Research Subject Area: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry

REF impact found 89 Case Studies

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15. Advanced Sorption Instruments for Powder Characterisation

Summary of the impact

Novel vapour sorption experimental methods for the characterisation of complex particulate materials have been developed in the Department of Chemical Engineering. This research and expertise resulted in the creation of Surface Measurement Systems Limited (SMS), whose Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS) and Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) instruments are now found in >500 laboratories around the world. They are recognised standard research and development tools in the global pharmaceutical industry (DIN 66138). SMS has contributed >270 man-years of employment and generated £27M of turnover, whilst SMS instruments have generated over £300M of economic value, over the REF period.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)

Biocompatible polymer coatings for the long-term implantation of biomedical devices in humans

Summary of the impact

Biomedical devices that need to be implanted into the body typically experience the so-called foreign-body reaction: proteins adhere to the surface of the devices, leading to rapid loss of function and, eventually, to a requirement for replacing the device. Between October 2006 and September 2011, The University of Reading, in collaboration with the UK SME BioInteractions Ltd., developed and evaluated a range of new polymers for coating implantable biomedical devices, especially coronary stents and catheters. The result was a coating system that can deliver a drug controllably over a pre-defined period, leading to the commercial biomaterials platforms AdaptTM and AssistTM. This work resulted in capital investment by Biointeractions Ltd and a substantial increase in their research staffing.

Submitting Institution

University of Reading

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Engineering: Biomedical Engineering, Materials Engineering

Case study 2. “Filling without Drilling”: Use of Self Assembling Peptides as Biomimetic Scaffolds in Treatment of Early Enamel Decay (Caries) Lesions

Summary of the impact

Multi-disciplinary research at Leeds has led to a step change for treatment of early tooth decay using a minimally invasive regenerative therapy, eliminating the need for surgical excavation ("Filling without Drilling"). The patented technology was licensed to a spin-out company (Credentis ag), completed "first in man" trials at Leeds [6] and received a CE-label for clinical use in Switzerland, Europe and Canada. The trials demonstrated clinical efficacy that is safe and favoured by patients. Two new products are now on the market. Credentis were recognised as one of the top start ups in Switzerland [A], won the Swiss Technology Award in 2013, have established a new UK base and have engaged a UK company as suppliers, creating new business for a UK owned industry.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
Biological Sciences: Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Castep

Summary of the impact

CASTEP is a parameter-free and predictive quantum mechanical atomistic simulation code developed by Professor Payne in the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge. CASTEP has been sold commercially by Accelrys since 1995, with more than 800 industrial customers using the package. As part of Accelrys' Materials Studio, it can be used by non-experts to determine a wide range of physical and chemical properties of materials. Companies can thus perform `virtual experiments' using CASTEP. As quantum mechanical simulations can be cheaper and more flexible than experiments, CASTEP invariably reduces costs and accelerates product development.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Catalytic Converter Research Leads to Major New Product for Motor Vehicles

Summary of the impact

Globally there are estimated to be 60 million cars produced each year. These all require catalysts that need testing to meet stringent emissions legislation. Catagen Ltd, a spin-out from Queen's University has developed a product for testing motor vehicle catalysts that is 85% cheaper to operate than traditional methods and represents a 98% reduction in CO2 emission from testing and an 80% reduction in energy input.

Major global customers including GM motors and Fiat have adopted this revolutionary patent protected technology and international sales growth has been recognised, winning an all- Ireland business award for BEST High Growth Company 2012

Submitting Institution

Queen's University Belfast

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)

Characterising a unique pressure sensitive material for use in mobile phones: Peratech Ltd (Peratech)

Summary of the impact

Collaborative research between Durham Physics and Industry showed that a serendipitously discovered new material had unique, pressure sensitive conduction properties which were derived from quantum tunnelling. This research, published in 2005, is cited as one of the top 25 papers in that Journal for that year. Peratech was set up to commercialise this material for applications including switches and mobile phones as the pressure sensitivity gives a new dimension to scale the response. This company now employs 25 people, has an annual turnover of £3M and won the 2012 Queens award for Enterprise in the innovation category.

Submitting Institution

University of Durham

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Materials Engineering

Clinical & Commercial Impact of a new Regenerative Bone Cement for Middle Ear Surgery

Summary of the impact

Research into the biocompatibility of glass-ionomer bone cements conducted at the School of Clinical Dentistry led directly to the start-up of a UK company to manufacture a new medical device, creating jobs in the supply chain and wealth creation via international sales. The new bone cement is safe and clinically effective, and has maintained or restored hearing to improve the quality of life of over 10,000 patients worldwide since 1st January 2008. In the course of supporting this commercial partner, Sheffield's staff also contributed to other non-academic tasks.

Submitting Institution

University of Sheffield

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Biomedical Engineering

C3 - Plaxica: Transformational Biopolymer Technology

Summary of the impact

Plaxica is a spin-out from, and based, at Imperial College London with economic, societal and environmental impacts. Launched in 2008, Plaxica is a process technology licensing business which is tackling the barriers that currently prevent a wider acceptance of bioplastics; specifically improving properties, decreasing cost and using non-food feedstocks to manufacture the biopolymer poly(lactic acid), PLA. Plaxica's technology uses sustainable feedstocks to produce PLA using more energy-efficient processes, to produce a strong, high-quality polymer, the result of which is a low-cost, environmentally-friendly biopolymer for use in applications including textiles, packaging, and automobile parts. In the REF period Plaxica has raised £10m from investors such as Imperial Innovations, Invesco Perpetual and NESTA Investments. The market pull for biorenewable materials from consumers is strong and the EU predicts that PLA will substitute >10% of the existing market for petrochemical polymers and forecasts a market >$15b [A].

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Other Chemical Sciences

Designing new nonwoven fabrics: The creation of NIRI Ltd and the commercialisation of products for the industrial, healthcare and consumer sectors.

Summary of the impact

Professor Stephen Russell's fundamental and applied research on the formation, structure and properties of nonwoven fabrics has directly led to the creation and continued success of the Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute (NIRI) Ltd a University of Leeds spin-out company. Formed in 2005 to exploit Russell's research, NIRI has grown annual sales revenue to ~£1 million supplying products and services that have enabled many medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and global public limited companies (PLCs) to launch improved or new products, growing their market share and positively impacting consumers. Additionally, the research has enabled NIRI to independently establish and co-fund new commercial joint ventures that have resulted in the development of new IP (intellectual property)-protected products for improving global health and security. NIRI has grown its workforce to twenty (mainly University graduates) and has been profitable from the first year of trading.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Engineering: Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering

Developing technical textiles products and processes

Summary of the impact

Heriot-Watt University (HWU) led the development of a supportive infrastructure for the sustainable advancement of Technical Textiles (the fastest growing textiles sector in an industry worth $25bn globally and £3bn per year to the UK economy). 452 companies have had their products or processes created or improved. (e.g. patents awarded, new companies established and research and development sustained). The research transformed how Technical Textiles were understood as marketable products in their own right; from purely functional entities to materials that operate at the interface of design and technology. This enabled the development of new technologies that enhance wellbeing and quality of life, e.g. in the health and defence sectors.

Submitting Institution

Heriot-Watt University

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Engineering: Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering

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