Overview
Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading killer, driven in large part by atherosclerosis and its life-threatening consequences. This PhD will develop next-generation nitric oxide-releasing, 3D-printed vascular stents that restore blood flow while actively reducing thrombosis, inflammation and restenosis, enabling smarter, regenerative and personalised treatments for cardiovascular disease.
About this opportunity
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 19.8 million deaths in 2022, nearly one-third of all global deaths. Atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of many cardiovascular conditions, progressively narrows and obstructs blood vessels, leading to life-threatening events such as heart attacks and strokes. While vascular stents have revolutionised the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease, current devices remain vulnerable to complications including thrombosis, chronic inflammation, delayed endothelial healing, and restenosis. Developing stents that not only restore blood flow but also actively promote vascular regeneration represents one of the major challenges in cardiovascular medicine.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical signalling molecule responsible for maintaining vascular health. Produced by healthy endothelial cells, NO regulates vascular tone, inhibits platelet activation and thrombosis, suppresses inflammation, and promotes tissue repair. However, NO production is significantly impaired in diseased vessels, contributing to plaque progression, vascular calcification, and poor healing following intervention. Restoring NO bioavailability therefore represents a powerful strategy for improving long-term outcomes after stent implantation.
This multidisciplinary PhD project aims to develop next-generation NO-releasing 3D-printed vascular stents in order to reduce thrombosis, promoting endothelial regeneration, and preventing restenosis. Advanced 3D-printing technologies will enable the fabrication of customised stent architectures tailored to individual patient anatomy, supporting the growing move towards personalised cardiovascular medicine. Inspired by emerging shape-morphing and remotely deployable stent technologies, the research will investigate innovative stent designs, functional surfaces, and NO-generating materials to deliver safer, smarter, and more effective treatments for cardiovascular disease.
Research Objectives
The successful candidate will:
- Design and fabricate vascular stents using advanced 3D-printing technologies.
- Develop and optimise nitric oxide-generating biomaterial formulations
- Characterise the mechanical, chemical, and biological performance of the stents.
- Investigate NO release kinetics and their effects on vascular cell behaviour.
- Evaluate anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-calcification properties through in vitro and ex vivo studies.
- Explore personalised stent designs for future precision cardiovascular medicine applications.
Training and Opportunities
The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Antimicrobial Biomaterials Group and clinical experts in vascular disease and blood sciences, providing a unique opportunity to work at the interface of biomaterials engineering, additive manufacturing, cardiovascular medicine, and translational healthcare research.