(2aj) Enabling Technologies for Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Targeted Drug Delivery

My overarching research goal is on the development of novel platforms for targeted and controlled drug delivery systems and electrolyte detection. Currently, when people are sick the ability to deliver drugs can often lead to a lot of problems. Drugs are either delivered by pills to the stomach – or by IV. This means that drugs don’t go where they need to. When patients must use drugs by IV injection, they are stuck in a hospital. To avoid this, we can use wearable patches for diagnosis and drug delivery. New materials and devices that are safe and clinically translatable for point-of care, drug development, and delivery systems and detection of environmental chemicals serve two functions: they serve as therapeutic, and they serve as diagnostic or prophylactic. These functions are limited by numerous biological barriers, including the intestinal epithelium membrane, the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and skin and corneal barriers. For example, almost 100% of the macromolecular drugs and over 98% of the small-molecule drug candidates are unable to enter the brain. Poor adherence to medication dosing schedules causes 33–69% of all medication-related hospital admissions in the United States, with a resulting cost of ~$100 billion per year (4). Therefore, we need to improve acceptability of the drug and dosage form to patient by developing new platforms through self-administration, painless administration, and long-acting duration of action. We can also make them fingertip-sized, miniaturized, and invisible! Their miniaturized size makes them much less invasive and significantly improves patients’ comfort. By making things small enough and cosmetically invisible, what we’re able to do is dramatically change the procedure of how these devices are used, to make them much less invasive which is better for the patient. When patients are sick and need drugs over a long period of time like eye medication, it would be optimal for patients’ comfort and ability to live their lives to have small, less noticeable, and unobtrusive devices. Likewise, drug permeability across the skin is limited by the formidable barrier of stratum corneum and the tight junctions. The invisibility may be accomplished by associating the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics with the wearables in a way that makes it difficult to see the pharmaceuticals or, if the pharmaceutical can be seen, makes it difficult to recognize that it is a pharmaceutical. Among the different approaches, these advanced and innovative devices, especially for targeting-based strategies, will garner tremendous attention for the treatment on the body surface and/or interior. My lab will move to the smaller, thinner, lighter scales to create innovative, powerful, and patient-specific devices that provide personalized healthcare.

'Teaching statement'

My strong background in polymer science, chemical and biomedical engineering along with the variety of bioengineering courses I took during my graduate and postdoc work at Georgia Tech has prepared me well for teaching a wide number of core classes from the Biomedical Engineering program. I would also be available to teach any other course according to departmental needs. Based on my expertise, I would like to develop the following special topic courses for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

1. Fundamentals of Biomaterials: The primary objective of this course series is to teach the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in the biomaterials and tissue engineering area. This course is divided into four sections – macromolecular chemistry & material science, physical characterization & properties, materials & biology, and focused biomaterial sections. Biomaterials will concentrate on fundamental principles in biomedical engineering, material science, and chemistry. This course uses a combination of lectures, guest lectures, student presentations, and self-directed learning to examine the structure and properties of hard materials (ceramics, metals) and soft materials (polymers, hydrogels). Specifically, the class will be divided into three parts: (I) Biomaterial Science and Engineering, (II) Polymers, and (III) Surfaces and Colloid Science. For each section, I will provide a theoretical description of the relevant phenomena, give examples of experimental measurements, highlight specific applications, and discuss the physiological requirements and relevance.
2. Biomedical measurements and instrumentation: This course will introduce the principals of biomedical instrumentation and diagnostics. This course will cover the fundamental understanding of mechanics, electronic architecture, and chemical and biological components used to measure physiological parameters. The course will use detailed case methods for point-of-care detection of biomarkers in biological fluids (blood, sweat, saliva). The goal of this course is to teach students the principles and concepts of sensing and engineering to (i) design diagnostic devices for detection of markers in biofluids, and (ii) be able to evaluate quality of diagnostic devices.