(6b) Functional Biomaterials for Smart Delivery of Therapeutics

Research Interests: The rising prevalence of biological therapeutics has created the need to develop safe and effective delivery strategies. Functional biomaterials that interact with their environment can be tuned for precise spatial, temporal, and stimuli-responsive release of therapeutic agents. My primary research interest is in the rational design and development of readily translatable responsive biomaterials.

M.Phil. Thesis: “Synthesis and Characterisation of Protein Microgels for Drug Delivery Applications”
Advisor: Prof. Tuomas Knowles, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK

My Master’s research project focused on the self-assembly of proteins into hierarchically structured materials. During this time, I developed expertise in microfluidic techniques, biophysical characterization, and protein fibrillation. Using droplet microfluidics, I fabricated protein microgels with localized tunable structures and properties, including supramolecular core-shell microgels for the co-delivery of two different classes of therapeutic agents. These protein microgels are comprised of natural materials and formed under mild conditions in aqueous solution, making them promising biomaterials for a variety of biomedical applications.

Ph.D. Thesis: “Approaches for Creating Smart Insulin Delivery Systems”
Advisor: Prof. Daniel Anderson, Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT

The focus of my PhD research is the application of smart biomaterials as glucose-responsive insulin delivery systems. To this end, I have been synthesizing pH-sensitive polymers and formulating them as nanoparticles with glucose-sensing enzymes. I have developed biomaterial-based systems that rapidly respond to changes in blood sugar with changes in insulin release rate in vivo as well as a novel therapeutic formulation that affords over 3 weeks of glycemic control in a diabetic mouse model with only two doses. I have simultaneously been developing biomaterial-insulin formulations based on noncovalent interactions and nontraditional glucose sensing moieties. Throughout my PhD, I have gained a variety of skills in chemical synthesis, formulation, in vitro characterization and release, and in vivo analyses using multiple mouse models. The self-regulated treatments that I have developed provide a promising advancement toward better glycemic control for diabetic patients.

As a future faculty member, I aim to study the interaction of responsive biomaterials with their environment to better understand their role in complex biological systems and inform the rational design of next-generation therapies. Based on the techniques developed during my PhD, I aim to create platform delivery systems that respond to various stimuli to treat a wide range of diseases with the goals of improving patient quality of life and advancing the field of healthcare.

Teaching Interests: Throughout my undergraduate and graduate career, I have sought out teaching opportunities with the goals of increasing my students’ intrinsic motivation and helping them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. As an undergraduate, I taught a seminar course for freshman engineering students and developed a day-long workshop to introduce underrepresented minority middle school students to engineering. During my PhD, I TAed a polymer laboratory class in which I developed a novel laboratory module on glucose-responsive polymers and was invited to return as a guest lecturer the following year. To build upon my teaching experiences, I completed the Kauffman Teaching Certificate Program at MIT, which included 16 hours of formal instruction on course development and best teaching practices.

With these experiences in addition to my training and research in chemical engineering, I am prepared and excited to teach core courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level including Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena, Fluid Mechanics, Separation Processes, and Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering. I am also passionate about teaching bioengineering-related subjects and aim to develop specialized courses in the areas of Biomaterials and Drug Delivery with a focus on the rational design of systems based on material properties and transport phenomena.

For up-to-date information on my research projects and directions, visit my website: lisarvolpatti.com