(2ca) Enabling and Sensing Technologies for Healthcare, Environmental Monitoring, and Disease Control

The design and development of advanced fabrication, chemical sensing and enabling technologies (CSET) are pivotal to improve clinical diagnostics and treatment, to develop personalized medication, to understand the airborne transmission of infectious diseases, and to identify the composition of particles and monitor air and water qualities. My work integrates the development of new micro/nano-fabrication technologies to tackle these challenges by creating multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, biology, chemistry. As faculty, I will leverage my experience with manipulating the epithelial and endothelial barriers of the skin and eye (external body surface) and target fungal keratitis, develop vaccination methods, and delivery drugs to the skin, through the design of therapeutic contact lenses (TCLs), microneedles, and transdermal patches. In my research on analytical chemistry and chemical sensing, I will apply my expertise in developing cost-effective solutions using silicone wristbands, earrings, and rings to monitor the health of individuals. Specifically, I will focus on creating screening tools to quickly identify lipids, and metabolites (metabolome) present in sweat and on the external surface of the body. This information can be used to assess how occupational and environmental factors, including those present in the air (exposome), may impact an individual's health. Therefore, CSET forms an important and key asset in targeted drug delivery and health-monitoring technologies, while pricing and miniaturization rely on improved fabrication processes.

Research Experience

My academic career path has been a blend of various fields in science and engineering, resulting in a multidisciplinary training that spans chemistry, polymer science, and bioengineering. Throughout my career, I have worked on projects that required close collaborations with scientists in the area such as biomaterials, electrical engineering, mass spectrometry, chemical detections, wireless implants, and conductive polymers. These collaborations have provided me with invaluable and versatile experience in several research areas, including material science, biology, medicine, biochemistry, environmental health, and engineering design. To become proficient in research and lead team, I have undergone various training program, such as:

1) Electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, environmental health, and microdroplet chemistry in Chemistry Department (Stanford University): Mentored by Richard N. Zare

2) Targeted drug delivery and biomaterials in the School Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences (Georgia Tech): Advised by Mark R. Prausnitz

3) Extrusion, antimicrobial scaffolds, and process-structure-property (PSP) relationships in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department (CWRU): Advised by Gary E. Wnek

Selected Publications (Published: 18 total, 7 first-author, 3 Co-first authors)

1. Mofidfar M., Song X., Kelly J.T., Rubenstein M.H., Zare R.N., (2023) “Silicone wristband spray ionization mass spectrometry for combined exposome and metabolome profiling”, Israel Journal of Chemistry (IF: 3.36), e202200116.
2. ^‡Wang M.L., ^‡Chamberlayne C.F., ^‡Xu H., ^‡Mofidfar M., Baltsavias S., Annes J.P., Zare R.N., Arbabian A., (2022) “On-demand electrochemically controlled compound release from an ultrasonically powered implant”, RSC Advances (IF: 4.03), 12, 23337-23345. (^‡ shows equal contribution)
3. ^‡Mehrgardi, M., ^‡Mofidfar, M., Zare, R., (2022) “Sprayed Water Microdroplets Are Able to Generate Hydrogen Peroxide Spontaneously”, Journal of the American Chemical Society (IF: 15.42), 144, 17, 7606–7609. (^‡ shows equal contribution)
4. Mofidfar M., Abdi B., Ahadian S., Mostafavi E., Desai T. A., Abbasi F., Sun Y., Manche E. E., Ta C. N., Flowers C. W. (2021), “Drug delivery to the anterior segment of the eye: a review of current and future treatment strategies”, International Journal of Pharmaceutics (IF: 5.9).
5. Mofidfar M., Farrell L. O., Prausnitz M. R. (2019), “Pharmaceutical Jewelry: Earring Patch for Transdermal Delivery of Contraceptive Hormone”, Journal of Controlled Release (IF: 11.5), 301: 140-145.
6. Mofidfar M., Prausnitz M. R. (2019), “Electrospun Transdermal Patches for Contraceptive Hormone Delivery”, Current Drug Delivery (IF: 3.7), 16(6): 577-583.
7. Mofidfar M., Kim E. S., Larkin E. L., Long L., Jennings W. D., Ahadian S., Pearlman e., Ghannoum M. A., Wnek G. E. (2019), “Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Containing Crosslinked Poly(Acrylic Acid) Fibers”, Journal of Micromachines (IF: 3.5), 10 (12): 829.
8. Mofidfar M., Wang J., Long L., Hager L. C., Vareechon C., Pearlman E., Baer E., Ghannoum M., Wnek G. E. (2017), “Polymeric Nanofiber/Antifungal Formulations Using a Novel Co-extrusion Approach”, AAPS PharmSciTech (IF: 4.0), 18(6): 1917-1924.

Patent

Baer E., Wnek G. E., Mofidfar M. Wang J. (2020), “Polymer Fiber Scaffolds and Uses Thereof”, US Patent 10751293 B2.

Selected Awards

1. Best UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Poster Award, 6^th annual workshop on “Micro- and Nanotechnologies for Medicine: Emerging Frontiers and Applications, 2018
2. Best Poster Award, 5^th Annual Georgia Tech Postdoctoral Research Symposium, 2018
3. Outstanding Graduate Students Award, CLiPS National Science Foundation's Science & Technology Center, 2016
4. Best Graduate Grant Proposal, NSF STC Professional Development Workshop, Purdue University, 2015

Teaching Interests

As a polymer and chemical engineer, I am excited and qualified to teach core courses in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, polymer processing, and transport phenomena at all levels according to departmental needs. Based on my expertise and research experience, I also look forward to developing elective courses in chemistry, biomaterials, polymer science, and physical chemistry. My teaching extends beyond the classroom into the laboratory, and I aim to engage students and postdoctoral researchers in my group to participate in interdisciplinary research approach toward chemical and biomedical engineering, by drawing expertise in material and polymer analysis, chemistry, polymer science, and bioengineering.

Teaching Experience

Fluid Mechanics, Four Semesters

• Topics included: Fluid properties in perspective, Fluid statics, Conservation principles, Pipe flow, Internal flow applications, Pumps and compressors, External flow, Fluid-solid separations by free setting, Flow in porous media, Fluidization and sedimentation.

Thermodynamics I, Two Semesters

• Topics included: The first law of thermodynamics and energy, Energy conversion and general energy analysis, Volumetric properties of pure substances, Energy analysis of closed systems, Mass and energy analysis of control volumes, The second law of thermodynamics, Thermodynamic properties of fluids, Entropy, A measure of work potential, Application of thermodynamics to flow processes.