Nanomedicine and bio-nanotechnology

Ongoing Research Projects

Refine functionalization and delivery of nanoparticles for targeting of drugs, genes, and energy modalities,
Study and model the dynamics of tumor targeted delivery processes that are currently the limiting factors for therapeutic and diagnostic agents,
Multi-functional magnetic nanoparticles for diagnostic sensing and imaging, and magnetic hyperthermia,
Metal nanoparticles for new modalities of electromagnetic thermal therapy,
Quantitative modeling of nanoparticle cellular transport,
Multi-functional nanoparticles as cellular biosensors,
Magnetic nanoparticles for biocontrol,
Nanoparticles as probes of DNA elasto-dynamics,
Nanospheres for mitochondria-specific drug and DNA delivery,
Liposome nanocarriers for drug delivery,
Gd nanoparticles for MRI and Neutron Capture Therapy,
Functionalized nanoparticles for anti-angiogenesis studies,
Nanoparticles for image guided tumor ablation and combination chemo, radiation and electromagnetic thermal therapies by using single or combination drug therapy and by combining drug and energy delivery for maximum therapeutic benefit with lowest toxicity.

Identify proteins that can be used as motors in nano / micro machines and mechanisms, with a focus on the mechanical properties of viral proteins that open or close depending on the pH level of the environment. From various viral proteins, a new, powerful, linear biomolecular actuator type, called the Viral Protein Linear (VPL) motor, will be produced.
Develop dynamic models and realistic simulations / animations to accurately predict the performance of the proposed VPL motors.
Perform a series of biomolecular experiments to demonstrate the validity of the proposed concept of VPL motors.
Study the interface of the proposed protein motors with other biomolecular components such as DNA joints and carbon-nanotube rigid links so that complex, multi-degree of freedom machines and robots powered by the VPL motors are formed.