Research Interests
My research is focused on the micro and nanoencapsulation of biologically active materials including cells, enzymes, nucleotides, genomic DNA, and therapeutic peptides and proteins. Encapsulation enables stabilization, retention, immunoprotection, controlled or targeted drug delivery, continuous processing, or cell growth in a protected environment. As cells, tissues and biologicals are labile, I have adapted encapsulation matrix/membrane materials and methods to involve use of natural materials such as polysaccharides and proteins, avoiding the use of solvents, pH extremes and highly reactive conditions, enabling the control of polymer matrix properties to achieve specific encapsulation goals, such as bioactive retention, controlled permeability, or triggered and/or controlled release.
My research is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, thus my graduate students and researchers have opportunity to conduct research in collaborating labs. Active research areas are listed below, with names of collaborators.
Long term sustained delivery of bioactive insulin for treatment of cutaneous wounds
Prof. Manuela Martins-Green, Dept of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside
Prof. Annelise Barron, Dept of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Extracellular matrix-based micro and nanofibre microbead scaffold for cell growth and implantation
Dr. Jean-Pierre Halle, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Lab for Bioartificial Therapies, Montreal
Dr. Euridice Carmona, Maisonneuve-Rosemount Hospital, Lab for Bioartificial Therapies, Montreal
Prof. Annelise Barron, Dept of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Oral delivery of nanoparticulate insulin in control of diabetes
Dr. Christiane Damge, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France
Prof. Francisco Veiga, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Prof. Catarina Pinto Reis, Laboratory of Nanoscience and Biomedical Nanotechnology, ULHT, Lisbon
Prof. Bruno Sarmento, University of Porto, Portugal
Sustained delivery of novel drug in treatment of pancreatic cancer
Prof. Myron Szewczuk, Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's
New advanced biomaterials for drug encapsulation and controlled release
Prof. Michael Cunningham, Dept. Chemical Engineering, Queen's
Prof. Pascale Champagne, Dept. Civil Engineering, Queen's
Prof. Ralph Whitney, Dept. Chemistry, Queen's
Design fundamentals for encapsulation processes
Prof. Denis Poncelet, ONIRIS, Nantes, France
Further information may be obtained by reviewing the publication list (see link above) or by email (neufeld@queensu.ca)
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