Dan Hawthorne

Development of novel biomaterials for optimised tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Development of novel polymer systems for biologically-activated, on-demand and sustained delivery of therapeutic compounds to inflamed and injured tissues. 

Drug delivery, specifically in the delivery of bioactive compounds to the ocular surface via hydrogel-embedded platforms (e.g. contact lenses).

Optical sensors and biosensing - especially colorimetric systems which can easily be read by (e.g.) smartphones software which can extract RGB data.

Supervision of MRes and PhD-level projects in which postgraduate students develop biocompatible devices designed to both target and sustain the release of small-molecule therapeutics, in a theranostic response to disease-specific biomechanical/biochemical triggers. As part of the multidisciplinary Centre of Regerative Medicine and Devices (CRMD) Centre of Research Excellence (CORE), my students benefit from belonging to a multidisciplinary team with expertise in biology, chemistry, materials science and more. I seek to nurture independence in the next generation of researchers, and generate concepts with real-world applications. My students therefore lead material development and characterisation, seeking to identify candidate systems which may be suitable for commercial and clinical adoption.

PhD supervision

"Optimising the Wound Dressing Interface" - Mr Sertan Kiziloz, 2022 - Present. 

MRes Supervision

"Ophthalmic medical devices to treat oxidative stress at the anterior eye by sustained delivery of radical scavengers" - Faye Abdullah, 2023 - Present

"Development of Novel Biomaterials for Ocular Inserts: Potential Treatment for Glaucoma" - Mr. Chukwuebuka Richard Obiora, 2020 - 2021

A social and constructivist approaches dominate my teaching sessions. I prefer to prompt spirited discussion, which generates better understanding than simply sitting, listening and note-taking.

Current work is a collaborative effort with both industry and academic partners, with knowledge shared between individuals with expertise in chemistry, pharmaceutics, and biomolecular science. I am always keen to develop new networking opportunities and expand mutual understanding to reach a common goal with real-world benefit that is not limited just to publication.