Current Research

Cell and gene therapies face unprecedented manufacturing challenges associated with efficient genetic modification of large numbers of cells outside of the body. We are leveraging the unique properties of viscoelastic fluids to stretch and temporarily permeabilize the plasma membrane of cells with extremely high uniformity and high throughput. We are investigating this approach for rapidly delivering CRISPR enzymes to hundreds of millions of cells, towards the goal of improving the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of next-generation cell & gene therapies. This work is supported by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease K99/R00 Award.

Red blood cells could potentially be used as natural capsules for extended-release drug delivery. Our team is developing high throughput technologies to load a broad range of therapeutic molecules into red blood cells. We are also investigating the impacts that the loading procedure has on red cell structure, function, and safety. This project is a part of the DARPA RBC Factory program.

We are developing new microfluidic and optical tools to study the biomechanics of cell membrane rupture, repair, and remodeling in response to extreme mechanical stress. Our long-term goal is to discover better ways to gently deliver molecules and nanoparticles into cells outside the body. However, this line of investigation could also contribute to fundamental understanding of mechanical injuries such as traumatic brain injury or blasts. This work is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences R35 MIRA.

We are combining synthetic biology and microfluidics to engineer biomolecular systems that undergo liquid-liquid phase separation. We are particularly interested in developing synthetic and cell-free systems that can improve or otherwise enable completely new biomanufacturing processes. This work is supported by Pitt BioForge.

We build microfluidic systems that take advantage of the unique mechanics of complex and viscoelastic fluids, which are relevant to biological specimens and bio-manufacturing advanced therapeutics. We are particularly interested in flow phenomena that emerge in 'extreme' flow regimes of high inertia and elasticity.