Our lab has three ongoing themes:
- Physics of polymer electrospinning: We investigate polymer electrospinning via direct in situ visualization of the cone/jet to gain insights into parameters that influence jet initiation/stretching. Here, we are interested in using experimental and theoretical tools to understand the complex interplay between several competing forces that dictate cone/jet dynamics and eventually control fiber formation. We use the insights gained from such investigations to develop fibrous meshes with predictable diameter and specific mesh properties.
- Design of drug carriers and formulations: We adopt a fundamental approach to understanding the roles of matrix properties that govern the release of small molecule hydrophobic drugs from polymeric carriers. We build upon this knowledge to design vehicles that exhibit controlled and sustained release of immunomodulatory drugs, with special emphasis on zero-order kinetics. A growing interest in our group is the development of amorphous formulations prepared using polymeric carriers, wherein we are interested in uncovering rules governing the physico-chemical stability of such systems.
- Combination therapy for immunomodulation: We engineer new technologies to process polymers for creating biomaterial composites that can simultaneously deliver multiple drugs and/or cytokines while retaining independent control over release of the individual therapeutics and preserving biological functionality. Such composites offer spatio-temporally controlled release of multiple therapeutics for combination therapy. In close collaboration with biologists, we deploy such materials to target dysfunctional immune responses associated with degenerative diseases.