Research

🧪 Research Overview

The Fielding Research Group at the University of Manchester is led by Dr. L. A. Fielding and explores the frontiers of polymer science and materials engineering, with a focus on designing smart, sustainable, and functional materials for real-world applications.

🔬 Our Research Themes

⚗️ Polymer Colloids & Nanocomposites: We develop structured colloidal particles using  techniques such as polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). These materials are tailored for biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications.

💧 Smart Hydrogels & Responsive Materials: Our team engineers pH-responsive nanogels and wormlike micelle-based hydrogels that adapt to their environment—ideal for drug delivery, biosensing, and soft robotics.

⚛️ Graphene and Advanced Fillers: We stabilize graphene nanoplatelets in water using functionalized polymers which we develop in-house, enabling the creation of conductive coatings and next-generation composites.

🌱 More Sustainable Polymer Systems: We use  water-based polymerization systems such as emulsion polymerization where possible to create easily processable systems that are potentially more eco-friendly that alternatives .

🖨️ Polymer-Enabled 3D Printing: Our research integrates polymers into additive manufacturing, including the 3D printing of magnetic inductor cores for electronics and structural applications.

🧬 Biosensing & Diagnostics: We design latex flocculation-based biosensors for label-free detection of microbial DNA, offering low-cost, visual diagnostics for healthcare and environmental monitoring.

🤝 Collaborations & Impact

Our labs are based in the Henry Royce Institute and our research involves collaborations with industry, national labs, and academic partners. We aim to translate fundamental research into innovative materials solutions that address global challenges.