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Multifunctional Drug Nanocarriers for Various Biomedical Applications
Sarah Gong, Professor, University of Wisconsin
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
2 p.m.
Biodesign Auditorium, Tempe campus [map]
Biosketch
Shaoqin “Sarah” Gong is a professor in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Her current research focuses on the development of various multifunctional nanoparticles, including unimolecular micelles, polymersomes, and various polymer-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles, for targeted drug/agent delivery to treat various diseases (e.g., cancer and vasculature diseases). Gong is the recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award. She serves in the editorial board for several journals including Theranostics and Biofabrication and is an associate editor for Biomaterials.
Abstract
Neural interfaces are increasingly applied for the treatment of neurological disorders and diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, paralysis and chronic pain. An ideal neural interface should seamlessly integrate into the nervous system and reliably function for long periods of time. The quality performance of these technologies ultimately rests on the specifics of the martial design that, in turn, enables a long-lasting functional interface. The challenge for materials science is to apply nanotechnology strategies for development of innovative biomaterials that closely mimic neural tissue characteristics and hence, cause minimal inflammation and neuronal cell loss. As a result, many nanoscale materials not originally developed for implantable neural applications have become attractive candidates to record neural signals, stimulate neurons, regenerate axons, and deliver drugs and biomolecules to nervous system. In this seminar, Gong will introduce some of the material-based approaches that we have developed within the past few years to improve long–term efficacy of neural interfaces. She will focus on synthesis, fabrication, and application of electroactive nanostructured materials including conducting polymer nanotubes and bioactive nanofibers for drug delivery to the brain, chronic neural recording, neurochemical sensing, and axonal regeneration.
