Dr Ali Zarbakhsh

Profile

Dr. Ali Zarbakhsh, a Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry and admission tutor for Chemistry at Queen Mary, University of London, possesses an interdisciplinary research background.

His primary focus is on resolving structure-function relationships for self-assembling surfactants and polymeric materials at interfaces. Dr. Zarbakhsh specializes in developing experimental scattering techniques, notably neutron and X-ray methods, to uncover molecular structures at buried interfaces. His current research spans two main areas: soft matter and lubrication. In soft matter, his group concentrates on unravelling molecular conformation at interfaces, particularly in nanogels and amorphous nanosheets for drugs and DNA/RNA delivery, contributing significantly to advancements in cell expansion and bioreactor design. In lubrication, Dr. Zarbakhsh delves into studying the adsorption and tribological properties of lubricant additives at oil-metal interfaces, utilizing sophisticated techniques such as polarised neutron reflectometry. Supported by sources including the European Commission, UKRI, and BP International, his work not only advances fundamental understanding but also offers practical applications in formulation chemistry and industrial processes.

Dr. Zarbakhsh's teaching areas encompass surfactants, interfaces, electrochemistry, colloidal formulations and nanomaterials, reflecting his expertise in these domains.

Undergraduate Teaching

• Essential Skills for Chemists (Tutorials) (CHE100)
• Practical Chemistry (CHE201)
• Advanced Practical Chemistry 1 (CHE301)
• Topics in Physical Chemistry (CHE304U)
• Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry (CHE404U)

Research

Research Interests:

Structural studies of biological and polymeric systems at buried fluid-fluid interfaces. The current area of interest is a model for lipid emulsion drug delivery systems and interaction of a lipid monolayer with negatively charged polyelectrolytes such as DNA.

Techniques used are X-ray and neutron scattering, reflectivity, in-plane diffraction and small angle scattering in addition to vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy.

Research Department

• Chemistry

Publications

• Browse a list of publicatons by Ali Zarbakhsh

• Chrysanthou A, Bosch-Fortea M, Nadal C et al. (2024). Interfacial mechanics of β-casein and albumin mixed protein assemblies at liquid-liquid interfaces. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.111

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/99420
• Traldi F, Liu P, Albino I et al. (publicationYear). Protein-Nanoparticle Interactions Govern the Interfacial Behavior of Polymeric Nanogels: Study of Protein Corona Formation at the Air/Water Interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032810

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Gautrot JE, Chang L, Alexis C et al. (2022). The Architecture of Oligonucleotide-Polycationic Brush Complexes – A Neutron Reflectometry Study. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1002/admi.202201344

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/82941
• Liu P, Freeley M, Zarbakhsh A et al. (2022). Adsorption of soft NIPAM nanogels at hydrophobic and hydrophilic interfaces: Conformation of the interfacial layers determined by neutron reflectivity. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.05.010

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/79428
• Araki M, Park S-J, Dauerman HL et al. (2022). Optical coherence tomography in coronary atherosclerosis assessment and intervention. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00687-9

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Kong D, Peng L, Bosch-Fortea M et al. (2022). Impact of the multiscale viscoelasticity of quasi-2D self-assembled protein networks on stem cell expansion at liquid interfaces. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121494

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/79298
• Aguirre JE, Murray SG, Pascua R et al. (2022). Validation of the HERA Phase i Epoch of Reionization 21 cm Power Spectrum Software Pipeline. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac32cd

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/77798
• Judah HL, Liu P, Zarbakhsh A et al. (publicationYear). Influence of Buffers, Ionic Strength, and pH on the Volume Phase Transition Behavior of Acrylamide-Based Nanogels. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.3390/polym12112590

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/79458
• ZARBAKHSH A, RESMINI M, ZIELINSKA K et al. (2018). Interactions of NIPAM nanogels with model lipid multi-bilayers: A neutron reflectivity study. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.10.086

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/49355
• ZARBAKHSH A, RESMINI M, HuiHui S (2018). Interaction of thermal responsive NIPAM nanogels with model lipid monolayers at the air-water interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.02.050

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/34446
• Zielińska K, Campbell RA, Zarbakhsh A et al. (2017). Adsorption versus aggregation of NIPAM nanogels: new insight into their behaviour at the air/water interface as a function of concentration.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02979a

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/25064
• Welbourn RJL, Truscott CL, Skoda MWA et al. (2016). Corrosion and inhibition of copper in hydrocarbon solution on a molecular level investigated using neutron reflectometry and XPS. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2016.11.010

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/23174
• Esmaeilzadeh P, Sadeghi MT, Bahramian A et al. (2016). Superamphiphobic Surfaces Prepared by Coating Multi-functional Nanofluids. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b10913

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/17701
• Wood MH, Casford MT, Steitz R et al. (2016). Comparative Adsorption of Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids at the Iron Oxide/Oil Interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b04435

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/11458
• Zielińska K, Sun H, Campbell RA et al. (2016). Smart nanogels at the air/water interface: structural studies by neutron reflectivity. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07538f

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/11459
• ZARBAKHSH A, Bahramian A (2015). Interfacial equation of state for ionized surfactants at oil/water interfaces. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/c5sm01406a

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/8164
• Wood MH, Welbourn RJL, ZARBAKHSH A et al. (2015). Polarized Neutron Reflectometry of Nickel Corrosion Inhibitors. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01718(2015)

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/8163
• Campana M, Hosking SL, Petkov JT et al. (2015). Adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) at the Oil/Water Interface: A Neutron Reflection Study. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00646

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Welbourn RJL, Lee SY, Gutfreund P et al. (2015). Neutron Reflection Study of the Adsorption of the Phosphate Surfactant NaDEHP onto Alumina from Water. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la504837s

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Campana M, Webster JRP (2014). Structural Studies of Nonionic Dodecanol Ethoxylates at the Oil–Water Interface: Effect of Increasing Head Group Size. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la502559r

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/6370
• Wood MH, Welbourn RJL, Charlton T et al. (2013). Hexadecylamine Adsorption at the Iron Oxide–Oil Interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la4018147

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Lee SY, Welbourn R, Clarke SM et al. (2013). Adsorption of sodium hexanoate on α-alumina. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.06.019

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/5267
• ZARBAKHSH* A, Campana M, Webster JRP et al. (2013). Surfactant mixtures at the oil–water interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.01.069

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/5373
• Zarbakhsh A, Resmini M, Servant A et al. (2013). Organic nanogels with enzyme-like activity: structural studies and correlation between morphology and catalytic efficiency. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00462G

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Servant A, Rogers S, Zarbakhsh A et al. (2013). Polymeric organic nanogels: structural studies and correlation between morphology and catalytic efficiency. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/c3nj00462g

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Lawrence, MJ, Webster JRP et al. (2012). Structural conformation of lipids at the oil–water interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/C2SM26028J

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/5374
• Campana M, Teichert A, Clarke S et al. (2011). Surfactant adsorption at the metal-oil interface.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la200670w

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/5399
• Zarbakhsh A, Campana M, Webster JRP et al. (2010). Stabilization of alkylated azacrown ether by fatty acid at the air-water interface.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la103620b

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Campana M, Mills D et al. (2010). Structural studies of aliphatic substituted phthalocyanine-lipid multilayers.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la102876r

  
  

  QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/5375
• Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP, Wojciechowski K (2009). Neutron reflectivity study of alkylated azacrown ether at the air-liquid and the liquid-liquid interfaces.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la901485w

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP, Eames J (2009). Structural studies of surfactants at the oil-water interface by neutron reflectometery.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la802812r

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Webster JR, Eames J (2009). Structural Studies of Surfactants at the Oil-Water Interface by Neutron Reflectometery (dagger).. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la802812r

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Richardson RM, Webster JRP, Zarbakhsh A (1997). Study of Off‐Specular Neutron Reflectivity Using a Model System. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1107/s0021889897003440

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, McLure IA et al. (2007). Composition profile of a wetting film in a binary mixture. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/jp0711951

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP (2007). Effect of counter ion size and charge on the structure of amphipiles adsorbed at a liquid-liquid interface using neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bower C, Froggatt S, Laycock R et al. (1995). Transitions in a Spread Film of a Side-Chain Liquid Crystal Polymer. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/10587259508033488

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Chavda S, Coumbarides GS, Dinglan M et al. (2006). A convenient laboratory synthesis of deuterium-labelled trimethyl tetradecyl ammonium sulphate. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.1035

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Querol A, Bowers J et al. (2005). Neutron reflection from the liquid-liquid interface: Adsorption of hexadecylphosphorylcholine to the hexadecane-aqueous solution interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la0518086

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Bowers J, Webster JRP (2005). Width of the hexadecane-water interface: A discrepancy resolved. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la051809y

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Adya AK, Zarbakhsh A, Bowers J et al. (2005). Neutron reflectivity study of grafted poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of an aqueous bovine serum albumin solution. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Christenson HK et al. (2005). Neutron reflectivity studies of critical adsorption: Behavior of the surface scaling function. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.72.041606

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Querol A, Bowers J et al. (2005). Structural studies of amphiphiles adsorbed at liquid-liquid interfaces using neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/b404732j

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Querol A et al. (2004). Adsorption from alkane plus perfluoroalkane mixtures at fluorophobic and fluorophilic surfaces. II. Crossover from critical adsorption to complete wetting. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1063/1.1805501

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Christenson HK et al. (2003). Adsorption from alkane plus perfluoroalkane mixtures at fluorophobic and fluorophilic surfaces. I. Nature of the noncritical adsorption profiles. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1063/1.1624826

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Loste E, Diaz-Marti E, Zarbakhsh A et al. (2003). Study of calcium carbonate precipitation under a series of fatty acid Langmuir monolayers using brewster angle microscopy. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la026837k

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Cosgrove T, Patel A, Semlyen JA et al. (1993). A study of chemisorption of poly(hydrogen methylsiloxane) using neutron reflectometry and small-angle neutron scattering. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la00033a013

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Cosgrove T, White SJ, Zarbakhsh A et al. (1995). Small-Angle Scattering Studies of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Interactions with Gelatin. 1. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la00003a013

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP et al. (2001). Neutron Reflectivity Studies at Liquid−Liquid Interfaces: Methodology and Analysis. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la010312v

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP et al. (2001). Neutron reflectivity studies at liquid-liquid interfaces: Methodology and analysis. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la001119o

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bowers J, Zarbakhsh A, Webster JRP et al. (2001). Structure of a spread film of a polybutadiene-poly(ethylene oxide) linear diblock copolymer at the air-water interface as determined by neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1021/la001118w

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Bowers J, Webster JRP (1999). A new approach for measuring neutron reflection from a liquid/liquid interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/10/8/309

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Cowlam N, Highmore RJ et al. (1990). A study of the amorphisation reaction in Ni-Zr multilayers by neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/2/11/003

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Clifton BJ, Cosgrove T, Richardson RM et al. (1998). The structure of block copolymers at the fluid/fluid interface. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/s0921-4526(98)00252-x

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Calpin-Davies S, Clifton BJ, Cosgrove T et al. (1998). The Structure of Block Copolymers of Ethylene Oxide and Butylene Oxide at Fluid/Fluid Interfaces. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-6582-2_14

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• PHILLIPS PL, RICHARDSON RM, ZARBAKHSH A et al. (1997). An investigation of the porosity and surface roughness of liquid crystal alignment layers using neutron reflectivity. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/026782997207975

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Penfold J, Richardson RM, Zarbakhsh A et al. (1997). Recent advances in the study of chemical surfaces and interfaces by specular neutron reflection. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/a702836i

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Webster JRP, Zarbakhsh A, Richardson RM (1996). Offspecular scattering from optical gratings. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1107/s0108767396097619

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Cosgrove T, White SJ, Zarbakhsh A et al. (1996). Small-angle neutron scattering studies of sodium dodecyl sulfate interactions with gelatin. Part 2.—Effect of temperature and pH. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/ft9969200595

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Cosgrove T, Luckham PF, Richardson RM et al. (1994). The measurement of volume fraction profiles for adsorbed polymers under compression using neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/0927-7757(94)02826-5

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Cosgrove T, Zarbakhsh A, Luckham PF et al. (1994). Adsorption of polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers on quartz using a parallel-plate surface-force apparatus and simultaneous neutron reflection. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1039/fd9949800189

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Cowlam N, Convert P et al. (1993). Neutron diffraction study of a Ni-42.2 at.% Zr alloy made by the multilayer amorphisation reaction and of Ni-42.2 at.% Zr metallic alloy glass. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/0022-3093(93)90157-s

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Zarbakhsh A, Cowlam N, Highmore RJ et al. (1990). An investigation of the solid state reaction in NiZr multilayers by neutron reflectometry. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/0022-3093(90)90623-t

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref

Supervision

Current PhD opportunity

• New microbial quality testing for drinking water device