A World First: AUT PhD Student’s Nanoparticle Discovery
Pursuing a PhD at AUT can be a life-changing experience, fostering both academic and personal growth. With the unwavering support of innovative supervisors like Dr Jack Chen, our students can thrive in their academic endeavours.
One standout student is Dr Andres Tiban, whose PhD research focused on developing novel cellulose-based nanoparticles. Andres was the first person in the world to create spherical cellulose nanoparticles with tuneable amphiphilicity – in other words, particles with an affinity for both water and oil, where the attraction to each of them can be adjusted. These nanoparticles are extremely biodegradable and efficient emulsifiers. Emulsifiers allow oil and water to mix together and are found in cosmetics and other personal care products, food, paints and industrial products.
In the early years of Jack’s research, the promising results caught the attention of AUT Ventures. Recognising the US$10B+ market potential of cellulose-based nanoparticle emulsifiers made from wood pulp (which is made of cellulose). AUT Ventures collaborated with Jack to explore real-world applications, marking the beginning of the Spherelose® project. Armed with evidence of the market potential, Jack was able to attract funding from a National Science Challenge for Andres’s PhD. He later won MBIE Smart Ideas funding as well.
As often happens, success can depend on the strength of the team which is why Jack Chen is grateful that Andres was such an integral part of his research, “Andres is a driven, intelligent young researcher who has tackled this scientific challenge with rigour and enthusiasm. His problem-solving skills and dedication to this project is the secret behind the success of Spherelose."
A major milestone for Andres and the Spherelose® team was the filing of their first patent in 2021, soon after Andres had first successfully made Spherelose®. Although Andres has now finished his PhD and taken up a position in Spain, Dr Mohinder Naiya, Dr Victor Lim and Josh van Dongen are currently refining the process and preparing samples for major chemicals companies in Europe, North America and Asia. A spinout company was founded earlier this year and will shortly be seeking venture capital investment.
When asked what he’d say to students interested in commercialisation, Andres is quick to respond, "The experience offers the opportunity to transform ideas or lab work into tangible products. This journey pushes you out of your comfort zone, helping you acquire new, in-demand skills. It also expands your network, creating new opportunities and easing the transition into post-academic careers."
Head of the School of Science, Hannah Buckley, believes that Andres’ PhD experience is proof of AUT’s reputation as being an innovative university that focuses on “real world” impact, “What Jack Chen and Andres Tiban have accomplished by exploring their research through a commercialisation lens is nothing short of incredible. What they’ve developed through Spherelose® is disruptive chemtech at its finest, and exactly what we want AUT to be known for.”
AUT Ventures is dedicated to bridging the gap between University research and real-world impact. Andres’ journey from research to commercialisation with Spherelose® exemplifies how we support students in turning innovative ideas into impactful solutions.
Venture Director, Chris Hill, is enthusiastic about the future of commercialisation of University research, “Jack and Andres’ journey from research to real-world application is a testament to their hard work and determination. And not just in the lab – they actively sought industry engagement and outside feedback early in their journey, which led them to pivoting towards the product we now know as Spherelose. It’s fantastic to be able to work with such innovative and pioneering scientists, and to help them generate real world impact from their work.”