August
SELF-ASSEMBLING DRUGS
One of the fundamental problems in drug-delivery is striking a balance between toxicity and therapeutic effect. Hydrogels have been widely applied as intelligent carriers in controlled drug-delivery systems. Self-assembled hydrogel-based drug-delivery has been hindered by the unknown fate of the host gelator after the gel degradation. Thus, we propose a conceptually novel approach to address these limitations. The existing ambiguity can be substantially decreased by designing prodrug-based LMWGs from existing drugs whose metabolic pathways are well documented (See Figure below).
NEEDLES THAT SENSE TRAVEL THROUGH TISSUES
In collaboration with Alex Slocum and Erik Bassett at MIT, we have developed a new needle sensing device that can detect travel of needles through various tissues. This can be used to significantly reduce complications associated with placement of needles, wires and catheters.
INTRAOPERATIVE STEM CELL THERAPY
We are working towards development of intraoperative autologous stem cell based therapeutics that can be performed rapidly under emergent situations (e.g., within emergency room or battlefield settings).
THERAPEUTIC MICRO-DEVICES BASED ON CELL ROLLING
Cell rolling is an important physiological and pathological process that is used to recruit specific cells in the bloodstream to a target tissue. This process may be exploited for biomedical applications to capture and separate specific cell types. One of the most commonly studied proteins that regulate cell rolling is P-selectin. By coating surfaces with this protein, biofunctional surfaces that induce cell rolling can be prepared.