Break

Research Interests: Preterm birth (PTB, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation) is the leading cause of neonatal and childhood mortality worldwide and currently has no cure. Inflammation is directly implicated in the etiology of PTB with a growing body of evidence for the role of the vaginal microbiome. Whereas healthy vaginal communities are dominated by a single strain of Lactobacillus, high-risk microbial communities are characterized by high taxonomic diversity and an abundance of anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobiluncus mulieris. However, the mechanistic contributions of these commensal bacteria remain unknown. In a novel paradigm, we propose that bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) are key communicators between microbes and the host epithelium and immune system. We demonstrate that bEVs are produced from each microbe, carry important proteomic cargo, and can internalize within cervical and vaginal epithelial cells. Anaerobe-derived bEVs, but not Lactobacillus bEVs, induce an inflammatory response from local epithelial and immune cells. In future work, we will explore the natural therapeutic properties of Lactobacillus bEVs and engineer bEVs as a novel platform for drug delivery in the reproductive tract.

PTB is a significant risk factor for several neurobehavioral disorders including schizophrenia, autism, and learning disabilities. In a second project, we designed nanocarriers for drug delivery to the injured neonatal brain. The antioxidant enzyme catalase can alleviate disease-associated oxidative stress but is vulnerable to protease degradation in the bloodstream. Polymeric nanoparticles (size <200 nm) provide a non-invasive strategy for the delivery of enzymatic cargo. Nanoparticles made of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) can be designed for uptake across the blood-brain barrier and diffusion through the brain's extracellular matrix when coated with polysorbate 80 (P80) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), respectively. We developed a novel technique for the loading of catalase in PLGA-PEG nanoparticles and demonstrated the efficacy of catalase/PLGA-PEG/P80 nanoparticles in a rat model of neonatal brain injury. In future work, we will optimize the nanoparticle platform for in utero delivery and evaluate various cargo against fetal neuroinflammation. Successful completion of this research program will result in novel treatment paradigms for PTB and perinatal brain injuries with potential to rescue decades of disease burden in ex-preterm survivors.

It is my professional and personal mission to increase the representation of women and all marginalized populations in science, and more importantly, to foster their sense of belonging in science. Serving as mentor can occur in a variety of settings, ranging from the classroom, the lab, as well as the next phase of their own independent career. Throughout my academic career, I have actively sought out opportunities to teach future scientists and engineers in various roles including: teaching assistant, guest lecturer, research mentor, and in outreach activities for my institution, the NSF, and NIH. I have also had the privilege of mentoring more than 16 trainees in the laboratory, which has shaped myself both as a researcher and educator and has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my academic career to date.

Teaching interests: I am interested and qualified in teaching both Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering courses (undergraduate and graduate level) in the areas of biomaterials, reaction kinetics, transport phenomena, and thermodynamics. Additionally, I am excited to create a graduate course in the emerging fields of Molecular Engineering, Drug Delivery, and Nanomedicine.