Design of colloidal and nanoparticle hydrogel coatings for medical applications Postdoctoral Position Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials Laboratory ESPCI Paris

The Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials (C3M) laboratory is pleased to announce a postdoctoral position at the interface between soft matter science and biomaterials engineering. The project will focus on designing deposition processes of colloids and nanoparticles on hydrogel membranes and investigating the phenomena occurring upon contact with biological tissues. A special attention will be placed on the microscopic characterization of the hydrogel-colloid-tissue interface and the debonding processes. The chemical, physico-chemical and morphological properties of the colloidal coatings will be adjusted to identify parameters governing these processes and propose predictive models. The project is part of the ANR funded NANOBIOTAPE project aiming at the design of functional hydrogel membranes for surgery. It will be conducted in very close collaboration with the Centre des
Matériaux (Mines ParisTech) for adhesion and microscopic characterization as well as with surgeon partners at the Alfort National Veterinary School and Paul Brousse Hospital, to assess the clinical relevance and perform in vivo studies.

Laboratory Description :
ESPCI Paris is a major institution of higher education (a French "Grande École d’ingénieurs"), an internationally renowned research center (17 laboratories), and a fertile ground of innovation for industry. Teaching and research are done in the fields of physics, chemistry and biology.The Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials laboratory mainly focuses on the design, synthesis and study of polymeric and supramolecular materials. The laboratory is known for conducting fundamental research inspired by or oriented towards applications.

Knowledge and skills :
Applicants should have a very strong background in soft matter science at large, and in particular a solid experience as an experimentalist in polymer, colloidal or nanoparticle physico-chemistry as well as microscopy and mechanical characterization. An interest on all these aspects as well as in biomaterials research and biomedical applications are required. Good skills for collaborative work are
also sought.Key words :

Hydrogels, nanoparticles, colloidal coatings, biological tissues, adhesion, microscopy, soft interfaces, experimental work, ex vivo and in vivo testing.

References :
1 - Rose S., Prevoteau A., Elzière P., Hourdet D., Marcellan A. and Leibler L. Nanoparticle solutions as adhesives for gels and biological tissues Nature 505 (2013). doi:2010.1038/nature12806
2 - Michel R., Poirier L., van Poelvoorde Q., Legagneux J., Manassero M., Corté L. Interfacial fluid transport is a key to hydrogel bioadhesion PNAS 116 (2019). doi:10.1073/pnas.1813208116
3 – Michel R., Roquart M., Llusar E., Gaslain F., Norvez S., Baik J.S., Yi G.-R., Manassero M., Corté L. Hydrogel-Tissue Adhesion Using Blood Coagulation Induced by Silica Nanoparticle Coatings ACS Applied Bio Materials 3, (2020) doi:10.1021/acsabm.0c01158

Recruitment terms :
Principal Investigators : Pr. Laurent Corté and Pr. Sophie Norvez
Starting date : October 2021 – January 2022
Duration : 18 Months
Location : C3M, ESPCI Paris, France
Salary : The salary will be adjusted to candidates’ background and expertise

Potential candidates are asked to submit their CV and provide contact information for two to three references.

Contacts :
Laurent Corté (laurent.corte@mines-paristech.psl.eu) and Sophie Norvez(sophie.norvez@espci.psl.eu)
Chimie Moléculaire, Macromoléculaire, Matériaux
ESPCI Paris
10, rue Vauquelin | 75231 Paris Cedex 05 | France
http://www.mmc.espci.fr
http://www.espci.fr/en