2012 Chemical Engineering Research Opportunities
Prof. Mitchell Anthamatten
Department of Chemical Engineering
anthamatten@che.rochester.edu
Photo-curing of Gradient Refractive Index Hydrogels
The human eye lens is a composite of water-swollen biological structures including a capsule, an epithelium, and firmly packed fibers. The refractive index of the lens varies from about 1.41 in the central layers to about 1.39 near the edge layers. Ciliary muscles act on the lens to change its shape, enabling one to focus on objects at different distances. The objective of this project is to mimic the natural properties of the human crystalline lens by masked photocuring of poly(hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (polyHEMA). PolyHEMA is water-swellable biomaterial, especially known for its role in soft contact lenses. Linear polyHEMA will be synthesized and modified by a substitution reaction. The resulting material will loaded with a photo-initiator and crosslinked by exposure to UV light. The level of crosslinking will be varied by spatially controlling the irradiation dosage using designed masks. The resulting materials will be characterized by water-swelling and by interference microscopy. Interested students must have completed at least one (preferably two) semesters of organic chemistry, and organic chemistry lab, and must be willing to learn optics.
Prof. Danielle Benoit
Departments of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering
benoit@bme.rochester.edu
Hydrogel culture environments for regenerative medicine applications
We can interrogate and take advantage of the critical interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) to create bioactive materials capable of controlling cell function and tissue evolution. To determine the requirements of the microenvironment, we utilize hydrogels easily modified with respect to mechanical integrity, adhesive peptides, ECM molecules, degradability, and incorporation of drugs, to direct cellular differentiation through a variety of mechanisms.
In particular, we are interested in utilizing hydrogel microenvironments to direct encapsulated mesenchymal stem cell (adult stem cell) function for applications in musculoskeletal tissue engineering. A thorough understanding of how material properties effect cell differentiation and tissue evolution is essential to tailor ‘instructive materials’ to direct cell function.
Responsive drug-loaded nanoparticles to treat Waldenstrom’s
We are interested in developing novel responsive nanosized drug delivery carriers. In particular, we aim to exploit signals within the blood to modulate drug release to treat a cancer known as Waldenstrom’s. Waldenstrom’s is a blood cancer characterized by increased antibody production by dysfunctional B-cells. Due to the enhanced antibody concentrations within the blood, complications arise that result in patient death. We aim to develop a novel therapy for Waldenstrom’s. This therapy will combat the disease twofold. Specifically, nanoparticles will respond to antibody titers, degrading selectively at certain concentrations, releasing potent chemotherapy drugs to kill the overactive B-cells. Moreover, the resulting degraded nanoparticles will act as a sink for Waldenstrom’s antibodies, binding the antibodies and forming complexes that will be excreted renally. The successful candidate will develop nanoparticles with a variety of antibody responsiveness and analyze them in simulated blood.
Prof. J.H. David Wu
Departments of Chemical Engineering, and of Microbiology and Immunology
davidwu@che.rochester.edu
Research Project: Genomics Study of Microbial Production of Bio-ethanol and Bio-hydrogen from Cellulosic Biomass as Renewable Energy Sources
The overall goal of this project is to turn waste biomass, such as grass clippings, cornstalks, and wood chips, into usable hydrogen or ethanol. The short-term objective is to understand how the bacterium controls the production of these two energy sources. Energy experts expect ethanol from biomass to replace at least 30 percent of the national gasoline consumption for transportation by 2030, and hydrogen is a promising future energy source that can be used in fuel cells with high efficiency. Deriving these energy sources from cellulosic biomass makes them renewable, eliminates competition with food supplies, and reduces carbon dioxide emission. The bacterium, called C. thermocellum, has the very rare ability to break down tough plant cellulose and convert it to hydrogen and ethanol. The DNA sequence of the genome of this bacterium, which contains more than 3,000 genes, has been determined. We plan to investigate the interactions among these thousands of genes and to formulate new strategies to efficiently produce hydrogen and ethanol. Molecular cloning, DNA microarrays and proteomic approaches will be employed to facilitate the study. Prior knowledge of computer programming, bioinformatics, biology and molecular biology will be useful for the project.
