Structural Accommodation of Microbubbles into Protein Hydrogel Network

Our vision is to address a major challenge in healthcare. By embedding drug-loaded microbubbles(MBs) within folded protein hydrogels we aim to control the release of therapeutic drug molecules.MBs can be burst, via the application of ultrasound, releasing the loaded drugs and allowing theirfree diffusion from the hydrogel at the desired time. In Leeds we have completed acharacterisation of the structure and mechanics of the system across length scales using proteinengineering, spectroscopy, rheology and modelling. Here, for the first time, we aim to examine thestructure of MBs embedded within protein hydrogels, allowing for the completion of multiscaleexamination of this multi-composite system. Such insight is vital for the further development of thissystem towards drug delivery applications.