Dr Nichola Coleman

Dr Nichola Coleman graduated with a BSc Hons in applied chemistry and a PhD in inorganic cement chemistry from Aston University and has subsequently worked at the School of Pharmacy (University of London), Imperial College and the University of Sheffield.

Teaching and outreach activities

Dr Coleman specialises in the transition from school/FE to HE in the natural sciences and mathematics. She works with school teachers, FE lecturers, the Royal Society of Chemistry and local government science consultants to inform the School of Science's undergraduate provision, outreach, widening participation and public engagement activities and welcomes enquiries from potential collaborators, teachers, lecturers, councillors and educationalists regarding any aspect of her teaching, research or outreach activities.

Responsibilities within the university

Course participation

Intermediate Chemistry
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

Research interests

Research

Dr Coleman's principal research interest is the preparation of silicate clays, zeolites, cements, glasses and mixed-metal frameworks for use in construction, ion exchange, water purification and implantable biomedical materials. Her research has been supported by the Royal Society, EPSRC, Royal Society of Chemistry, Nuffield Foundation and SEEDA.

Expertise

Hydrothermal synthesis; sol-gel; hydraulic cements; antimicrobial/antibacterial bioactive materials; in vitro bioactivity; materials characterisation; textural analysis (nitrogen gas sorption, BET surface area, BJH pore size distribution, helium pycnometry); 29Si, 27Al and 31P solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR); infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); scanning electron microscopy (SEM); differential thermal analysis (DTA); thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); powder x-ray diffraction (XRD); sequential extraction and leach testing methods for trace metals in soils, marine sediments and waste materials; mineral recycling; ion-exchange and kinetic modelling. 

Funding

2008: Royal Society of Chemistry, London: £1,580
Ag-, Zn- and Sr-Substituted Tobermorites 

2007: Royal Society, London: £8,670
Bioactive Zirconium Silicate Framework Structures for Bone-Contact Applications

2007: The Nuffield Foundation, London: £1,190
A Novel Approach to Glass Recycling

2007: Royal Society of Chemistry, London: £1,560
Radiopaque Calcium Alumino(silicate) Cements for Dental and Orthopaedic Repair

2006: Nirex Ltd., Oxfordshire: £9,700
Inorganic Sorbent Phases

2006: Royal Society of Chemistry, London: £600
Zirconium Phosphates for Bone Tissue Regeneration: a Feasibility Study

2005: South East Proof of Concept Fund (Finance South East Ltd): £8,700
Layer-lattice Calcium Silicate Substrates for Bone Regeneration

2000: EPSRC – Waste and Pollution Management Programme: £57,600
Synthesis of Zeolites Grant number GR/N25800/01

2000: Roger Bullivant Limited, Walton Road, Burton-on-Trent, DE15 9UA: £13,500
Drakelow Contaminated Land Remediation Project

Recent publications

Coleman, N.J. (2009) Aspects of the in vitro bioactivity and antimicrobial properties of Ag+- and Zn2+-exchanged 11Å tobermorites. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 20(6), pp. 1347–55. 

Coleman, N.J., Awosanya, K., and Nicholson, J.W. (2009) Aspects of the in vitro bioactivity of hydraulic calcium (alumino) silicate cement. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 90A(1), pp. 166–74. 

Coleman, N.J., Bishop, A.H., Booth, S.E., and Nicholson, J.W. (2009) Ag+- and Zn2+-exchange kinetics and antimicrobial properties of 11Å tobermorites. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 29, pp. 1109–17.

Pawluk, K., Booth, S.E., Coleman, N.J., and Nicholson J.W. (2008) The interaction of zinc oxide-based dental cements with aqueous solutions of potassium fluoride. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, pp. 3035–39.

Czarneckai, B., Coleman, N.J., Shaw, H., and Nicholson J.W. (2008) The use of mineral trioxide aggregate in endodontics – status report. Dental and Medical Problems, 45, pp. 5–11.

Pawluk, K., Booth, S.E., Coleman, N.J., and Nicholson J.W. (2008) The kinetics of fluoride uptake by immature glass-ionomer dental cements. Dental Forum, 36, pp. 11–14.

Patent

Bellantone, M., Coleman, N.J., and Hench, L.L. 2000. Formulation, bioactivity and antimicrobial properties of a tailored bioglass produced by the sol-gel process. Patent No. WO0076486.