AIChE 2014
04005: Meet the Faculty Candidate

Molecular Engineering for Regenerative Medicine

Eun Ji Chung
Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
When designing bioactive materials to direct desired outcomes for regenerative medicine, the appropriate structural and functional properties at all relevant hierarchical levelsâ??including tissue, cellular, and molecular scalesâ??must be incorporated. Furthermore, just as important is the intentional design of the biomaterial to be practical for the clinical setting, complementing available surgical techniques and emerging healthcare technology, while remaining safe and cost-effective.
To understand the biological and engineering criteria for multi-dimensional biomaterials design, my research-to-date has utilized biodegradable polymers and self-assembling assemblies for tissue engineering and theranostic applications. My graduate research at Northwestern University under the direction of Prof. Guillermo Ameer in the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering encompassed developing citric acid-based nanocomposites for orthopaedic tissues. Specifically, I investigated materials parameters that are optimal for stem cell differentiation and in vivo bone and ligament regeneration, and developed a novel method termed â??low pressure foamingâ? to fabricate porous scaffolds. Upon receiving the IBNAM- Baxter Early Career Award, I continued my research at Northwestern as a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Ramille Shahâ??s lab in the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, where I fabricated in situ-forming, self-assembling structures derived from natural extracellular matrix proteins. Specifically, I focused on novel, collagen-hyaluronic acid membranes to act as bioactive coatings for drug delivery applications that can also complement minimally-invasive procedures. Moreover, I elucidated that the mechanism of self- assembly involved electrostatic interactions and osmotic pressure imbalances. To further diversity my experience in self-assembly and to integrate the rational design of nanoparticles for theranostic applications, I joined Dr. Matthew Tirrellâ??s group at the Institute for Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago as a recipient of the American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship. My current research aims to develop peptide amphiphile micelles to target, diagnose, and treat a variety of diseases including atherosclerosis and cancer.
Building on my previous work and harnessing my biomolecular engineering background, I plan to establish an independent research program that aims to apply novel biomaterials strategies that addresses the limitations of medical solutions and laboratory models to enhance tissue regeneration and
generate optimal clinical outcomes. Four areas of interest that I plan to pursue include: 1) Molecular
assemblies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, 2) Multifunctional, biomimetic polymers for biomedical applications, 3) Novel sources of stem cells for regenerative medicine, and 4) Design of in vitro models of disease.
Selected Publications (14 total):
1. Chung, E.*, Cheng, Y.*, Morshed, R., Nord, K., Han, Y., Wegscheid, M., Wainwright, D.A., Lesniak, M.S., Tirrell, M.V. Peptide amphiphile micelles for targeting glioblastomas. Biomaterials 35(4): 1249-56 (2014).
2. Chung, E., Jakus, A.E., and Shah, R.N. In situ forming collagen-hyaluronic acid membrane structures: Mechanism of self-assembly and applications in regenerative medicine. Acta Biomaterialia 9(2): 5153-
5161 (2013).
3. Chung, E., Sugimoto, M., Koh, J., Ameer, G.A. Low pressure foaming: A novel method for the fabrication of porous scaffolds for tissue engineering. Cover of Tissue Engineering Part C 18(2): 113-121 (2012).
4. Serrano, M.C.*, Chung, E.*, Ameer, G.A. Advances and applications of biodegradable elastomers in regenerative medicine. Advanced Functional Materials 20(2): 192-208 (2010).
5. Wang, J., Singh, C., Liu, L., Irwin, R., Chen, S., Chung, E., Thompson, R., Brinton, R. Allopregnanolone reverses neurogenic and cognitive deficits in mouse model of Alzheimerâ??s disease. PNAS 107(14): 6498-6503 (2010).

*These authors contributed equally.

For more information, please visit: http://tirrell.ime.uchicago.edu/People/Eunji_Chung.html