Areas of Research:

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.