Mark Kester
Mark Kester
G. Thomas Passananti Professor of Pharmacology
Director, Penn State Center for NanoMedicine and Materials
Co-Leader, Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute
Penn State University College of Medicine
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA 17110
717 531 8964
mkester@psu.edu
- Validates innovative nanotechnologies for targeted drug delivery in cancer and cardiovascular diseases models.
- Validates various nanotechnologies as combinatorial imaging and therapeutic modalities (theranostics)
- Engineers nanoliposomal formulations for the therapeutic delivery of bioactive lipids as well as for pharmaceutical and molecular agents.
1. Avella DM, Li G, Schell TD, Liu D, Zhang SS, Lou X, Berg A, Kimchi ET, Tagaram HR, Yang Q, Shereef S, Garcia LS, Kester M, Isom HC, Rountree CB, Staveley-O'Carroll KF. Regression of established hepatocellular carcinoma is induced by chemoimmunotherapy in an orthotopic murine model. Hepatology. 2012 Jan; 55(1):141-52.
2. Hankins JL, Fox TE, Barth BM, Unrath KA, Kester M. Exogenous Ceramide-1-phosphate Reduces Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated Cytokine Expression. J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 30; 286(52):44357-66.
3. Barth BM, Cabot MC, Kester M. Ceramide-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2011 Nov 1; 11(9):911-9.
4. Heakal Y, Kester M, Savage S. Vemurafenib (PLX4032): an orally available inhibitor of mutated BRAF for the treatment of metastaticmelanoma. Ann Pharmacother. 2011 Nov; 45(11):1399-405.
Hasso Weiland
Hasso Weiland
Technical Fellow, Materials Research
Alcoa Technical Center;
Adjunct Professor of Materials Science and Engineering,
The Pennsylvania State University
hasso.weiland@alcoa.com
- Recrystallization of aluminum alloys
- Mesoscale plasticity
- Phase transformations
- Alloy design
- Microstructure Characterization
- H. Weiland, Industrial Application of Recrystallization Control in Aluminum Products, Proc. 2nd Intl. Conf. on Recrystallization and Grain Growth, Materials Science Forum, 349-356, pp. 997-1002 (2004).
- Michael V. Glazov, Frédéric Barlat and Hasso Weiland, Continuum Physics of Phase and Defect Microstructures: Bridging the Gap Between Physical and Mechanical Metallurgy of Aluminum Alloys, Int. J. of Plasticity vol.20 No.3, pp. 363-402 (2004).
- Dierk Raabe, Michael Sachtleber, Hasso Weiland, Georg Scheele, Zisu Zhao, Grain-scale micromechanics of polycrystal surfaces during plastic straining, Acta Materialia, 2003, 51, 6, pp 1539-1560.
- H. Weiland and R. Becker, Analysis of Mesoscale Deformation Structures in Aluminum, Proc. 20th Riso Intern. Symp. on Mat. Sci.: Deformation-induced Microstructures. Editors: T. Leffers and O.P. Pederson, Riso Natl. Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark 1999, 213-224.
James Runt
Professor of Polymer Science
325-C Steidle Building
(814) 863-2749
runt@matse.psu.edu
James Runt is currently Professor of Polymer Science in the MatSE Department at Penn State. Dr. Runt is the author of >180 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. He is an editor of the ACS Professional Reference Series book: Dielectric Spectroscopy of Polymeric Materials: Fundamentals and Applications, and is a co-editor of the recent ACS Symposium Series book: Polymers for Energy Storage and Delivery: Polyelectrolytes for Batteries and Fuel Cells. He recently served on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Macromolecules, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Dielectrics Society. Dr. Runt received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Penn State, the latter in Solid State Science (with a concentration in polymeric materials).
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Broadband dielectric spectroscopy; polymer dynamics
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Ion-containing polymers: electrolytes, ionomers
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Segmented polyurethane and polyurea block copolymers
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Hydrogen bonded polymer blends and solutions
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Polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs)
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Crystalline polymers, from renewable resources
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Nanoscale structure and morphology
Our group’s research is focused on three principle areas:
- Ion and polymer dynamics and nanoscale structure of ‘single ion’ polymer conductors and more conventional ion-containing polymer systems (ionomers). The principle techniques used in these experimental investigations are broadband dielectric (= impedance) spectroscopy and X-ray scattering.
- Polyurethane and polyurea segmented block copolymers. This work focuses on the role of hard and soft segment chemistries on nanodomain phase separated morphology, unlike segment mixing (using principally small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy) and polymer dynamics. Polyurethane chemistries have been chosen to reflect those of interest as blood-contacting biomaterials, and polyurea chemistries of interest in protection against shock impact loading (traumatic brain injury).
- Investigation of segmental and local dynamics of an array of complex polymer systems including oriented elastomers and crystalline polymers, polymer blends and solutions exhibiting inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding, polyurethane block copolymers, biopolymers, and polymer nanocomposites.
Polymers in energy applications; Polyurethanes and polyureas; Li ion battery electrolytes; Ionomers; Polymers of intrinsic microporosity; Blood-contacting polymers in biomedical devices; Polymer blends/alloys; High performance polymers.
- T. Choi, D. Fragiadakis, C.M. Roland and J, Runt, Microstructure and Segmental Dynamics of Polyurea Under Uniaxial Deformation, Macromolecules 45, 3581 (2012).
- C. Chanthad, K.A. Masser, K. Xu, J. Runt, and Q. Wang, Synthesis of Triblock Copolymers Composed of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and Ionic Liquid Segments, J Mater Chem 22, 341 (2012).
- S. Liang, U.H. Choi, W. Liu, J. Runt and R.H. Colby, Synthesis and Lithium Ion Conduction of Polysiloxane-based Single-Ion Conductors Containing Novel Weak-Binding Borates, Chem Mater 24, 2316 (2012)
- A. Castagna, A. Pangon, T. Choi, G. Dillon, J. Runt, The Role of Soft Segment Molecular Weight on Microphase Separation and Dynamics in Bulk Polymerized Poly(tetramethylene oxide) Based Polyureas. Macromolecules 45, 8438 (2012).
- M. Grujicic, R. Yavari, J. S. Snipes, S. Ramaswami, J. Runt, J. Tarter, G. Dillon, Molecular-Level Computational Investigation of Shock-Wave Mitigation Capability of Polyurea, Journal of Materials Science 47, 1897 (2012).
- G.J. Tudryn, M.V. O’Reilly, S. Dou, D.R. King, K.I. Winey, J. Runt, R.H. Colby, Molecular Mobility and Cation Conduction in Polyether-ester-sulfonate Copolymer Ionomers, Macromolecules 45, 3962 (2012).
- A. G. McDermott, G. S. Larsen, P. M. Budd, C. M. Colina, and J. Runt, Structural Characterization of a Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity: X-Ray Scattering With Interpretation Enhanced by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Macromolecules 44, 14 (2011).
- A. Castagna, W. Wang, K.I. Winey, J. Runt, Structure and Dynamics of Zinc Neutralized Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers. Macromolecules.44, 2791 (2011).
- A. Castagna, D. Fragiadakis, H.K. Lee, T. Choi, and J. Runt, “The Role of Hard Segment Content on the Molecular Dynamics of Poly(tetramethylene oxide) Based Polyurethane Copolymers”, Macromolecules 44, 7831 (2011).
- A. Castagna, W. Wang, K.I. Winey, J. Runt, “Influence of Cation Type on Structure and Dynamics of Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers“, Macromolecules. 44, 5420 (2011)
- A. Castagna, W. Wang, K.I. Winey, J. Runt, Sulfonation Effects on the Structure and Dynamics of Sulfonated Polystyrene Copolymers. Macromolecules 43, 10498 (2010).
- K.A. Masser, H.Q. Zhao, P.C. Painter, J. Runt, Local Relaxation Behavior and Dynamic Fragility in Hydrogen Bonding Polymer Blends”. Macromolecules 43, 9004 (2010).
- H.K. Lee, D. Fragiadakis, D.J. Martin, A. Milne, J. Milne and J. Runt. Dynamics of Uniaxially Oriented Elastomers Using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy. Macromolecules 43, 3125 (2010).
- D. Fragiadakis and J. Runt. Microstructure and Dynamics of Semi-crystalline Poly(ethyleneoxide) - Poly(vinyl acetate) Blends. Macromolecules 43, 1028 (2010).
- M.M. Mok, K.A. Masser, J. Runt, J. M. Torkelson. Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy of Gradient Copolymers and Block Copolymers: Comparison of Breadths in Relaxation Time for Systems with Increasing Interphase. Macromolecules 43, 5740 (2010).
- K.A. Masser and J. Runt. Dynamics of Polymer Blends of a Strongly Interassociating Homopolymer with Poly(vinyl methylether) and Poly(2-vinyl pyridine). Macromolecules 43, 6414 (2010).
- T. Choi, J. Weksler, A. Padsalgikar and J. Runt, Microstructural Organization of Polydimethylsiloxane Soft Segment Polyurethanes Derived From a Single Macrodiol. Polymer 51, 4375 (2010).
- L.C. Xu, J. Runt and C.A. Siedlecki, Dynamics of Hydrated Polyurethane Biomaterials: Surface Microphase Restructuring, Protein Activity and Platelet Adhesion. Acta Biomaterialia 6, 1938 (2010).
- M. Grujicic, B. Pandurangan, A. E. King, J. Runt, J. Tarter and G. Dillon, Multi-Length Scale Modeling and Analysis of Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties in a Polyurea. J. Materials Sci. 46, 1767 (2010).
- D. Fragiadakis, S. Dou, R.H. Colby, and J. Runt. Molecular Mobility and Li+ Conduction in Polyester Copolymer Ionomers Based on Poly(ethylene oxide). J. Chem Phys 130, 064907 (2009).
- M.F. Lu, J. Runt and P.C. Painter. An Infrared Spectrocopic Study of a Polyester Copolymer Ionomer Based on Poly(ethylene oxide). Macromolecules 42, 6581 (2009).
- T. Choi, J. Weksler, A. Padsalgikar and J. Runt. Influence of Soft Segment Composition on Phase Separated Microstructure of Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Multiblock Polyurethane Copolymers. Polymer 50, 2320 (2009).
- X. Zhou, X. Zhao, Z. Suo, C. Zou, J. Runt, S. Liu, S.H. Zhang and Q.M. Zhang. Electrical Breakdown and Ultrahigh Electrical Energy Density in Poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) Copolymer. Appl Phys Lett 94, 162901 (2009).
- P. Atorngitjawat, R.J. Klein, A.G. McDermott, K.A. Masser, P.C. Painter and J. Runt. Dynamics of Concentrated Solutions of Low Molecular Weight Phenolics and Poly(2-vinylpyridine): Role of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding. Polymer 50, 2424 (2009).
- R. Hernandez, J. Weksler, A. Padsalgikar, T. Choi, E. Angelo, J.S. Lin, L.C. Xu, C.A. Siedlecki and J. Runt. A Comparison of Phase Organization of Model Segmented Polyurethanes With Different Intersegment Compatibilities, Macromolecules 41, 9767 (2008).
- D. Fragiadakis, S. Dou, R.H. Colby, and J. Runt. Molecular Mobility, Ion Mobility and Mobile Ion Concentration in Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Polyurethane Ionomers. Macromolecules 41, 5723 (2008).
Coray M. Colina
Corning Faculty Fellow;
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering;
Director, REU in Soft Materials
320 Steidle Building
(814) 865-3351
colina@matse.psu.edu
Research Group WebPage
Professor Colina obtained her Ph.D. at the North Carolina State University (2004) and her B.S. (1993) and M.Sc. (1994) at Simón Bolívar University. She was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been a faculty member at Simón Bolívar University and joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Pennsylvania State University as Associate Professor in July 2006. She won the 1999 Award for Outstanding Teaching Achievement (at the Assistant Professor level) at Simon Bolivar University, as well as several other awards from the Venezuelan's National Committees from the Development of Higher Education and for the Academic Advancement. She has several international collaborations and has presented the results of her research globally in more than 65 national and international conferences. She has published over 35 papers (including conference proceedings).
- Improvement of polymer-based processes by gaining a fundamental understanding of polymeric materials
- Human pathology associated with a number of diseases
- Behavior of materials under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure
- Fusion of materials and computational sciences
- Materials theory, modeling and computer simulation
Professor Colina utilizes the fusion of materials and computational sciences to obtain solutions to problems that were previously intractable. This fusion creates the opportunity to engineer materials for applications to separations, sensors, microelectronics, drug delivery, and biomaterials. Her group uses materials theory, modeling and computer simulation, with methods ranging from molecular-based equations of state, with a rigorous statistical mechanics basis, to high-performance computer modeling. Her group also has a synergetic relationship with experimentalists, and several national and international collaborative programs, such as: The University of Manchester and Cardiff University, U.K. Professor Colina’s current areas of research fall into three areas. The first area aims for understanding the structure of nanoporous polymers (NPs) for use in applications that exploit their surface chemistry that can range from catalysis, sensors and gas storage to separations. The second area is the improvement of polymer-based processes by gaining a fundamental understanding of polymeric materials. She is developing new methodologies for predicting the effect of specific interactions (self and cross-association) of polymeric materials and their environment. The third area is certain aspects of human pathology associated with a number of diseases, such as hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. She is studying the growth and dynamics of macromolecular aggregates when proteins dock in a highly orientated manner. Her research interests in this area span a wide range of applications, from structural biochemistry to biosensors.
- Emulsions
- Latexes and suspensions
- Environmentally-friendly polymeric surfactants
- Targeting and releasing drugs
- Biomedical applications
1. Castro-Marcano, F., Olivera-Fuentes, C. and C. M. Colina, “Joule-Thomson Inversion Curves aand Third Virial Coefficients for Pure Fluids from Molecular-Based Models,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 47 (22), 8894–8905 (2008).
2. Hoffman, M., Colina, C. M., Harger, A. G., Arepally, G., Pedersen, L. and D. M. Monroe, “Tissue Factor Around Dermal Vessels has Bound Factor VII(a) in the Absence of Injury,” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 5 (7),1403-1408 (2007).
3. Colina, C. M., Venkateswarlu, D., Duke, R., Perera, L. and L. G. Pedersen, “What Causes the Enhancement of Activity of FVIIa by Tissue factor?,” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 4 (12), 2726-2729 (2006).
4. Colina, C. M. and K. E. Gubbins, “Vapor-Liquid-Liquid Equilibria of n-Perfluoroalkanes/Carbon Dioxide/n-Alkanes Ternary Mixtures,” J. Phys. Chem. B. 109, 2899-2910 (2005).
5. Walker, T. A., Colina, C. M., Gubbins, K. E. and R. J. Spontak, “Thermodynamics of Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/Poly(ethylmethylsiloxane) (PDMS/PEMS) Blends in the Presence of High-Pressure CO2,” Macromolecules, 37, 2588-2595 (2004).
James H. Adair
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering
102 Steidle Building
(814) 863-6047
adair@matse.psu.edu
James H. Adair is a Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. His research and teaching interests include biological-nanoscale particulates and phenomena, colloid and interfacial chemistry, material chemistry, powder characterization, and ceramic and metal powder processing. Dr. Adair received his B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, all from the University of Florida. From 1981-1982, he was a Fulbright Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of Western Australia in the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and the Royal Perth Hospital where he studied the biophysical chemistry origin of pathological biomineralization including human kidney stone disease. Dr. Adair was a faculty member from 1990 to 1997 at the University of Florida. He has also held research positions at Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio and the Materials Research Laboratory at Penn State. Dr. Adair is the author or co-author of over 185 publications, twelve patents, and several copyrights on computer software. He has been chair or co-chair of multiple symposia related to materials chemistry and colloid and powder processing science at American Ceramic Society and American Chemical Society national and international meetings. He is also the co-editor of ten books including the Handbook of Characterization Techniques for the Solid-Solution Interface. Dr. Adair has memberships in the American Ceramic Society and the World Academy of Ceramics as a Fellow, American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society, and the New York Academy of Sciences. He was elected as an Academician in the Science Division of the World Academy of Ceramics in 2005. He is past Chair of the Basic Science Division of the American Ceramic Society and has served in various capacities in the American Ceramic Society at both the local and national level. He was named one of the International Men of Achievement in 1996. Dr. Adair has also received recognition for his inventions by Battelle Memorial Institute, Cabot Corporation, the University of Florida, and The Pennsylvania State University.
- Nanoscale materials and
- phenomena
- Electronic
- , optical and structural property determinations for designer particles and
- materials
- Colloid
- and interfacial
- chemistry
- Material
- synthesis and
- chemistry
- Powder
- characterization and powder processing
Underpinning our research are the concepts and principles embedded in colloidal and interfacial chemistry. Our objectives in student education at both the undergraduate and graduate level is to integrate a fundamental understanding of materials science with colloid and interfacial chemistry. There are currently two research thrusts in the Particulate Materials Center, both with an aim toward nanomedical applications. The underlying science for both technologies resides in our currently unique ability to colloidally manipulate and process nanoscale (sub-50nm) particulates for drug/bioimaging applications and producing bulk nanograin materials and devices with focus toward reducing the scale of surgical instruments to the sub-100 micron regime. To put the latter effort in perspective, a conventional heart biopsy instrument via catheterization has a scale of 5mm. The drug delivery systems consist of bioresorbable calcium phosphate, nanoporous silica or titania, or calcium phosphosilicate particulates into which medically active substances including drugs, genetic material, peptides, proteins, and fluorescent molecules have been captured. The 2 to 50 nm particulates have been suspended in suspension up to 20 weight percent with resistance to aggregation obtained for up to 36 months. We are utilizing the colloidal understanding of the nanocomposite particles for applications ranging from the delivery of medically active agents to the fabrication of nanograin components and devices. Typical grain sizes produced in our zirconia ceramics are 50 70 nanometers while some of the nanograin metals have grain sizes at the 20 to 40nm scale. Thus, our research directed toward nanocolloids is yielding benefits across a broad spectrum of medical applications.
- Medicine
- Biology
- Materials
- Electronics
- E.Ý. Altýnoðlu, T.J. Russin, J.M. Kaiser, B.M. Barth, P.C. Eklund, M. Kester, J.H. Adair, “Near-Infrared Emitting Fluorophore-Doped Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles for In Vivo Imaging of Human Breast Cancer,” ACS Nano, 2[10], 2075-2084, 2008.
- Mark Kester, Y. Heakal, T. Fox, A. Sharma, G.P. Robertson,T.T. Morgan, E.Ý. Altýnoðlu, A. Tabakovic´, M.R. Parette, S. Rouse, V. Ruiz-Velasco, and J.H. Adair Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposite Particles for In Vitro Imaging and Encapsulated Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells ,” NanoLetters, 8[12], 4116-4121 (2008)
- N.E. Antolino, G. Hayes, R. Kirkpatrick, C.L. Muhlstein, M.I. Frecker, and J.H. Adair, "Lost Mold Rapid Infiltration Forming of Mesoscale Ceramics: Part 1,Fabrication," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92[S1] S63-S69 (2009).
- N.E. Antolino, G. Hayes, M.I. Frecker, and J.H. Adair, " Lost Mold Rapid Infiltration Forming of Mesoscale Ceramics: Part 2, Geometry and Strength Improvements," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92[S1] S70-S78 (2009).
- H.S. Muddana, T.T. Morgan, J.H. Adair, P.J. Butler, “Photophysics of Cy3-Encapsulated Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles,” NanoLetters, 9[4] 1559-1566 (2009).
- D.G. Narehood, P.E. Sokol, S. Kishore, J.H. Adair, J. Nelson, H. Goto, P.C. Eklund, "X-ray Diffraction and Hydrogen Uptake of Carbon-Coated Ultra Small Pd Particles", "X-ray Diffraction and H-Storage in Ultra-Small Palladium Particles", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34, 952-960 (2009).
Erwin A. Vogler
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering
103 Steidle Building
(814) 863-7403
eav3@psu.edu
Dr Vogler's Group Website
Erwin A. Vogler is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering at The Pennsylvania State University where he is a member of the Materials Research Institute and the Huck Institute of Life Sciences. Prior to joining Penn State in 1999, he was employed as a Research Fellow/Project Manager at the Becton Dickinson Research Center located in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina from 1988 and Research Scientist at the Du Pont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware from 1980. He received a Ph. D. in Chemistry at Indiana University in 1979 (under supervision of Professor John Hayes, Nat. Acad. Sci.) where he also held a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Post-Doctoral Fellowship through 1980. His Ph. D. thesis work involved the application of physical organic chemistry to biogeochemical problems, developing methods to measure the intramolecular distribution of stable carbon isotopes within molecular fossils. His professional career has been henceforth characteristically interdisciplinary in nature.
Vogler’s interests in Biomaterials Surface Science developed early in his career at Du Pont where he applied electron spectroscopy to understand surface chemistry effects on bioadhesion. This experience expanded at Becton Dickinson Company where he managed a biomaterials surface science group focused on surface modification of polymers to improve material biocompatibility, especially as applied to blood-contacting medical devices. Erwin is an expert in the application of tensiometric (contact angle and wetting) techniques to biomaterials problems. A strong desire to teach and pursue fundamental problems in biomaterials drew Vogler back to academics. Penn State has provided a productive interdisciplinary research atmosphere where he has developed collaborative research programs in the biophysical chemistry of protein adsorption, blood coagulation, and orthopedic biomaterials. This latter program has blossomed into an application of bone tissue engineering to the study of fundamental problems in osteobiology and osteopathology, especially cancer in bone. Erwin has published more than 85 book chapters, major review articles, and scientific papers and holds 41 domestic/international patents. He serves on the editorial board of the journals Biomaterials and Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology. Vogler teaches graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses in Biomaterials Surface Science, enrolling about 100 students annually. He is the 2005 recipient of the Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and has twice served as Faculty Marshal for the College of Engineering, escorting Student Marshals from the Department of Bioengineering for whom he served as mentor. Undergraduate students working under Vogler’s supervision frequently publish in scientific journals and pursue distinguished post-graduate education at prestigious universities. Post-doctoral fellows and visiting scientists from Vogler’s group hold professorships at both domestic and international universities.
All aspects of biomaterials surface science, especially including:
- Bioadhesion
- Contact activation of blood coagulation
- Protein adsorption
- Orthopedic biomaterials
Research applies fundamental colloid science and surface thermodynamic principles to biochemical and biophysical problems related to the behavior of biology at hydrated material surfaces that include protein adsorption, cellular adhesion, blood contact phenomenon, and the biocompatibility of artificial materials in vitro and in vivo. We seek to identify and quantify structure–reactivity relationships that connect surface chemistry, morphology, and energetics to vicinal water solvent properties that profoundly influence biochemistry occurring near surfaces immersed in biological fluids. Characterization and modification of surfaces for biomedical and biotechnological applications, especially toward development of novel devices and processes, is an important part of the experimental program. We specialize in the measurement of water-wetting properties of materials using automated tensiometric (contact angle and wettability) methods, especially to quantify time-and-concentration-dependent adsorption from aqueous solutions. Research leads us to develop phenomenological/quasi-thermodynamic models of complex biological events occurring near surfaces, and to test these models against experiment. A particular emphasis is the coagulation of blood on biomaterials that is a serious barrier to development of cardiovascular devices such as pumps, stents, and vascular grafts. We seek to resolve how biomaterial surfaces activate blood coagulation and use this information to engineer materials with improved hemocompatibility. Research is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, involving faculty from the Materials Research Institute, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and the Penn State Cancer Institute. Cancer research focuses on breast cancer in bone.
Biomaterials is a new field of scientific endeavor compared to the established fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Materials science, which itself is a synergistic application of these established fields, is melded with clinical science and medical arts to form the broad field of biomaterials science. Many of the most primitive questions underlying use of materials in medicine remain unanswered: How do biological cells/tissues adhere to material surfaces and what is the role of substratum surface chemistry/energy in adhesion? Why does blood form clots in contact with all known materials and can this be controlled? What is the role of proteins and protein adsorption in controlling biocompatibility? How does water influence properties materials in contact with the wet world of biology? Can we design materials that will heal into the human body to serve as augments and replacements for failed body parts? How can materials enable a higher level of human and veterinary healthcare? These are a few of the important open questions that make biomaterials an exciting field of study – and solutions to these questions will have tremendous socioeconomic value.
Vogler’s research seeks to answer to the above questions by probing the fundamental biophysical basis of biocompatibility. The goal is formulation of structure-property relationships that relate material surface chemistry and surface energy to the biological response to these materials when implanted into different physiological compartments. In other words, basic rules guiding synthesis, selection, or modification of materials for different biomedical and biotechnical application are sought that will enable prospective design/optimization of biomaterials. Successful outcomes of this endeavor will broadly impact use of materials in all situations where artificial materials contact biology.
- Dhurjati R, Krishnan V, Shuman LA, Mastro AM, Vogler EA. Metastatic breast cancer cells colonize and degrade three-dimensional osteoblastic tissue in vitro. Clin Exp Metastasis 2008;25:741-752.
- Barnthip N, Noh H, Leibner E, Vogler EA. Volumetric Interpretation of Protein Adsorption: Kinetic Consequences of a Slowly-Concentrating Interphase. Biomaterials 2008;29:3062-3074.
- Dhurjati R, Liu X, Gay CV, Mastro AM, Vogler EA. Extended-Term Culture of Bone Cells in a Compartmentalized Bioreactor. Tissue Engineering 2006;12:3045-3054.
- R. Zhuo, R. Miller, K. M. Bussard, C. A. Siedlecki, and E. A. Vogler. 2005. Procoagulant stimulus processing by the intrinsic pathway of blood plasma coagulation. Biomaterials 26:2965–2973.
- J. Y. Lim, A. F. Taylor, Z. Li, E. A. Vogler, and H. J. Donahue. 2005. Integrin expression and osteopontin regulation in human fetal osteoblastic cells mediated by substratum surface characteristics. Tissue Engineering 11(1/2):19–29.
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