
PhD student Rupy Matharu with her Royal Society Interface Focus cover story
The latest issue of The Royal Society’s Interface Focus journal was put together by none other than our own Professor Mohan Edirisinghe FREng. In the journal’s June 2018 issue, Edirisinghe, UCL’s Bonfield Chair of Biomaterials, highlights the latest developments in the use of graphene and graphene derivatives in biomedical applications. Professor Edirisinghe said “The very significant role of graphene materials in science and engineering is indisputable, but their importance in biomedicine is less clear at the present time.” The themed issue aims to discuss this dilemma, illustrating areas of promise while identifying future challenges.
This issue of Interface Focus contains 12 key papers from authors in UK, the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia, working in various disciplines and deals with topics spanning the life and physical sciences, engineering and medicine. The special issue is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Peter N.T. Wells CBE, FREng, FMedSci, FRS.
Matharu cover
One of the papers discusses aspects of the doctoral research work of PhD student Rupy Matharu (UCL Mechanical Engineering/ UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering), working at the interface of biomaterials manufacturing and microbiology. She said, “Having my research make it to the front cover of The Royal Society Interface Focus, is truly an honour. It reflects the power of scientific research, when diverse disciplines collaborate to seek integrated solutions to solve problems that have been aching the human race. The cover image is a fluorescent microscopy image of a polymeric fibre loaded with graphene nanoplatelets completely covered with dead bacterial cells. This demonstrates the potent cytotoxicity of the nanocomposite fibres, which can be implemented in various applications, such as filtration systems.”