Bionano Therapeutics Lab

Welcome to the Bionano Therapeutics Lab at Louisiana State University

The research of the Bionano Therapeutics Lab aims at resolving challenging health problems associated with the central nervous system. Together with our collaborators, we integrate our specialty in biomedical engineering, chemistry, and neuroscience to investigate disease mechanisms and develop novel therapeutic strategies for cancers and neurological disorders. Our ultimate goal is to translate the preclinical results and technological inventions into more effective treatments for all individuals affected by these diseases. 

Group News

• 12/23/2025 We’re excited to share a few pieces of wonderful news from the lab as we conclude the semester. (1) Congratulations to Salona on the acceptance of her paper in the International Journal of Nanomedicine! (2) Dr. Cai presented at the LSUHSC Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence (ADACE) Scientific Retreat as an invited speaker. (3) We’re happy to welcome Ethan to the group as a new undergraduate researcher. (4) We also welcomed the youngest (and tiniest) member, baby Eric! Eric has already “attended” BE1252 (Spring 2025) and BE4910 (Fall 2025) with Dr. Cai, setting an impressive record for early exposure to biomedical engineering. We look forward to what’s ahead and wish everyone a restful and well-deserved break.

• 08/08/2025 Congratulations, Salona, on passing the qualifying exam! Great job!

• 06/05/2025 Welcome to LSU undergraduate students Hudil, Brandon, and Thinula as they join us for summer research. A warm welcome as well to Baton Rouge High student, Dev, who is participating through the LSU High School Summer Research Program. We welcome Mason, a student from Catholic High, who is joining us as a summer volunteer. 

• 06/04/2025 Congratulations, Salona, on receiving the LSU Graduate Student Association Travel Award. 

• 06/03/2025 Congratulations, Salona, on receiving the Summer Opportunities Fellowship supported by Shell Oil Company. Great job!

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Recent Publication

5. S. Roy, D. Alday, Q. Cai. Advances in PLGA-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Glioblastoma Treatment. International Journal of Nanomedicine. Accepted. 2025

4. T. W. Leong, Z. Gao, E. T. David, X. Li, Q. Cai, J. M. Mwirigi, T. Zhang, M. Giannotta, E. Dejana, J. Wiggins, S. Krishnagiri, R. M. Bachoo, X. Ge, T. J. Price, Z. Qin. Spatially Precise and Minimally Invasive Delivery of Peptides to the Spinal Cord for Behavior Modulation. ACS Nano, 2024, 18(51), 34720-34729.

3. H. Xiong, B. A. Wilson, X. Ge, X. Gao, Q. Cai, X. Xu, R. Bachoo, Z, Qin. Glioblastoma margin as a diffusion barrier revealed by photoactivation of plasmonic nanovesicles. Nano Letters, 2024, 24, 5, 1570–1578. 

2. Q. Cai#, H. Fan, X. Li, M. Giannotta, R. Bachoo, Z. Qin#. Optical modulation of the blood-brain barrier for glioblastoma treatment. Bio-protocol, 2024, 14(2): e4920. (#co-corresponding author)

1. X. Ge, X.Xu, Q. Cai, H. Xiong, C. Xie, Y. Hong, X. Gao, Y. Yao, R. Bachoo, Z. Qin. Live mapping of the brain extracellular matrix and remodeling in neurological disorders. Small Methods, 2023, 2301117. 

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