Research Keyword biomaterials

One of the current challenges in biomaterials research is the design and fabrication of functional nanostructures at progressively smaller length scales. Since biology has been enormously successful in assembling complex nanoscale systems, research in Dr. Wang's group couples the principles of self-assembly with nature-inspired macromolecular systems to engineer new materials and therapeutic strategies.

The approach in Dr. Wang's research uses the detailed control that genetic engineering provides in defining the polymeric architecture of proteins, and unites this with synthetic strategies that broaden the scope of chemical functionality. This enables a better understanding of the relationship between molecular organization and material characteristics, which can then be used towards designing new material properties.

The research group is currently investigating (1) the fabrication of inorganic nanoarrays using biological templates, (2) the design of nanoscale protein complexes for molecular transport of molecules, and (3) the development of novel biopolymers for drug delivery. These studies have relevance in technological areas that include pharmaceutics, tissue engineering, biosensors, and electronic and optical devices.

Professor Earthman's research activities include studies of broad range of deformation and damage mechanisms in both model and advanced materials.  His work also involves the development and use of computer-based techniques for determining the damping characteristics of biomaterials and mechanical biocompatibility, the corrosion behavior of metals exposed to living cells, and the nondestructive characterization of surface defects in situ.  He has authored and co-authored more than 100 research publications including two chapters on biomechanics and materials for tissue engineering.  He is an inventor on five patents, two international patents, and three pending patents.  He has also served as editor for two books in the fields of materials science and biomedical engineering.

Dr. Chen's general research interests are in the areas of biomedical photonics, microfabrication, biomaterials and biosensors.

Dr. Chen and his group have developed a noninvasive technology, known as functional optical coherence tomography, which allows cross-sectional imaging of tissue structure, blood flow, and birefringence simultaneously with high spatial resolution.

Dr. Chen's current research foci are: (a) investigating light/tissue interactions; (b) developing medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices and instruments using advanced optical, microfabrication and biomedical technologies; (c) applications of these technologies for the early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

Dr. Chen currently has several active research projects funded by the NSF, NIH/NIBIB, NIH/NCI, and DARPA. Most of these projects are interdisciplinary, involving research areas in fiber optics, lasers and optoelectronics, MEMS, signal processing, and biomedical instrumentation.

Dr. Chen's laboratory is located at the Beckman Laser Institute, and he holds a joint appointment with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Surgery, and Materials Science and Engineering Program.