Macromolecules Innovation Institute

Research Interests:

The development of macromolecular materials that combine synthetic polymerization techniques with the capacity of peptides and other biologically relevant molecules to participate in supramolecular interactions will lead to a variety of new responsive materials. When applied in vivo, a vital characteristic of these new materials will be their biodegradability, allowing the carrier to break down into benign metabolites. My lab focuses on the synthesis of biodegradable polymeric and self-assembling structures and their application in a broad variety of fields, including regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug delivery, and signaling gas delivery. Current research efforts include:

 

• Developing dynamic, globular macromolecules that respond to a specific stimulus, e.g., pH change, irradiation,    or the presence of an enzyme, by undergoing a change in size or shape.

• Exploring self-assembling, biodegradable polymers for use as injectable matrices in regenerative medicine.

• Synthesizing new small molecules, polymers, and nanostructures for the delivery of signaling gases.