ProfessorJulian Jones

Overview
The group's research interests are highly multidisciplinary but revolve around the development of advanced materials for regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications: scaffolds for tissue engineering, therapeutic nanoparticles and understanding their cellular response. This involves materials synthesis (inorganic and organic), development of new processing techniques and advanced materials characterisation.

His team also produce bioderived materials (polymers/plastics, silica and their composites) from biomass/ waste materials, e.g. chitin from . Applications are in automotive and packaging applications.

Scaffolds
Development of materials that fulfil the design criteria for scaffold for bone and cartilage tissue engineering applications and chronic wound healing. This involves materials synthesis and processing. Materials are bioactive glasses (melt and sol-gel derived) and inorganic/ organic hybrids - “Bouncy Bioglass”. Synthesis work includes collaborations with polymer chemist Dr Theoni Georgiou (Imperial) and Ipsita Roy (Sheffield). Processing techniques include different 3D printing techniques and electrospinning.

For bone regeneration a highly porous material is required that mimics the structure and properties of bone and can stimulate new bone and blood vessel growth, i.e. be "bioactive" and biodegradable. For cartilage, softer materials with oriented structures are needed. In wound healing, flexible fibrous materials are needed that can stimulate blood vessel growth and support skin cells.

Therapeutic nanoparticles
The group is also developing nanoparticles for therapeutic applications (cancer therapy and inorganic drug delivery) . Mechanisms of action and fate of the particles are investigated in collaboration with Prof Alexandra Porter, Dr Alessandra Pinna (Surrey) and Prof Robert Wilkinson (Crick Institute).

Advanced Characterisation
Novel techniques for quantification of 3D pore networks and tissue ingrowth into the pores are being developed with Professor Peter Lee's (UCL) and Dr Angelo Karunaratne’s (University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka) teams, by applying computer algorithms and machine learning to 3D X-ray microtomography images.

Clinical translation
Collaborations with surgeons at the Musculoskeletal Lab and St Mary's Hospital (Imperial College Medical School) and industrial partners assist with material design criteria and technology transfer. PhD students in group include surgeons and practicing dentists.

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