The EurekAlert published the following article titled “Micron-sized hydrogel cubes show highly efficient delivery of a potent anti-cancer drug.” The article highlights how this active drug-delivery system addresses the limitations seen for the anti-cancer drug BA-TPQ — poor solubility and low bioavailability.
Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra, Professor of Physics, University Scholar and Director of the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration (CNMB) is the recipient of the 2016 Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award. Dr. Vohra has a tremendous ability to bring disciplines together for collaborative efforts and it’s this inherent ability that has garnered him this recognition.
In addition to the above-mentioned positions, Dr. Vohra is the Campus Director for the NASA – Alabama Space Grant Consortium as well as Director one of the longest running National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs (REU).
Dr. Vinoy Thomas, a UAB CNMB member has accepted a tenure-track Assistant Professor Faculty appointment in the UAB Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His new position began on February 1, 2015. Dr. Thomas has been working in many projects on Nanomaterials, Biomaterials and Polymeric Materials for Medical and Composite applications between UAB CNMB as a Research Scientist and the Department of Materials Science & Engineering as a Research Assistant Professor.
He started to work on the electrospinning technology for polymeric nanofiber scaffolds at UAB in the beginning of 2005 and continues his efforts on the basic and developmental aspects to integrate the nanofibers in Medical and Healthcare Devices in his new lab for Healthcare Materials & Devices at BEC 361. His R&D works on Nano-biomaterials and 3D Printing fabrication blended with Materials Chemistry, and Structure- Property Relationships in functional polymeric materials spans different research units in the campus including Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Center for Nanoscale Materials & Bio-integration (CNMB), Materials Processing & Applications Development (MPAD) Center and School of Medicine. Dr. Thomas teaches undergraduate and graduate courses related to Polymeric Materials, Polymer Characterization, and Nanomaterials etc. He is also in charge of the polymer characterization facility at the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.
NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER)
“CNMB member and a faculty member in the UAB Department of Chemistry Dr. Eugenia Kharlampieva has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Award entitled “CAREER: Shape Responses of Ultrathin Hydrogel Microcapsules” for a five year period 2014-2019. This is one of the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations”
CNMB Member Dr. Claudiu T Lungu Awarded a National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Grant (CDC/DHHS R21, Total amount for two years: 09/01/2013 – 08/31/2015: $398,672)
The goal of this study is to develop a new technique that allows accurate sampling of gases and vapors at low levels.
Dr. Lungu is investigating a new process of using pulsed visible light to release chemicals from new substrates based on carbon nanotubes. These substrates will be used in air sampling devices for volatile organic compounds and gases for workplace or environmental monitoring. This research could potential lead to a new generation of air samplers that may be faster, cheaper, and more sensitive than the currently available models.
Dr. Eugenia Kharlampieva Awarded a National Science Foundation Biomaterials Grant
Immunomodulatory Ultrathin Multilayer Coatings for Pancreatic islet Transplantation NSF-DMR1306110, program of Biomaterials (BMAT)
This grant will supports the development of a novel type of cytoprotective material with controlled immunomodulatory and inflammatory responses to be used for cell-basedtransplantation therapy for diabetic recipients. This project is in collaboration between departments of Chemistry (Eugenia Kharlampieva, PI) and Microbiology (Hubert Tse, coPI). Although transplantation of pancreatic islet cells has emerged as a promising treatment for Type 1 diabetes, its clinical application remains limited due to adverse effects of immunosuppression and declining allograft function. The awarded project will develop a preclinical approach to preserve islet viability and function during culturing and transplantation by protecting pancreatic islets (cell clusters) with a novel polymer coating. These coatings will be designed through hydrogen-bonded assembly of cytocompatible macromolecules with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. This project is particularly timely since current islet encapsulation systems are challenging for transplantations due to high cytotoxicity and the requirement for large injection volumes. The design of novel immunoprotective materials will open new prospects for developing biomaterials with unique characteristics having applications in various bio-related areas such as bioengineering and tissue engineering. The awarded project will develop interdisciplinary collaborative research which should stimulate awareness of the needs of the UAB biomedical research community for specialized polymer-based biomaterials as novel platforms for cell transplantation therapy.
