Imperial College London

ProfessorJulianJones

Faculty of EngineeringDepartment of Materials

Professor of Biomaterials
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 6749julian.r.jones

 
 
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Location

 

207GoldsmithSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Overview

 

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The group's research interests are highly multidisciplinary but revolve around the development of materials for regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications: scaffolds for tissue engineering, therapeutic nanoparticles and understanding their cellular response. This involves materials synthesis (inorganic and organic), development of new processing techniques and advanced materials characterization.

Scaffolds

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Development of materials that fulfil the design criteria for scaffold for bone and cartilage tissue engineering applications and chronic wound healing. This involves materials synthesis, processing, advanced materials characterisation and the investigation of cell responses to the materials. Materials are bioactive glasses (melt and sol-gel derived) and inorganic/ organic hybrids. Synthesis work includes collaborations with Dr Theoni Georgiou (Imperial) and Dr Remzi Becer (QMUL). Processing techniques include foaming, freeze casting, electrospinning and 3D printing.scaffolds

For bone regeneration a highly porous material is required that mimics the structure and properties of bone and can stimulate new bone and blood vessel growth, i.e. be "bioactive" and biodegradable. For cartilage, softer materials with oriented structures are needed. In wound healing, flexible materials are needed that can stimulate blood vessel growth and support skin cells.

Therapeutic nanoparticles

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The group is also developing nanoparticles for therapeutic applications (cancer therapy and inorganic drug delivery) . Mechanisms of action and fate of the particles are investigated in collaboration with Prof Alexandra Porter.nanoparticles and cells

Advanced Characterisation

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Novel techniques for quantification of 3D pore networks and tissue ingrowth into the pores are being developed with Dr Gowsihan Poologasundarampillai (Birmingham) and Professor Peter Lee's (UCL) teams (Harwell Research Campus), by applying computer algorithms to 3D X-ray microtomography images. Collaborations with surgeons at the Musculoskeletal Lab and St Mary's Hospital (Imperial College Medical School) and industrial partners assist with material design criteria and technology transfer.

An important collaboration with the Physics Departments at Warwick (JV Hanna) and Kent (RJ Newport) Universities has enabled the use and further development of advanced probe techniques for sub-nano characterisation using techniques such as MAS-NMR and neutron diffraction.

Other key collaborations

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Other key collaborations are with Professor Molly Stevens, Prof Sara Rankin (Imperial) and Dr Gavin Jell (UCL) (cellular response); Prof Theoni Georgiou (Polymer Chemistry); Profs Jonathan Jeffers, Ulrich Hansen and Dr Marc Masen (Biomechanics and Tribology); Professor Anthony Bull (Blast injuries); Professors Akiko Obata & Toshihiro Kasuga (Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan - vaterite based hybrids); Gordon Blunn (Portsmouth) and Christopher Mitchell (Ulster - in vivo studies); Laura Cipolla and Laura Russo (University of Milano-Bicocca); Professor Juan Pou (Vigo - Laser Spinning).

Current Research Group

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Jones Group

Collaborators

Professor Molly Stevens, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Cell response to porous bioactive scaffolds

Dr John V Hanna and Professor Mark Smith, University of Warwick, Solid state NMR

Professor Toshihiro Kasuga, Nagoya Insitute of Technology, Japan, Hybrids materials

Research Staff

Heyraud,A

Iqbal,H

Tallia,F

Research Student Supervision

Ahmad,NE, Durability of nuclear waste glasses

Bergh,WVD, Calcium containing silica-gelatin hybrids for bone regeneration

Chung,J, TMSPMA based hybrids for tissue regeneration

Connell,L, Hybrids made with bespoke synthetic and natural polymers

Da Costa Machado,G, Biomimetic materials for bone repair

Greasley,S, Hybrids and nanoparticles for regenerative medicine

Kim,TB, 3D imaging of scaffold/ tissue interactions

Latham,DV, Bio-hybrids made with bespoke synthetic polymers

Macon,A, Bioactive hybrids containing synthetic polymers

Nelson,M, Hybrid scaffolds for cartilage regeneration

Nommeots-Nomm,A, Porous melt-derived bioactive glass scaffolds

Solanki,A, Bioactive glass scaffolds for wound healing

Tallia,F, Bioinspired nanocomposites for bone repair

Tang,HM, Porous melt-derived bioactive glass artificial bone grafts

Ting,HK, Phosphate containing hybrids for bone regeneration

Wang,D, Improving bioactivity of hybrids using Tof-Sims/ LEIS