Jamie Grant
Current PhD Student
Development of Nano-fibrous Chitosan and Graphene Composites for Bio-Medical Applications
Research Project Summary:
With the emergence of nanotechnological advances, researchers have become devoted to studying the properties of nanoscale materials. Electrospinning is a fundamental technique which is used to manufacture nanofibres. In the current investigation, graphene oxide, chitosan and PVP have been studied for their potential uses in electrospinning. Chitosan and PVP are well-known materials for electrospinning due to their unique properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the biocompatibility and biodegradability of graphene oxide is not well known. Graphene oxide has many unique characteristics that would enhance electrospun material for biomedical uses (e.g. increase strength, increase surface area). However, it is important to study the effects graphene oxide would have on electrospun chitosan/PVP in terms of biocompatibility and biodegradability.
Bio:
Jamie Grant is a PhD research student based in the department of Life Sciences, IT Sligo. His topic of interest relates to the “Development of Nano-fibrous Chitosan and Graphene Composites for Bio-Medical Applications”. The scope of the project covers many topics such as materials science, polymer science, analytical chemistry, bio-engineering and biomedical science.
Jamie began his academic studies in IT Sligo where he completed a BSc. Hons in Forensic Investigation & Analysis (2011-2015). He spent the summer of his third year completing a work placement in the Centre for Research Excellence, British Heart Foundation, University of Edinburgh, Scotland which gave him an important insight into medical science and laboratory-based research. His final year project involved the “Forensic Evaluation of Soil Samples” which leaned heavily on analytical chemical techniques such as SEM, ED-XRF, FTIR etc. After gaining a small taste of research during his undergraduate program, Jamie began his post-graduate studies under Dr Ailish Breen (Science), Prof. Suresh C. Pillai (Science), Dr Marion Mc Afee (Engineering) and Dr Sarah Hehir (Science) (2016-present).
Aside from his own topics of research, Jamie is also involved in other aspects of scientific study within the college. He has worked on projects with The Centre for Precision Engineering, Materials & Manufacturing research (The PEM Centre) to provide troubleshooting and problem-solving research for industrial partners including AbbVie and Litec Moulding Ltd. Jamie also recently worked on the face visor production team in IT Sligo, during the fight against COVID-19, and has helped to construct a research paper based on the teams’ work. Jamie has also been lucky to gain experience as a laboratory demonstrator in the areas of chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and mathematics, teaching undergraduate students.
Papers
Grant JJ, Pillai SC, Perova TS, Hehir S, Hinder SJ, McAfee M, Breen A. Electrospun Fibres of Chitosan/PVP for the Effective Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil. Chemosensors. 2021; 9(4):70. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors9040070
Grant JJ, Pillai SC, Hehir S, McAfee M, Breen A. (2021). Biomedical Applications of Electrospun Graphene Oxide. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 2021 7 (4), 1278-1301. DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01663
O’Dowd, K.; Nair, K.M.; Forouzandeh, P.; Mathew, S.; Grant, J.; Moran, R.; Bartlett, J.; Bird, J.; Pillai, S.C. Face Masks and Respirators in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Current Materials, Advances and Future Perspectives. Materials 2020, 13, 3363.
Presentations
2019 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
2017 IT Sligo Postgraduate Research Conference, Sligo, Ireland
Collaborations
Dr Manus Biggs, National University of Ireland, Galway CÚRAM – Centre for Research in Medical Device
Professor Abhay Pandit, National University of Ireland, Galway CÚRAM – Centre for Research in Medical Device