Title: Micro-nano-technology based Biomedical Systems

Speaker:  Prof. Guofang Chen      St. John's University, USA

Time:  AM 10:00 28 May , Friday 

Location:  2nd Floor Seminar Hall Lu Jiaxi Building

Abstract:

     Micro- and nanostructure technology opens a new perspective for the development of empowered biomedical system. The research in our lab focuses on the fabrication and characterization of polymeric micro-/nanostructures including nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanopillars and functional polymeric microfluidic devices, and the development of practical applications of these new materials and devices in biomedical field. Currently we are working on three research projects: (1) Controlled Drug Delivery Based on Polymer Nanotubes. An important prerequisite for designing an efficient controlled delivery system is the ability to transport the drug molecules with “zero release” to the targeted site and release them in the controlled manner at the targeted site. To meet this end, a novel stimuli-responsive nanotube/porous nanopillar-based drug delivery system was designed to enhance drug loading capacity, site-specifically transport to the targeted cells, and sustain drug release in response to physiological changes. (2) Bio-inspired Photonic Crystal from Polymer Nanoparticles. With the inspiration from the wealth of photonic structures found in Nature, photonic crystals were fabricated based on polymeric nanoparticles via spin-coating method or two substrate vertical deposition, which produce beautifully iridescent red, purple, green and blue colors. Such photonic crystals will be used to detect clinically important analytes and markers of disease. The signaling response utilizes the Bragg diffraction of light by an array of colloidal particles. (3) Enrichment and Detection of Cancer Biomarkers. This project focuses on developing a simple, inexpensive and high throughput microfluidic system that utilizes “smart” monolith having both photo-/thermoresponsive polymers and affinity moieties (e. g., antibodies) on the surface for directly mining for low abundance protein biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer diseases from a complex mixture (e. g., serum and body fluids) containing high abundance “common housekeeping” proteins like albumins.