(3ij) Tissue-Interfacing Elastomeric Sensors and Ingestible Robotic Therapeutics for Enabling Precision Medicine

We live in a generation where the computational power available to us allows high quality patient data to support personalized and automated medical decision making, but current polymeric drug formulations are unable to achieve the necessary complex release patterns required for sensor-mediated, personalized medical treatments. I aim to transform the field of drug delivery by replacing non-specific, extended release systems with tissue interfacing therapeutic devices that collect and utilize physiological data to support the next generation of “Online Therapeutics”.

My goal is to develop closed-loop networks of implantable and ingestible elastomeric electronic sensors and drug-delivery devices that provide enhanced efficacy and biocompatibility by detecting and adapting to each patient’s changing chemical, mechanical, and electrical physiology. Studies characterizing the convective transport of drug loaded materials into tissue and the mechanics of how implanted materials interface with tissue will inform the development of online, bio-integrated therapeutics. I will utilize microfabrication, additive manufacturing, and polymer processing to build implantable closed-loop systems with previously unachievable characteristics, such as: 1) rapid and controlled drug delivery; 2) location invariant body-communication; and 3) physiologically integrated sensing.

Research Experience:

Currently, I am an NIH F32 Postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University working with Prof. Zhenan Bao in collaboration with the late Radiologist Prof. Sam Gambhir and Prof. Joe Desimone. My research involves utilizing stretchable, conductive materials to develop a conformal electronic sensor which continuously tracks tumor volume progression and provides feedback on the efficacy of prescribed cancer therapies.

As an NSF GRFP graduate fellow at MIT, I earned my Ph.D. in chemical engineering under the direction of Prof. Robert Langer and Prof. Giovanni Traverso. During this time, I developed ingestible capsules that systemically deliver macromolecules such as insulin with a comparable efficacy to subcutaneous injection. These devices work by autonomously localizing to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and inserting the drug directly into the tissue wall. With the help of Novo Nordisk, these pills will soon enter clinical trials. Moreover, I have taken several classes at the Harvard School of Public Health, collaborated closely with Prof. Jane Kim, and worked with industry to develop heath decision analysis models which elucidate how to develop novel, translational medical technologies that provide measurable clinical and monetary value.

Teaching Interests:

My classwork in graduate level Chemical Engineering at MIT and undergraduate level Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins has prepared me to learn the teaching skills required for any class in the Chemical Engineering curriculum at any level. I say “learn” how to teach because I plan to further my own education through teaching, and I hope to gain additional expertise on instruction from my fellow colleagues. Moreover, my pursuit of concentrated studies in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and public health will allow me to draw connections between my major and other departments, helping to provide color, collaboration, and purpose to the concepts I plan to teach. For example, I wrote many homework problems for the Mass Transfer class I TA’ed that mirrored the issues I experienced while developing my drug delivery pills. In addition to teaching the core curriculum, I hope to develop an elective class that pushes students to draw connections between subjects as they design medical devices with demonstrable impacts on public health.

Selected Publications

A Abramson, E Caffarel-Salvador, M Khang⁺, D Dellal⁺, D Silverstein⁺, Y Gao⁺, MR Frederiksen, A Vegge, F Hubalek, JJ Water, AV Friderichsen, J Fels, RK Kirk, C Cleveland, J Collins, S Tamang, A Hayward, T Landh, ST Buckley, N Roxhed, U Rahbek, R Langer, G Traverso, “An Ingestible Self-Orienting System for Oral Delivery of Macromolecules.” Science, 363.6427 (2019): 611-615.

A Abramson*, E Caffarel-Salvador*, V Soares, D Minahan, X Lu⁺, RY Tian⁺, D Dellal⁺, Y Gao⁺, S Kim⁺, J Wainer, J Collins, S Tamang, A Hayward, T Yoshitake, HC Lee, J Fujimoto, J Fels, MR Frederiksen, U Rahbek, N Roxhed, R Langer, G Traverso., “A luminal unfolding microneedle injector for oral delivery of macromolecules.” Nature Medicine, 25.10 (2019): 1512-1518.

A Abramson, D Dellal⁺, YL Kong, J Zhou, Y Gao⁺, J Collins, S Tamang, A Hayward, J Wainer, R McManus, MR Frederiksen, JJ Water, B Jensen, N Roxhed, R Langer, G Traverso, “Ingestible transiently anchoring electronics for microstimulation and conductive signaling.” Science Advances, 6.35 (2020).

A Abramson, F Halperin, J Kim, G Traverso, “Quantifying the value of orally delivered biologic therapies: A cost-effectiveness analysis of oral semaglutide.” Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 108.9 (2019): 3138-3145.

E Caffarel-Salvador*, A Abramson*, R Langer, G Traverso, “Oral delivery of biologics using drug-device combinations.” Current opinion in pharmacology 36 (2017): 8-13.

C Steiger, A Abramson, P Nadeau, A Chandrakasan, R Langer, G Traverso, “Ingestible electronics for diagnostics and therapy.” Nature Reviews Materials 4.2 (2019): 83-98.

A Abramson, A Mermin-Bunnell⁺, C Escarmant⁺, Z Bao. “Increasing the clinical value of flexible electronic medical devices by utilizing health decision analyses.” (In Review).

(*Indicates Co-first Author, ⁺Indicates Undergraduate Mentee)