Research
Molecule Making
Device Making
Biosensing
Controlled Drug
Delivery/Therapy
Molecular
Imaging
Chemistry Basis, Medicine Centric & Engineering Philosophy
Materials in Medicine: 3 Major Areas and Sub-topics
The philosophy of our research is that integrated solutions to problems can be formulated by in silico-to-in vivo approach and synergistic developments in three major areas: therapeutics (e.g. drug free antimicrobial, therapy targeting stem-like cancer cells, combinatorial therapy and transcription factors), molecularly specific contrast probes and their applications in preclinical and clinical models and bio-sensing (chemical and electrochemical sensing of disease). We are uniquely converging ‘molecule making’ with ‘device making’ to solve complex biological problems.
Pan laboratory is developing translatable technologies for human trauma. InnSight Technology, Inc. was co-founded in 2014 (co-founder: Dr. Leanne Labriola, Carle Ophthalmologists) to develop novel ophthalmic devices to address unmet needs within clinical ophthalmology. KaloCyte, Inc. was co-founded in 2015 (co-founders: Dr. Allan Doctor, WUSM/UMD and Dr. Phil Spinella, WUSM) to develop next-generation synthetic blood for trauma.
With a demonstrated track record of translating academic research to the market/clinic and working closely with clinicians, we thrive to diminish the gap between exploratory science and clinical research and bring technologies from ‘bench-to-bedside’.
Molecular Imaging
Molecular imaging and targeted drug delivery play an important role toward personalized medicine, which is the future of pre-emptive medicine. Our goal here is to ‘find, fight and follow’ a disease using translatable nanoparticle-based probes. Molecular imaging has emerged as an interdisciplinary area, which shows promises to understand the components, processes, dynamics and therapies of a disease at a molecular level. We explore various nanoprobes for early detection, diagnosis and personalized treatment of diseases, using biomedical imaging modalities such as computed tomographic imaging (CT), photon counting K-edge CT, photoacoustic imaging or optical-based techniques. Over the years we have demonstrated collaboratively that highly sensitive probes can be developed and used with imaging techniques for detection of sparse biological receptors such as angiogenesis, sentinel lymph node and cancer stem cells.
Our lab is interested in exploring various pathways for cancer regression including metabolic therapy, inhibiting signaling pathways by targeting stem cell marker, nuclear receptor, etc. This process either involves repurposing of existing clinically approved therapeutics or structure-based drug discovery involving computational modeling (molecular docking studies). For a specific example, we have recently developed a novel retinoid-x-receptor agonist that transcriptionally activate NR4A1/TR3. In collaboration with Larry Schook’s lab (UIUC/UIC) we are evaluating the efficacy of these agents in transgenic onco-pig model which serves a better ‘human-centric’ animal model. The other areas of interest are combinatorial therapeutics, including combination chemo-agents or applying thermal and ultrasound (US)based effects.
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Some of the agents that we study suffer from poor water solubility and low bioavailability impede their bio-application. We invented a novel metal-coordination-driven orthogonal self-assembly macrocycle-mediated heteroternary host-guest complex formation in concert to produce an effective delivery system that transports of insoluble drugs into the cancer cells.
Therapeutics
Biosensing
Our lab is interested in exploring various pathways for cancer regression including metabolic therapy, inhibiting signaling pathways by targeting stem cell marker, nuclear receptor, etc. This process either involves repurposing of existing clinically approved therapeutics or structure-based drug discovery involving computational modeling (molecular docking studies). For a specific example, we have recently developed a novel retinoid-x-receptor agonist that transcriptionally activate NR4A1/TR3. In collaboration with Larry Schook’s lab (UIUC/UIC) we are evaluating the efficacy of these agents in transgenic onco-pig model which serves a better ‘human-centric’ animal model. The other areas of interest are combinatorial therapeutics, including combination chemo-agents or applying thermal and ultrasound (US)based effects.
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Some of the agents that we study suffer from poor water solubility and low bioavailability impede their bio-application.
We are developing next-generation carbon dots (CDs) with unique tunable photoluminescence, excellent biocompatibility, replete surface functional groups, water dispersibility, and complete biodegradation in vivo. We demonstrated that these extraordinary properties have opened new avenues for their advanced application in cell labeling, bioimaging, drug delivery, sensors, and energy-related application. We develop novel synthetic strategies for CD with switchable/ On-Off fluorescence and explore application for biological purposes, specifically, imaging and therapy.
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Key recent publications
Carbon Dots
Sustainability
Although our major focus is to solve complex biological issues, we also deeply care about nature’s sustainability issues. We are excited to apply bioengineering, materials science, and analytical tools to help solve prevalent issues affecting the Earth’s environment. In one such recent example, in response to this ecological threat, our team has developed a highly efficient, environmentally friendly, bio-digestible, and commercially amenable powder dispersant. This tiny, nanometer-sized agent is uniquely “dual functioning” — for simultaneous collection and removal of crude oil and petroleum distillates with remarkable efficiency. More importantly, this agent does not leave any residual footprint because it is degraded in the environment and in living systems — and any incidental biological uptake is not harmful to living organisms. Emerging chemical contaminants such as pharmaceutical residues in water resources continue to threaten the homeostasis of our ecosystem.