📖Program Curriculum
Project details
Blood-contacting materials like tubing in dialysis or extracorporeal life support devices are critical in where long-term performance is desired. Currently, there is a lack of appropriate engineered materials that can completely prevent clotting when in long-term contact with whole blood.
The most common approach to developing next-generation blood-compatible materials is to design surface chemistries and structures that reduce or eliminate protein adsorption to prevent blood clotting. This project aims at bio-tribological assessment and characterisation of key features of the endothelial glycocalyx lining of the interior surfaces of blood vessels through aging.
Aging leads to changes in the blood flow properties of vessels due to a reduction in thickness and changes in the endothelial cells. However, the nano-structural changes of the glycocalyx with age are not well described. Understanding the underlying mechanisms could help to inspire better devices as well as therapeutic interventions to prevent or delay cardiovascular diseases. Insights gained from this work is expected to aid with suggesting new design principles for blood-compatible surfaces in medical devices which are in direct contact with blood.
The project will utilise state-of-the-art nanoscale characterisation techniques along with development of appropriate modelling techniques for describing the observed characteristics.
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