Maria Andrea Castillo Bohorquez was awarded a Rideal Travel Bursary to attend the 34th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials 2025, held in Italy in September 2025. Here she tells us about her studies and her highlights from the conference.
"My doctoral research addresses the challenges of gene delivery by developing innovative approaches to nanoparticle formation. In particular, I carry out polymer screening to identify and design structures that self-assemble into nanoparticles with improved stability and safety for biomedical applications. By advancing our understanding of polymeric nanoparticles and self-assembly processes, my work contributes to more effective therapeutic systems.
"With the support of the SCI-RSC Rideal Trust, I attended the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) Conference, held from 7–11 September in Italy. There, I presented a poster which is also the subject of a manuscript currently submitted for peer review. The poster attracted significant interest and led to valuable discussions with international researchers, providing new insights into alternative nanoparticle assembly strategies that could improve both toxicity profiles and colloidal stability.
"At the same time, the conference programme included sessions such as “Design and Development of Nanoformulations for Biomedical Use” and “Nanoparticles for Advanced Therapies”, which aligned closely with my research. These talks broadened my perspective and highlighted the collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts driving innovation in biomaterials and nanomedicine.
"Attending ESB was a highly rewarding experience, both scientifically and professionally. I was able to connect with leading experts and early career researchers, laying the foundation for collaborations. The knowledge I gained on nanoparticle self-assembly, design strategies for enhanced colloidal stability, and translational applications of gene delivery will directly strengthen the next stages of my PhD. Moreover, presenting and discussing my research in an international forum has increased my visibility within the biomaterials and colloid science communities, while also strengthening my confidence in scientific communication.
"I am very grateful to my supervisors and collaborators for their support in this project, and to the SCI-RSC Rideal Trust for awarding me this bursary, which made it possible to attend such an inspiring and career-enhancing conference."
Maria Andrea Castillo Bohorquez
PhD student
The University of Manchester
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