Self-Powered Piezoelectric Hydrogels for Immunomodulation and Chronic Wound Regeneration

Details

Chronic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers, affect millions of patients worldwide and remain one of the most difficult clinical challenges in healthcare. Current wound dressings mainly protect the wound but do little to actively stimulate tissue repair.

This PhD project will develop next-generation smart hydrogels capable of generating therapeutic electrical signals from natural body movement. By integrating piezoelectric nanomaterials into soft hydrogel systems, the project aims to create self-powered wound dressings that convert mechanical energy (such as pressure or movement) into electrical cues that stimulate tissue regeneration.

These innovative biomaterials could help enhance cell migration, improve blood vessel formation, and accelerate healing in chronic wounds without requiring external power sources or devices.

The successful candidate will work at the interface of biomaterials science, nanotechnology, and regenerative medicine, gaining hands-on experience in hydrogel engineering, nanomaterial synthesis, materials characterisation, and cell biology.

This interdisciplinary project offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of smart biomaterials that actively interact with the body to promote healing. The outcomes of this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for chronic wound care and other regenerative medicine applications.

The PhD student will join a collaborative research environment focused on advanced biomaterials and biomedical innovation, with opportunities to develop strong research skills and contribute to high-impact scientific publications.

How to apply

Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site; applicants will need to register an account, select ‘Postgraduate Research’ as the type of course and then use the keyword ‘pharmacy’. Applicants should then specify the project title in the ‘Research Proposal’ section.

About the University of Bradford

Bradford is a research-active University supporting the highest-quality research. We excel in applying our research to benefit our stakeholders by working with employers and organisations world-wide across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors and actively encourage and support our postgraduate researchers to engage in research and business development activities.

Positive Action Statement

At the University of Bradford our vision is a world of inclusion and equality of opportunity, where people want to, and can, make a difference. We place equality and diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to social mobility at the centre of our mission and ethos. In working to make a difference we are committed to addressing systemic inequality and disadvantages experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.

Under sections 158-159 of the Equality Act 2010, positive action can be taken where protected group members are under-represented. At Bradford, our data show that people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups who are UK nationals are significantly under-represented at the postgraduate researcher level.

These are lawful measures designed to address systemic and structural issues which result in the under-representation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students in PGR studies.