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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S80103/01
Title: Structural Modelling of the Biological Interface with Materials
Principal Investigator: Harding, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Stoneham, Professor AM Gillan, Professor M Shluger, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Professor DM Duffy
Project Partners:
BP Dassault Systemes Intelligensys
Pfizer Thomas Swan TWI Ltd
Unilever University of Bristol
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Organisation: University of Sheffield
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 February 2005 Ends: 31 July 2009 Value (£): 520,850
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biomaterials
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics Healthcare
Related Grants:
GR/S80127/01 GR/S80110/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Bones teeth and shells are examples of biominerals. An organic scaffold controls how and where mineral crystals will nucleate and grow. The result is a complex material, which has characteristic structure at many lengthscales and unusual properties. An understanding of these properties is essential in medicine, where biocompatible prosthetics are needed. These materials also offer clues to how new materials and structures can be designed. Biomaterials self-assemble; under the right conditions ordered structures emerge from simple nanoscale components. The purpose of this project is to understand how all this happens. In particular, we wish to understand the interface between the organic part and the mineral which controls all this. The models developed during this project will be applied to specific problems in the areas of biodevices, biosensors, biominerals and nanomaterials. A consortium from three institutions, University College London, Cambridge and Warwick will collaborate in a four year project costing 1.3M pounds to develop and apply these models. The project will be closely connected to world-class experimental groups and industrial partners. The new methods and understanding will be disseminated to the academic community through a programme of workshops and meetings.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.shef.ac.uk