Staff Profile

Background

I was awarded a degree in Physics from the University of Leeds and subsequently pursued a PhD at the University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces CDT. My doctoral research project focused on characterising the interactions between polymers and nanomaterials at different length scales. During this project, I developed expertise in various atomic force microscopy techniques. Upon completion of my PhD, I remained at the University of Edinburgh as a Research Associate for one year. My project involved working closely with Michelin to investigate the interactions between carbon nanoparticles and latex thin films, which has fundamental importance, as well as being highly relevant to the composite materials industry. In 2020, I began a Research Associate position at Newcastle University where I used my expertise in soft materials to develop polymer-based biosensors for the diagnosis of various conditions and illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, foodborne diseases, and SARS-CoV-2. In 2023, I was awarded a Newcastle University Academic Track (NUAcT) Fellowship, and my research now primarily focuses on developing wearable sensors to enhance the care of patients with multimorbidity.

My ultimate research vision is to develop next-generation biosensors to improve human health and well-being.

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Research Focus

My primary research focus is developing next-generation biosensors for various health and environmental applications. To achieve this, I often utilise synthetic receptors such as molecularly imprinted polymers, as well as low-cost screen-printed electrodes and 3D-printed measurement cells. I explore both thermal and electrochemical detection methods and use atomic force microscopy for characterisation. My ultimate objective is to create non-invasive wearable sensors that can diagnose and track the progression of multiple health conditions concurrently.

Research Interests

• Biosensors for health and environmental applications
• Wearable sensors for the diagnosis and tracking of health conditions
• Atomic force microscopy of soft materials
• Interfacial behaviour in soft matter systems
• Additive manufacturing

Positions Available

I currently have one fully funded (UK Students) PhD position on developing wearable sensors to improve multimorbidity. Please email me if interested.

Research Funding

2023 EPSRC Innovation to Impact, UKRI, £45K, Co-I

2023 Translational Explorer Scheme, Newcastle WTTP, £10K, Co-I

2023 Newcastle University Academic Track (NUAcT) Fellowship, ~600K, PI

2021 Nanotechnology Scheme, United States Department of Agriculture, £235K, Co-I

2021 EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, UKRI, £20K, Co-I

2021 Analytical Chemistry Summer Studentships, £2K, PI

Professional Memberships

• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Institution of Chemical Engineers

Media Appearances

• How to Build-a-Bear out of Recycled Plastic, Royal Academy of Engineering, 17 Apr 2023
• Scientists Develop Portable Sensor Technology to Detect Foodborne Contaminants Outside the Lab, AZO Sensors, 6 Jun 2022
• Portable Sensor Technology Aims to Quickly Detect Foodborne Contaminants Outside the Lab, UMass Amherst, 3 Jun 2022
• MIP Diagnostics see COVID-19 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as ‘Showcase’ for Company’s Future, 360Dx, 13 May 2022
• Tyneside Scientists Develop ‘More Accurate’ Rapid COVID-19 Tests, Chronicle Live, 14 Apr, 2022 
• New COVID-19 Rapid Test Said to Be More Sensitive Than Any Other, Newsweek, 13 Apr 2022
• This Could Be Our Fastest, Most Sensitive COVID Test Yet, Yahoo News, 13 Apr 2022

Citizenship

• Research Associate Champion, Newcastle University School of Engineering
• Advisory Editorial Board Member for Sustainable Materials and Technologies

Public Engagement

• Build-a-Bear 2.0 at the Life Science Centre, RAEng Ingenious Grant
• Pint of Science Public Talk, Can we Diagnose Heart Attacks with a Thermometer?
• Meet the Scientist, Dr Jake McClements

Current Teaching

• SFY0009 – Chemical Engineering Foundation Project 

Current Supervision

•  A. Dann, PhD Candidate (Co-Supervisor with Prof. Peeters, Prof. Geoghegan, and Dr Seyedin)

Past Supervision

• Two BEng projects
• Three MEng projects
• Two visiting students from the University of São Paulo, Brazil
• Two Royal Society of Chemistry summer students

• Articles

  • Prabhu A, Crapnell R, Eersels K, van Grinsven B, Kunhiraman A, Singla P, McClements J, Banks C, Novakovic K, Peeters M. Reviewing the use of chitosan and polydopamine for electrochemical sensing. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2022, 32, 100885.
  • Noguchi H, Kaur S, Krettli L, Singla P, McClements J, Snyder H, Crapnell R, Banks C, Novakovic K, Kaur I, Gruber J, Dawson J, Peeters M. Rapid electrochemical detection of levodopa using polyaniline-modified screen-printed electrodes for the improved management of Parkinson’s disease. Physics in Medicine 2022, 14, 100052.
  • McClements J, Bar L, Singla P, Canfarotta F, Thomson A, Czulak J, Johnson R, Crapnell R, Banks C, Payne B, Seyedin S, Losada-Perez P, Peeters M. Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles Enable Rapid, Reliable, and Robust Point-of-Care Thermal Detection of SARS-CoV-2. ACS Sensors 2022, 7(4), 1122-1131.
  • Seumo Tchekwagep P, Crapnell D, Banks CE, Betlem K, Rinner U, Canfarotta F, Lowdon JW, Eersels K, van Grinsven B, Peeters M, McClements J. A Critical Review on the Use of Molecular Imprinting for Trace Heavy Metal and Micropollutant Detection. Chemosensors 2022, 10(8), 296.
  • Saubade F, Pilkington L, Liauw C, Gomes L, McClements J, Peeters M, Mohtadi M, Mergulhão F, Whitehead K. Principal Component Analysis to Determine the Surface Properties That Influence the Self-Cleaning Action of Hydrophobic Plant Leaves. Langmuir 2021, 37(27), 8177–8189.
  • McClements J, Seumo P, Vilalela Strapazon A, Canfarotta F, Thomson A, Czulak J, Johnson R, Novakovic K, Losada-Perez P, Zaman A, Spyridopoulos I, Crapnell R, Banks C, Peeters M. Immobilization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles onto Surfaces using Different Strategies: Evaluating the Influence of the Functionalised Interface on the Performance of a Thermal Assay for the Detection of Cardiac Biomarker Troponin I. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 2021, 13(24), 27868-27879.
  • McClements J, Gomes L, Spall J, Saubade F, Akhidime D, Peeters M, Mergulhao F, Whitehead K. Celebrating the centenary in polymer science: drawing inspiration from nature to develop anti-fouling coatings. The development of biomimetic polymer surfaces and their effect on bacterial fouling. Pure and Applied Chemistry 2021.

• Book Chapter

  • Dann A, Kaur S, Stoufer S, Kim M, Kaur I, Moore M, Peeters M, McClements J. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Detection of Chemical and Microbial Contaminants in Foods. In: Reference Module in Food Science. Elsevier, 2023.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • McClements J, Dann A, Kaur S, Stoufer S, Kim M, Moore M, Peeters M. Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles for Norovirus Detection. In: BioFutures Symposium 2023. 2023, Newcastle upon Tyne: Northumbria University.
  • Kaur S, Singla P, McClements J, Moore M, Kaur I, Peeters M. Development and evaluation of low-cost, easily deployable molecularly imprinted polymer technologies for norovirus detection. In: 17th Pacific Polymer Conference (PPC17). 2022, Brisbane Convention Centre, Australia: PPC.

• Review

  • Singla P, Garg S, McClements J, Jamieson O, Peeters M, Mahajan R. Advances in the therapeutic delivery and applications of functionalized Pluronics: A critical review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 2022, 299, 102563.