Phone 0114 225 3715
Email M.Labet@shu.ac.uk
Research interests
My research interests are focused on the use of bio-based polymers (mainly starch and cellulose) and biodegradable polymers for sustainable industrial applications (including packaging and biomedical applications).
I am working on the FlexPakRenew project, a European project which aims at designing and developing an innovative eco-efficient low-substrate flexible paper for packaging from resources to reduce the packaging industry's reliance on barrier films derived from petroleum. In particular, our strategy is to include clay nanoparticles in a PVOH or starch film/coating to decrease the permeability of the material. In addition, we chemically modify the surface modification of the films (and coatings) with fatty acid to alter their barrier properties (to water, water vapour, oxygen…).
I am also working on the CROWD project which aims at producing a wound dressing releasing anti-microbial agents when in contact with the wound. We are working on the inclusion of clay nanoparticles in a hydrogel to produce a slower release of the anti-microbial agent.
In addition, I am working on a project aiming at improving biocomposites based on flax fibres for potential applications in furniture.
Research collaborations
FlexPakRenew is a European project in collaboration with the CTP (Centre Technique du Papier, France), Ahlstrom Research and Services (France), Cargill Industrial Starches (Germany), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany), Karlstad University (Sweden), University of Agriculture of Szczecin (Poland), KCL (Oy Keskuslaboratorio-Centrallaboratorium Ab, Finland), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France) and Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (France).
CROWD (Controlled Release from Open Wound Dressing) is an Engineering for Life project in collaboration with BMRC.
Improved Materials Properties using Modified Flax and Innovative Design is an Engineering for Life project in collaboration with ADRC and NetComposites.
Key publications
Marianne Labet, Wim Thielemans, Mohamed Naceur Belgacem, Alain Dufresne. Large chain surface modification of starch nanocrystals. Biomacromolecules, 2007, 8 (9), pp. 2916-2927.
Marianne Labet, Wim Thielemans. Improving the reproducibility of chemical reactions on the surface of cellulose nanocrystals: ROP of ε-caprolactone as a case study. Cellulose, 2011, 18 (3), pp. 607-617.
Marianne Labet, Wim Thielemans. Synthesis of polycaprolactone: a review. Chemical Society Reviews, 2009, 38, pp. 3484-3504.