ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Nanostructure of polysaccharide microgels: From de Gennes' mesh size to the elasticity of in utero gel covering for Spina Bifida

Abstract: Spina Bifida - “split spine” in Latin - is the most common birth defect with 0.2 % occurrence worldwide. It is due to foetus’ spine failing to close during the first month of pregnancy, resulting in the exposure of nerves to the amniotic fluid, with permanent consequences affecting both cognitive and psychometric capacities. Our goal is to design, synthesize, and characterise biocompatible microgels based on the bioactive polysaccharide chitosan, which would adhere to the spina bifida opening to form tough and highly flexible protective wound dressing that seals the nerves from the amniotic fluid. We propose a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study to investigate the morphology as well as the nanostructure of chitosan-based microgels, as the mesh size is known to be of critical importance for both the macroscopic elastic properties and the cell interactions of the materials.

Principal Investigator: Professor Wuge Briscoe
Experimenter: Miss Joana Pinheiro da Silva Pinto
Local Contact: Dr Sarah Rogers
Experimenter: Dr Luisa Islas
Experimenter: Miss Silvia Ruscigno
Experimenter: Miss Lauren Matthews
Experimenter: Miss Sarah Michel

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1820037

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1820037

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Professor Wuge Briscoe et al; (2019): Nanostructure of polysaccharide microgels: From de Gennes' mesh size to the elasticity of in utero gel covering for Spina Bifida, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1820037

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.