gain insight into the thermodynamics of membrane association, we model the resulting α-helical structures […]

All People

Cell membranes represent a serious protective barrier for external molecules, proteins, nanoparticles and drugs. This barrier is quite efficient in protecting the interior of the cells. However, large nanoscale objects, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been found inside the cells both in direct and indirect biological experiments. Such experiments suggest that carbon nanotubes can efficiently […]

S. Pogodin, N.K.H. Slater and V.A. Baulin
ACS Nano, 5 (2), 1141–1146 (2011)

Nanotube patterning may occur naturally upon the spontaneous self-assembly of biomolecules onto the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). It results in periodically alternating bands of surface properties, ranging from relatively hydrophilic to hydrophobic, along the axis of the nanotube. Single-chain mean field (SCMF) […]