Research Projects
The Polymeric Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Laboratory focuses on design, synthesis and development of novel hydrogel-based scaffolds and nanoparticle biomaterials with highly controlled network architecture, material properties and embedded bifunctionality for tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery applications. In collaboration with engineers and medical experts in polymer engineering, biofilm engineering, synthetic biology, angiogenesis, multivariate statistics, obesity, surgical infection, and mesenchymal stem cell regulation for cartilage biology signaling and osteoarthritis, we aim to develop novel bioengineering approaches to address areas of significant clinical need.
Development of Gradient-Based Scaffolds for Guided Cell Behavior and Tissue Regeneration
Summary
The presence of gradients in the extracellular microenvironment plays a critical role in guided cell behavior, tissue morphogenesis and repair processes including angiogenesis, wound healing, and interfacial tissue regeneration. While a variety of biomaterials-based approaches have been exploited for investigating the role of specific gradients on 3D cell behavior and tissue remodeling, most studies to date have focused on cellular responses to gradients of a single factor (primarily growth factors gradients).
Design of Hydrogel Nanoparticle Emulsions for Sustained Release of Therapeutics in Targeted Drug Delivery, Tissue Regeneration and Repair
Summary
Nanoparticle carriers hold great promise for therapeutic and targeted drug delivery and tissue repair due to their prolonged circulation presence, improved transport properties and site-specific targeting with minimal distribution to normal tissues. Although a variety of different types of nanoparticles and formulations have been developed for drug and gene delivery and tissue engineering, our efforts have focused on the design and synthesis of crosslinked hydrogel nanoparticles of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) formed using inverse phase (water in oil, w/o) miniemulsion polymerization process for encapsulation and sustained release of hydrophilic therapeutic compounds for drug delivery, tissue repair and as novel therapeutics for treatment of disease.
Polyphosphate-loaded nanoparticles for suppression of gut pathogen virulence, collagenase activity, biofilm formation and promotion of post-surgical intestinal healing
Summary
The intestinal tract routinely undergoes a variety of injuries due to disease or direct surgical manipulation. The process by which successful repair and return of function occurs following these insults is highly dependent on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. Consequently, wound healing and repair of the intestinal tract is complex due to the presence of intestinal microbiota, which can either enhance or severely impair healing.
Tissue-Engineered Hydrogel Scaffolds with Decoupled Variations in Mechanical and Degradative Properties and Immobilized Pendant Bifunctionality
Summary
Clinical success of implantable tissue engineered scaffolds used for the replacement and/or restoration of damaged and diseased tissues requires that the rate of scaffold degradation matches that of tissue formation and remodeling. Furthermore, different tissues exhibit different rates of remodeling and healing and may require different stiffnesses to induce desired cellular differentiation and functional tissue regeneration. Thus, the ability to systematically tune and decouple variations in matrix degradation, stiffness, and immobilized biochemical composition is critical for successful design of tissue engineered constructs.
Biocompatible Nanoparticle Emulsions for Drug Delivery
Summary
Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and pharmaceutical emulsions are widely used and studied for controlled and sustained delivery of therapeutics. Pharmaceutical emulsions are used to deliver an emulsified drug, typically lipophilic, to a target tissue. Delivery of hydrophilic drugs often requires the use of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsions. NPs are sometimes delivered in emulsion form, which thus far is limited to hydrophobic drugs drug delivery. Our current emphasis aims to develop NP platforms to deliver novel classes of biotherapeutics including peptides, interfering RNAs, and plasmids.