Summary
Dr Nick Brooks is a Reader in the Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London.
I lead the Dynamic Soft Systems group, our research focuses on the effect of high pressure on the structure and micromechanics of biological membranes, and dynamic structural changes in membrane based systems. Coupled to these research aims, we have a strong interest in advanced instrumentation and technique development.
We work closely with other members of the Membrane Biophysics Platform which is working at the forefront of the emerging field of molecular membrane engineering to design and construct new biologically-inspired materials and devices. We aim to revolutionise the design and fabrication of smart, soft materials and catalyse a paradigm shift in areas such as nanomedicine, bioelectronics, biological computing devices and synthetic organelles.
Much of our work is underpinned by development of new instrumentation (particularly high pressure platforms) to access experiments that were not previously possible. We have developed world-class systems for high pressure and pressure-jump microscopy and this has led to collaborations across the UK, Europe and USA. Having established an internationally leading pressure-jump facility for small angle X-ray diffraction at Diamond Light Source, we have been involved in the development of further related facilities at both Diamond and ESRF as well as a range of synchrotron based sample environments for probing structural changes in soft materials in response to triggers including solvent environment and electric field.
I have a strong interest in teaching and teaching innovation, particularly in the development of resources that encourage and enable students to explore topics themselves from a variety of perspectives. As our department's Senior Tutor, I am a member of the Department of Chemistry teaching leadership team and am committed to encouraging spread of best teaching and pastoral care practice.
Publications
Journals
Neville GM, Dobre A-M, Smith GJ, et al., 2023, Interactions of Choline and Geranate (CAGE) and Choline Octanoate (CAOT) Deep Eutectic Solvents with Lipid Bilayers, Advanced Functional Materials, ISSN:1616-301X
Paez-Perez M, Dent MRR, Brooks NJJ, et al., 2023, Viscosity-Sensitive Membrane Dyes as Tools To Estimate the Crystalline Structure of Lipid Bilayers, Analytical Chemistry, Vol:95, ISSN:0003-2700, Pages:12006-12014
Koutsoukos S, Avila J, Brooks NJJ, et al., 2023, Physical properties and nanostructuring of long-chained homobaric imidazolium ionic liquids, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol:25, ISSN:1463-9076, Pages:6316-6325
Paez Perez M, Dent MR, Brooks N, et al., 2023, Directly imaging emergence of phase separation in peroxidized lipid membranes, Communications Chemistry, ISSN:2399-3669
Strutt R, Sheffield F, Barlow N, et al., 2022, UV-DIB: label-free permeability determination using droplet interface bilayers, Lab on a Chip: Miniaturisation for Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Materials Science and Bioengineering, Vol:22, ISSN:1473-0189, Pages:972-985