Motion and Machines: using chemistry to improve our world

In nature – patterns are everywhere. From zebras stripes to leopards spots, surfaces like skin are patterned down to the cellular level. Whilst nature has many techniques for the autonomous patterning of materials, human kind has none. My research takes inspiration from natural systems to pattern both the timing and location of where chemicals are made. Join me for a journey in to the world of droplet chemistry and patterned materials.

Targeting selected cells in living human tissue is vital for healthcare. We aim to develop light-activated molecular machines to selectively target and eradicate cancerous cells, to replace current, often harmful methods like surgery and radiotherapeutics. Cells would not be able to develop immunity to these machines. I will show our progress, the ability to open cell membranes, introduce chemicals into cells, expedite cell death and target specific cell types through recognition of cell-surface characteristics, and our next challenge, to replace the harmful UV light we currently employ.