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**Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Responsive Polymeric MRI Contrast Agents**

Loughborough University

 

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Application details:

Reference number: AACME-22-043

Start date of studentship: April 2022, July 2022, October 2022

Closing date of advert: 28th February 2022

Primary supervisor: Dr Helen Willcock

Co-supervisor: Dr Stephen Butler

About the project

 

The aim of this PhD project is to synthesise small molecule contrast agents and incorporate them into responsive polymeric particles. The resulting polymeric MRI contrast agents will be designed to respond to their surrounding environment, thereby reporting on physiological parameters such as local pH in human tissue, aiding the diagnosis and better understanding of diseases such as cancer.

 

Loughborough University is an Equal Opportunity employer and actively supports equality, diversity, and inclusion. The School of Science holds a bronze Athena SWAN award represents a thriving and diverse research environment. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. Applications are encouraged from all sections of society.

Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/

PROJECT DETAILS

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique which provides 2 and 3-D anatomical information on soft tissues in a non-invasive manner. In the clinic, MRI relies upon small molecule contrast agents to enhance the image quality, enabling the diagnosis of neurological, cardiovascular and oncological disorders. However, these contrast agents suffer from low sensitivity and fast excretion from the body. We have shown that these properties can be improved dramatically upon by linking the contrast agents to polymer scaffolds, resulting in enhanced imaging capabilities [1]. The resulting polymeric MRI agents display substantially higher image contrast compared to those used in the clinic, potentially allowing lower and safer doses of the contrast agent to be used.

 

Building on this exciting work, this project aims to incorporate contrast agents into responsive polymers, which are capable of reporting on physiological parameters such as local pH in tissue, aiding the diagnosis and understanding of diseases such as cancer.
This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Helen Willcock (Materials) and Dr Stephen Butler (Chemistry) and involves polymer and synthetic organic chemistry and materials characterisation. The student can work in the laboratory of our collaborators (Italy), to characterise the imaging properties of the materials.

 

Reference: [1] Polymerizable Gd(III) buildings blocks for the synthesis of high relaxivity macromolecular MRI contrast Agents. T. R. Berki, J. Martinelli, L. Tei, H. Willcock and S. J. Butler. Chemical Science 12 (11), 3999-4013

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Entry requirements

 

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject. Experience in synthetic chemistry is essential. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, molecular imaging.

 

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

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Funding Notes

 

Please note that studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who have applied to this project and other advertised projects within the School. The 3-year studentships are intended to start on either 01 April 2022, 01 July 2022 or 01 October 2022. It provides a tax-free stipend of £15,609 a year (stipend will rise in line with the level set by the Research Council) for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK rate. These studentships are open to both UK and international students, however the total value of the studentship will cover the international tuition fee only.

 

Contact Details

 

Informal enquires are welcome via email to:

Dr Helen Willcock

h.willcock2@lboro.ac.uk

Dr Stephen Butler

s.j.butler@lboro.ac.uk

*How To Apply*

 

Submit your formal application online. Under programme name, select the department: 'Materials Engineering'.

Please quote the reference number AACME-22-043 and name of supervisors: Dr Helen Willcock and Dr Stephen Butler

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