Research

Project 2: Novel mRNA-lipid nanoparticle constructs. Lipids are fundamental structural molecules of eukaryotic cell membranes and essential for containing and maintaining the interior components inside of a cell, the basic unit of life. In our lab we are currently working on studying the effects of different types of lipids on the size, shape, and lamellarity of the different structures that can be produced. Current medical applications involve the improved delivery of mRNA for vaccines and potentially therapuetics. 

Project 3: Quantificatoin of various lipid structures from fluorescence microscopy images using trained image analysis software. To characterize the different lipid structures we obtain from experiments we use fluorescent microscopy. Quantification of giant vesicles (GUVs) is fairly straightforward in these images since the GUVs are large and circular. However, recently we have been interested in an automated procedure to quantify lipid structures under various imaging conditions. This project requires the use of programming languages to develop code to perform the image analysis. 

Project 4: Development of model biological systems using porous membranes and lipids. Biosensors play a role in many areas such as disease detection, environment or water monitoring, food quality, drug discovery and others. Most current commercial technologies are limited to providing only a qualitative reading at a point-of-care setting and are not quantitative and often cannot measure lower concentrations. Cells are constantly performing complicated biosensing actions at their interfaces which are lipid-based cell membranes. In this project we aim to functionalize a supported lipid bilayer material to achieve unique biosensing potentials. 

Project 5: Development of quantitative point of care diagnostics. Accessibility to healthcare information at home or in a point of care environment would be an important step forward in diagnosing or detecting health issues. Current methods for point of care diagnostics are limited to being qualitative, meaning they can only tell the user "yes" or "no" that an analyte is present, but they do not say how much of an analyte is present. To determine the current status of health the amount or concentration of various biomarkers is essential, and we are currently working on understanding the whether paper can be used to transduce quantitative signals.