Project summary

Athena Mattheou with her poster at the lifETIME CDT Student event

Athena Mattheou, a lifETIME CDT PhD student at the University of Glasgow, is creating nature-inspired hydrogels to help with skin healing.

Hydrogels are dressings that can help to speed up skin healing by creating a moist environment that promotes cellular activity and tissue regeneration. Most hydrogels contain animal-derived materials like collagen and gelatin, usually sourced from cows and pigs, or chitosan – a substance found in the shells of crustaceans and insects. Athena is working to develop an animal-free hydrogel, replacing these products with alternative materials that are safe for human use.

To do this, Athena is focussing on a synthetic version of a protein called resilin, which provides stretchiness to the connective tissues of insects – literally the “bee’s knees”! Using this synthetic elastic protein, Athena aims to develop flexible, high-performance hydrogels will create the ideal conditions for wound healing, providing an ethical and effective alternative for patients with severe skin injuries.

Why is animal-free research important to you? 

Growing up, we had Mithras, an adorable Persian house cat. All my close relatives and friends also had cats and dogs as pets. Generally, I grew up surrounded by pets and have always loved animals. When it was time to decide what I would like to study, I knew I wanted to follow the field of medicinal studies. However, I always felt uncomfortable reading about all the experiments performed on animals. I decided to get an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and then follow the field of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine for my master’s degree. Although stem cells are derived from humans, animal testing and animal-derived materials usage are still observed. Of course, ethics is the main issue of animal testing. Nevertheless, I have also learnt throughout my studies that the difference in the size of animals compared to humans and batch-to-batch variability have shown they are not the most reliable models. Thankfully, more attention has recently been drawn to the importance of animal-free research, and I am happy to say that I have never been involved in animal experimentation. 

What impact could your research have on replacing animals in medical research? 

The skin is the largest and most exposed organ in the human body and, hence, the most susceptible to injuries. Most skin wounds heal on their own, and the healing time depends on how deep the wound is. Medical hydrogels are used to aid the healing of more serious skin wounds. However, these hydrogels often use animal-derived hydrogels or animal-derived materials, like collagen and gelatin– usually sourced from cows, pigs, or fish and chitosan– often sourced from shellfish. My project combines an elastic protein and a synthetic material with high biocompatibility. Both components of the hydrogel are synthesised in the lab without the use of any animal-derived materials. Hence, my project could impact skin healing applications and replace the use of animal-derived hydrogels for skin regeneration. 

What have you enjoyed the most as part of the lifETIME CDT programme?  

The lifetime CDT programme has offered me many opportunities that I am thankful for. I have attended conferences and retreats and received training on various aspects involved in scientific research. By far, my favourite experience has been the “ResearchTogether: Patients Guiding the Future of Science”, a free patient-orientated event that allowed scientists and patients to discuss the issues surrounding various conditions and what we can do as researchers to improve and be more helpful to patients. It reminded me how important our research can be and inspired me to work harder. I also really enjoy the retreats we go to every few months, where we receive training in a relaxing environment close to nature while building stronger relationships. Doing a PhD can be a lonely journey, but I can for sure say I have never felt this way. As a student of the lifETIME CDT, I know I can lean on the other members of my cohort and the previous cohort. Thanks to the CDT, I made a lot of new and good friends, which I did not expect when I started this journey. 

What are you most proud of so far? 

My biggest achievement so far is my adjustment to a different discipline. Despite my PhD studies being in Biomedical Engineering, I am currently based in the School of Chemistry, which is different from my background. As I mentioned, I have an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and a master’s degree in Stem Cell Engineering for Regenerative Medicine. Hence, I haven’t done much Chemistry since high school, and to be honest, it was never my strongest suit. This adjustment has been challenging, but I am proud to say I feel a lot more comfortable in a chemistry lab than I did when I first started. Moreover, through my experiences organised by the lifETIME programme and doing a research project in a new environment, I have developed social skills that I feel I lacked before this journey. Also, I am proud to say I have grown and have become more confident. 

What are your future career goals? 

I am particularly interested in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. I wouldn’t say I have any specific career goals in mind, but I think I will be happy doing anything in this field, whether this is in academia, research, or industry. Ideally, the field of Stem Cell Research will grow in Cyprus, and I will be able to work in a field that I love while being close to my family and friends.  

What do you like doing outside of the lab?

Growing up, I was always encouraged to try different extracurricular activities, from dance and tennis to piano and art lessons. I still enjoy these activities, but I particularly like playing the piano and painting to relax. I continue to look for new hobbies to this day that allow me to explore my artistic side and help me unwind. A few years ago, I started doing aerial yoga, which has become my favourite form of exercise. Last year, I decided to try knitting and pottery, and I enjoy making projects for my family and friends or myself. Lastly, of course, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.