About the project
Broken bones don’t always heal, and current treatments are invasive and imprecise. In this project you’ll explore how ultrasound can “switch on” bone repair using injectable biomaterials. By combining nanoclay scaffolds with responsive agents, you will aim to control where new bone forms for non-invasive regeneration.
Around 5–10% of bone fractures fail to heal properly, leading to chronic pain, repeat surgery and major healthcare costs. Current treatments rely on invasive procedures or high-dose biologics such as BMP-2, which lack precise control over where and when they act. There is a clear need for minimally invasive approaches that enable spatially and temporally controlled bone regeneration. This project will develop sound-activated injectable biomaterials that combine nanoclay-based osteogenic scaffolds with ultrasound-responsive microbubbles.
The central hypothesis is that ultrasound can be used to externally control growth factor presentation and mechanical stimulation within the material, enhancing osteogenesis while reducing required biologic dose. You'll:
- design and characterise nanoclay–microbubble composites, assessing rheology, injectability, acoustic response and controlled release
- investigate osteogenic signalling, mechanotransduction and mineralisation in human bone marrow stromal and osteoblast-lineage cells
- evaluate performance in organotypic bone models and ectopic mineralisation systems.
The project integrates biomaterials, ultrasound physics and mechanobiology, and offers strong translational potential. It includes a 3-month industrial placement with Renovos Biologics (FDA Breakthrough Device designation), providing training in scalable biomaterials and regulatory pathways. You'll access advanced imaging, acoustic characterisation and tissue culture facilities, and gain interdisciplinary skills spanning regenerative medicine, drug delivery and bioengineering.
You’ll train in biomaterials design, ultrasound-mediated therapeutic activation and bone cell biology, gaining hands-on experience in injectable scaffold formulation, acoustic characterisation, growth factor delivery, advanced cell culture and translational models of bone regeneration. You’ll also develop skills in interdisciplinary research, working across engineering, mechanobiology and regenerative medicine with academic and industry partners.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
