Biomineralization of Corals

Coral reefs ecosystems are vital habitats and essential for coastal resilience against tropical storms. In cooperation with Dr. Joshua Voss (FAU HBOI) and Dr. Paul Smeets (Northwestern NUANCE), we study the impact of environmental stressors such as coral disease on skeletogenesis, including the skeletal architecture, polymorphism, and defect structure in scelactinian corals. We further investigate the  trace element composition and skeletal pigmentation of Blue Ridge octocorals together with Dr. Molly Moynihan (FAU Geosciences) and Dr. Kyle Morgan (Nanyang Technology University, Singapore).

Hybrid Biocomposites for Bioremediation

We explore an innovative pollutant removal strategy based on iron oxide biocomposites. Plant materials provide several unique benefits as adsorbent and high-surface area scaffolds. Iron oxides are some of the most common naturally occurring minerals in soils, marine and freshwater sediments and thus do not pose any harm to the aquatic ecosystem. The technology may address a variety of current and emerging hazardous substances in polluted soils, sediments or water bodies.

Subcellular distribution of trace elements in cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are an ancient group of prokaryotic microbes in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Excessive supplies of macronutrients, such as nitrates or phosphates, promote the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), impairing human health and aquatic ecosystems around the world. Yet, there is a large fundamental knowledge gap regarding the impact of micronutrients on cyanobacterial growth and cyanotoxin production in the cyanobacteria Microcystis Aeruginosa and Anabaena sp.

Investigating organic inclusions in biomineral model systems

Prior investigations have revealed that intracrystalline proteins play a critical role in controlling mineral formation. However, the role of polysaccharides (carbohydrates) in regulating biomineralization is not well established at present, although they occur frequently in biologically produced crystals and often constitute a large portion of the organic-mineral interphase. The main objective of the proposed research is to address this knowledge gap by investigating the role carbohydrates play in mineralization. 

Drug delivery systems based on biodegradable chitosan hydrogels

The research explores a novel wound dressing for localized drug-delivering that can be used to treat and inhibit the spread of hospital-acquired infections or to regenerate skin following third-degree burns. Nosocomial infections (NI) affect close to 1.7 million people in the United States per year. NIs refers to infections obtained in medical settings, like hospitals and clinics. The project investigates chitosan-based wound dressings to curb hospital-acquired infections. Silver-doped chitosan hydrogels presented intrinsic antimicrobial activity.

Development of chitin/mineral composites

This project seeks to develop hybrid chitin/mineral composite materials and characterize their chemical composition, morphology, and mechanical properties. Three-dimensional chitin scaffolds are derived from natural resources, such as mycelium or mushrooms, though a series of chemical extraction methods. Our goal is to deposit inorganic minerals within the oriented chitin fiber structure to achieve structural reinforcement.

Interactions between bloom-forming diatoms

Diatoms are phytoplankton  organisms with a silica cell wall called frustule. Colony-formation plays an important role in nutrient uptake, reproductive success and the health of the general population. This project in collaboration with Dr. Aditya Nayak,  FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute)  elucidates fundamental mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion, biomechanical properties and fluid mechanics of multi-cell aggregates that influence buoyancy and vertical migration patterns of diatoms.

Skeletal Formation in Marine Acantharia

Nature offers numerous examples of smoothly curving single crystals that seem to contradict the internal lattice structure of the crystal. Acantharia (Acantharea) are wide-spread marine protozoa, presenting one of the rare examples of strontium sulfate mineralization in the biosphere. Our research uses synchrotron-based nanotomography to resolve the complex internal morphology of Acantharian endoskeletons.