|
Research Interests
Our research focus is on the creation of effective biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for biomedical applications. These applications include localized growth factor delivery for therapeutic angiogenesis and for stem cell differentiation, scaffolds for soft tissue and connective tissue engineering, and ocular drug delivery. Polymer systems being developed include biodegradable elastomers, injectable thermoplastics, and hydrogels. We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms of degradation of the polymers in vivo to better design these materials for given applications, determining the mechanisms governing drug release, the role polymer biomaterial mechanical properties play in mediating cell proliferation and differentiation, and in controlling polymer surface properties to improve cellular interactions. The work is multidisciplinary and we collaborate routinely with colleagues in mechanical engineering and cell biology.
Facilities
Our polymer lab is located within the Biosciences Complex and currently has a Waters HPLC (UV-VIS, fluorescence) and GPC system complete with a Precision Detectors light-scattering detector, a Mettler-Toledo differential scanning calorimeter, and an Instron tensile teste. Our cell culture and microscopy facilities are located in the Human Mobility Research Centre, where we presently have an Olympus FV1000 confocal microscope, a Nicolet ATR-FTIR microscope, and a Zeiss fluorescence microscope. Frequent use is made of the NMR, AFM, and MS facilities in the Department of Chemistry, and a rheometer and dynamic mechanical analyzer within the Polymer Group Analytical Facility.
|
