Academic Projects

During my PhD at Duquesne University, my research centered on developing and optimizing biomaterials for medical and therapeutic use. One major project involved designing a high refractive index, hydrophobic lens material—an effort to improve the performance of implantable optical devices. I also worked on chemically attaching low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to titanium dioxide surfaces to enhance the biocompatibility of implant materials. Another key focus was engineering chemically cross-linked peptidic fibrils, which served as scaffolds for polymeric particles and macrophages—paving the way for advanced tissue engineering applications. These interdisciplinary projects gave me a strong foundation in materials chemistry, surface science, and biomedical innovation.

Chemically-Induced Cross-Linking of Peptidic Fibrils for Scaffolding Polymeric Particles and Macrophages

July 2017 - December 2021

• Synthesized and optimized a cross-inked fibril hydrogel for transport of microparticles, drug molecules, and/or cells

• Analyzed various forms of spectroscopic data including DRIFT spectroscopy and ATR-IR spectroscopy

• Compared various fibril formation on surfaces using SEM and AFM

• Preformed in vitro experiments in a sterile hood with a flow system using polymeric nanoparticle and cell-loaded hydrogels to determine the scaffold’s ability to entrap and release items of interest

• qPCR was utilized to examine any inflammatory affects that arose from cell encapsulation through monitoring IL-10 and IL-1beta levels

Attachment of a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) to Titanium

August 2018 - December 2021

• Prepared self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coated titanium metals for drug attachment

• Utilized cross-linker chemistry to bind both a model compound and a LMWH, enoxaparin sodium, to a reactive tail group provided by the surface-bound SAM

• Investigated the potential of the drug binding to the surface without the assistance of a SAM

• Analyzed the monolayer deposition and drug attachment through DRIFT spectroscopy and Contact Angle

• Examined the ability of the bound drug to prevent thrombus formation in vitro using a peristaltic pump and plasma to simulate the flow of blood over a surface

• Observed thrombus formation using SEM

Optimization of a High Refractive Index, Hydrophobic Intraocular Lens Material

March 2020 - December 2021

• Synthesized clear and yellow-tinted acrylate polymers for use as intraocular lens implants

• Optimized previously established formulas in order to produce the desired mechanical properties

• Utilized both UV and heat curing systems to obtain the final product

• Characterized the final materials using DRIFT spectroscopy, SEM, Contact Angle, Refractometry, Water Uptake Percent, TGA/DSC, and UV-VIS

Looking to collaborate with others? Get in touch at jluke@collabre.co

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