Dr Simon Moulton

Dr Moulton obtained his PhD in 2002 from the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) at the University of Wollongong. His PhD was a joint collaboration between IPRI and Polartechnics Ltd, a Sydney based medical device company developing a novel device for the early detection of cervical cancer. The emphasis of his PhD was using various electrochemical techniques to monitor protein/solid metal electrode interfaces. Since graduation he has held numerous positions both at IPRI and the ARC centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science (ACES).

He is an active researcher involved in all aspects of research being undertaken in the Electromaterials and Bionics programs within ACES. He is the lead materials chemist responsible for coordinating the development of new materials for use in the Bionics ACES program for use in spinal cord regeneration, muscle regeneration, epilepsy control, and controlled drug release projects. His studies involve materials development using a range of biomolecules and polymers, such as chitosan and PLGA, as well as using techniques such as freeze-drying, printing and spray drying to fabricate novel conducting biomaterials structures for use in Bionics applications. His areas of expertise include; Synthesis and characterisation of conducting polymer nanoparticles; Electrochemical characterisation of organic conductors; Conducting biomaterial composites; Investigation of interactions between carbon nanotube and biological molecules in solution and solid state studies of carbon nanotube biocomposites.

In 2007 he was a joint Chief Investigator on a successful ARC discovery grant aimed at developing functional conducting polymer platforms for use in muscle cell regeneration. In 2008 he was awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Fellowship from the Australian Research Council to develop novel drug delivery systems for use in epilepsy control and stents.

Career funding
  • ARC Linkage Grant LP0990621 (2009-2011): Advanced Materials for Stents ($480k) in collaboration with Boston Scientific Ltd - USA
  • ARC Discovery DP0987344 (2009-13): Novel Drug Delivery Systems ($1.2million)
  • ARC Discovery DP0877456 (2008-11): Functionalised nanostructured polythiophenes: novel platforms for bionics ($842k)
  • UOW NHMRC near miss grants (2008): Myoregenerative polymers for remodeling of damaged and diseased muscle. ($10k)
  • UOW Small Grants (2006): Fabrication of conducting 3-dimentional scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. ($10k)
Awards
  • April 2009 UOW Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award for Emerging Researcher
  • October 2008 Australian Research Council QEII Fellowship
  • October 2008 Australian Academy of Science European Travel Scholarship
  • July 2007 Australian Academy of Science European Travel Scholarship
  • January 2006 DEST OzNano2Life International Travel Award
  • January 2004 Trinity College Dublin Travel Award.
Top 10 Publications
  1. G.G. Wallace, S.E. Moulton, G.M. Clark, Electrode-Cellular Interface, Science (30.03 IF), 324:185-6;2009.
  2.  B.C. Thompson, S.E. Moulton, K.J. Gilmore, M.J. Higgins, P.G. Whitten, G.G. Wallace, Carbon Nanotube Biogels, Carbon (4.52 IF), 47:1282-91;2009.
  3. S.E. Moulton, M.M, Poulin P, G.G. Wallace. Liquid Crystal Behaviour of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in Biological Hyaluronic Acid Solutions, Journal of the American Chemical Society (7.70 IF), 129,9452-7;2007.
  4. R Richardson, B.C. Thompson, S.E. Moulton, A. Cameron, G.G. Wallace, R. Kapsa, G.M. Clark, S. O’Leary, Polypyrrole with incorporated NT3 promotes auditory nerve survival and neurite outgrowth, Biomaterials (5.20 IF), 28, 513-23;2007.
  5.  K.J. Gilmore, S.E. Moulton, G.G. Wallace, Incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes into the Biomedical Polymer Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene), Carbon (4.52 IF), 45:402-10;2007.
  6. C. Lynam, S.E. Moulton, G.G. Wallace, Carbon Nanotube Bio-Fibres, Advanced Materials (7.90 IF), 19:1244-48, 2007.
  7. B.C. Thompson, S.E Moulton, J. Ding, R. Richardson, A. Cameron, S. O’Leary, G.G Wallace, G.M Clark, Optimizing the Incorporation and Release of a Neurotrophic Factor using Conducting Polypyrrole, Journal of Controlled Release (4.01 IF), 116:285-94, 2006.
  8. M. in het Panhuis, L.A.P. Kane-Maguire, P.C. Innis, S.E. Moulton, G.G Wallace, An optically active polymer carbon nanotube composite, Journal of Physical Chemistry B (4.12 IF), 109:22725-9, 2005.
  9. S.E. Moulton, A.I. Minett, R. Murphy, K.P. Ryan, D. McCarthy, J.N. Coleman, W.J. Blau, G.G. Wallace, Biomolecules as Selective Dispersants for Carbon Nanotubes, Carbon (4.52 IF),  43:1879-84, 2005.
  10. A. Morrin, F. Wilbeer, O. Ngamna, S.E. Moulton, A. Killard, G.G. Wallace, M.R. Smyth, An Amperometric Enzyme Biosensor Fabricated from Polyaniline Nanoparticles, Electrochem Communications (3.48 IF), 7:317-22, 2005.
Membership
  • American Chemical Society
  • The Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

email: smoulton@uow.edu.au
phone: +61 (02) 4298 1443
fax: +61 (02) 4221 3114
office:AIIM 231.236

Last reviewed: 14 October, 2009