Research

Our research focuses on advancing macromolecule drug delivery technology by developing new materials. We are actively working in the following application areas:

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery vehicles are typically ~50-200 nm in size. These vehicles can achieve extended circulation in the body and can be modified to target specific tissues. However, delivery is not optimal due to transport limitations. Ongoing projects in this area include:

1. Approaches to increase the interstitial transport of nanoparticles for improved tumor penetration
2. Polymeric micelles for drug delivery and imaging (in collaboration with Omeros Corporation and Xingde Li, Johns Hopkins University)
3. 3D culture platforms that can help to bridge the gap between 2D cell culture and animal studies

The delivery of exogenous nucleic acids to cells in the central nervous system is a powerful technique with applications in treatment of neurological disease. The purpose of this project is to develop biocompatible polymers that mediate efficient and targeted nucleic acid delivery to neural progenitor cells in the subventricular zone of the brain (In collaboration with Philip Horner, UW Neurosurgery)

We are developing ex vivo and in vivo methods to manipulate cells of the immune system for therapy applications. Specific projects include:

1. Engineering monocyte-derived cells for anticalcification (in collaboration with Cecilia Giachelli, UW Bioengineering)
2. Identifying targeting ligands for sub-populations of activated macrophages (in collaboration with Elaine Raines, UW Pathology)
3. Developing methods to pattern gene delivery vehicles on surfaces by non-covalent self-assembly. These approaches can be used to locally deliver genes from implanted materials.