Events Calendar

Seminars in Biomedical Engineering

Speaker: Tejal Desai, Professor, Department Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences UCSF School of Pharmacy

Talk Title: Hierarchical Interfaces for Enhanced Therapeutic Delivery

Abstract: Efficient drug delivery remains an important challenge in medicine. Control of the temporal, spatial, and kinetic profile of drug delivery as well as improved ease of administration leading to increased patient compliance are some of the unmet needs of current drug administration. Advancements in the microelectronics industry have led to the creation of new micro and nanofabrication methods which can be readily applied to biocompatible materials. These developments lay the groundwork for novel design possibilities that can be used for creating drug delivery devices with a high level of control at the cellular and molecular scale. In this talk, I will discuss how the combination of modular components and hierarchical length scales onto a single device can be useful for therapeutic delivery. Examples include nanoporous thin films to deliver protein therapeutics and nanostructured devices for epithelial drug delivery. By creating discrete micro and nanoscale features, one can begin to interact with cell and tissue surfaces in a manner previously unattainable. These subtle interactions can modulate properties such as tight junction permeability and fibrosis. By gaining a better understanding of how small scale topographies can influence the biological microenvironment, these structures can be harnessed directly for therapeutic use. Micro and nanostructured materials can add functionality to current drug delivery platforms while becoming an enabling technology leading to new basic discoveries in the pharmaceutical and biological sciences.

Host: David D'Argenio

Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta