The interests of the Polymers, Composites and Spectroscopy Group (PCAS) encompass polymers, minerals and composites

A novel wound dressings which is active against MRSA for four days has been developed in collaboration with colleagues from the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam.

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymers that contain large amounts of water. We have developed a novel hydrogel loaded with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) which can be maintained as a liquid ex vivo and be injected into the affected tissue site where body temperature triggers in situ gelation.

There are a large number of commercially available additives that enable polymers to perform important functions over a wide range of conditions

We have extensive experience of incorporating clays into a range of petroleum derived polymers including polypropylene, polyamide, polyacrylates, polycaprolactone, polyvinylalcohol as well as biopolymers including starch, polylactic acid, chitosan and gelatin

The degradation of polymers by UV, heat, moisture or γ-irradiation is of significant importance in many different spheres of life

We have developed a novel pNIPAM-DMAc-Laponite® hydrogel loaded with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAPna), which can be maintained as a liquid ex vivo and be injected into the affected bone tissue site where body temperature triggers in situ gelation

The competitive movement of small molecules through polymers, membranes and constitutes an important phenomenon in many applications

By applying our experience and expertise in polymer analysis, we are able to obtain useful insights into polymer behaviour and suggest solutions to material or processing challenges

Our Senior Lecturer in Materials Engineering, Dr Paul Bingham, was recently made a Fellow of the Society of Glass Technology