New materials for manipulating intracellular communication

Harnessing nanomaterials to stimulate specific sub-cellular processes is a neglected area in nanotechnology research. This Fellowship aims to identify new techniques for incorporating cell-signalling triggers into macromolecules, therefore enabling the development of next-generation stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that can emit signalling molecules on demand. These nanoparticles could potentially be used to deliver signalling molecules for agricultural, pharmaceutical and veterinary applications. The intended outcome of the Fellowship is the development of a new suite of materials that could ultimately be used to improve the yield of important commercial crops, or revitalise the use of medicines limited by their poor side effect profile.