Duncan Sharp

• PhD
• Dean at Leeds Beckett University

Hydrogen peroxide has important roles within cellular functions, as a prevalent form of Reactive Oxygen Species, detection within mammalian cells is of metabolic importance; typically requiring cell lysis or fluorescence-based methods to quantify. Herein, we explore the novel use of Prussian blue mediated, pad printed carbon electrodes to allow the...

The measurement of pH is important throughout many biological systems, but there are limited available technologies to enable its periodical monitoring in the complex, small volume, media often used in cell culture experiments across a range of disciplines. Herein, pad printed electrodes are developed and characterised through modification with: a...

Pyocyanin, a toxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, offers potential as a biomarker for the indirect detection of this bacterium of major importance for infections in burns, woundcare and cystic fibrosis. Pad-printed carbon electrodes are herein explored using square wave voltammetry to detect pyocyanin in a range of buffered and biological medi...

The use of laser ablation as a method through which the simultaneous patterning and activation of carbon fibre electrodes can be achieved has been investigated. Laser-induced exfoliation of the carbon fibre substrates was observed leading to creation of edge plane sites that enhance electrode performance. The laser-mediated surface modification is...

Pyocyanin is produced by Ps. aeruginosa as a result of quorum sensing during wound colonisation increasing bacterial virulence and damaging host physiology, both of which contribute to an increased risk of infection. The use of carbon fibre tow as an electrochemical sensing matrix for assessing pyocyanin production is evaluated. Prototype sensor as...

Background The relationship between obesity and pain remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether response to experimentally-evoked pain differed between obese and non-obese individuals. Studies that compared responses to experimentally-evoked pain between obese and non-obese human participants post-puberty ( i.e. >16...

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of body fat percentage and its distribution on sensory detection and pain sensitivity responses to experimentally induced noxious stimuli in otherwise pain-free individuals. Methods: Seventy-two participants were divided into three equal groups according to their body mass index...

Carbon based materials have a wel-founded history in electroanalytical science, and over the previous 55 years have offered many developments in terms of form, properties and modifications that can modulate the electrochemical properties. This review explores some of the more recent developments in carbon materials focussing on the versatility of g...

In this communication, we argue about the need for an extensive investigation of the relationship between body fatness and fat distribution and experimental pain to explore the factors that might contribute to the increased prevalence of pain conditions in obese individuals.

Background: Several studies have found that that chronic pain is more prevalent in individuals that are obese. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully understood although it has been suggested that systemic inflammation associated with central obesity may contribute to sensitisation of the nociceptive system. Aim: The aim of this...

Unlabelled: This proof-of-concept study explores the novel use of carbon-based electrodes for the electrochemical generation of hypochlorite and compares the antimicrobial efficacy against commercial hypochlorite solution. Antimicrobial concentrations of hypochlorite were generated using pad-printed carbon and carbon fibre electrodes, yielding up...

A two step condensation sequence allows the synthesis of the title species (V) and (VIII) from 9-chloroacridines, phenylene diamines, and alloxan.

ABSTRACT Background: Obesity and pain are major public health problems. Cytokines are produced by adipocytes (fat cells) and are known to generate a pro-inflammatory state of obesity. Cytokines sensitise nociceptors resulting in a sensitised state of pain. To date there has been limited investigation into the relationship between obesity and pain...

Intermediary metabolism can be a complex area to study due to the inherent modularity of the catabolic biochemical processes. This article outlines a novel, cost-effective, and universally applicable teaching activity to enhance students understanding of the inter-relationship between the key processes of intermediary metabolism. A simple origami m...

New technologies are essential for intelligent wound management and to provide tools that facilitate a greater understanding of wounds and healing physiology. pH is an important marker for many processes in the wound environment; it cannot be fully utilised due to the inherent lack of suitable technologies currently available. The development and p...

With the recent increase in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics, the early-stage detection and control of infection has become imperative in the fight against opportunistic pathogens in healthcare. The traditional β-lactam wonder-drugs (e.g. penicillin and cephalosporins), are rendered inactive due to enzymatic hydrolysis by bacterial...

An interdisciplinary and engaging practical is detailed which offers great versatility in the study of a qualitative and quantitative metabolism of azo-dyes by Staphylococcus aureus. This practical has broad scope for adaptation in the number and depth of variables to allow a focused practical experiment or small research project. Azo-dyes are an i...

The combination of reverse iontophoresis and flame photometry provides an engaging analytical experiment that gives first-year undergraduate students a flavor of modern drug delivery and analyte extraction techniques while reinforcing core analytical concepts. The experiment provides a highly visual demonstration of the iontophoresis technique and...

The exploitation of the natural productplumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) to produce polymer films capable of serving as controllable source of reactive oxygen species is assessed. The efficacy of the film to catalyse the reduction of oxygen to yield reactive oxygen species has been evaluated through using ascorbate and glutathionere...

The exploitation of singlet oxygen generating compounds as a means of targeted therapies drives the need to develop methods for assessing the efficacy of such compounds and their capacity for generating the reactive oxygen species. Degradation of diphenylisobenzofuran by singlet oxygen is widely used as a spectroscopic probe but its application can...

The applicability of employing a carbon fibre mesh as an electrochemical sensing substructure for assessing urate transformations within wound exudates is evaluated. Prototype sensor assemblies have been designed and their response characteristics towards uric acid and other common physiological components are detailed. Modification of the carbon f...

The applicability of employing a carbon fibre mesh as the sensing element within a ''smart bandage" for assessing urate transforma-tions within wound exudates is evaluated and a novel strategy for the detection of bacterial contamination presented. Prototype sensor assemblies have been designed and their response characteristics towards the periodi...