Small But Mighty: Nanoparticles Can Deliver More Types of Drugs, More Safely
WID researcher Shaoqin Sarah Gong is working to more safely deliver a variety of drugs to treat cancer, heart disease and even blindness.
Tag: nanotechnology
Advances in nanotechnology have important implications for tissue engineering, gene editing, precision medicine, and more.
For instance, WID scientists are advancing the science and engineering of manufacturing scaffolds with the aid of nanotechnology. These scaffolds will give cells a place to adhere while dividing, communicating, absorbing nutrients, and disposing of waste. The scaffolds will also provide a platform for various drug delivery modes.
All-in-One Repair Kit Makes CRISPR Gene Editing More Precise
Error rates as high as 50 percent are a problem when the goal is to correct typos in the DNA that cause genetic disease. Now, a team of researchers led by WID’s Kris Saha has made the fix less mistake-prone.
Randolph Ashton Continues Research into Causes of Lou Gehrig’s Disease
In August 2017, Randolph Ashton received almost $800,000 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of NIH, to continue a five-year research study of Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), after successfully completing its first phase.
UW-Madison to be Partner in Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies
The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $20 million to a consortium of universities to support a new engineering research center that will develop transformative tools and technologies for the consistent, scalable, and low-cost production of high-quality living therapeutic cells. Several WID investigators are collaborators on the project.
Wendy Crone
Karen Thompson Medhi Professor
Solid mechanics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology
Sridharan Lab
The main scientific focus of the lab is in defining how the epigenome controls cell identity. We want to know how non-genetic information controls functional specialization of a cell and use this knowledge to direct efficient conversion of desired cell types with the ultimate goal of improving stem cell based therapy.
Saha Human Stem Cell Engineering Lab
By bringing together stem cell biology, genome engineering, and biomaterials expertise, the Saha lab generates new tools for use with human-induced pluripotent stem cells to ask unique questions about human biology and disease.
Gong Lab
Prof. Gong’s research group focuses on the design, synthesis/fabrication, and characterization of novel materials and devices. Many of their ongoing projects are multidisciplinary, bridging engineering with materials science, chemistry, and life sciences. Some of their efforts include multifunctional drug/agent nanocarriers for the combined delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents which can be used to treat and diagnose various types of diseases. Her group also studies multifunctional polymer nanocomposites for various applications including flexible electronics, supercapacitors, and nanogenerators.
Turng Lab
The Turng lab works with injection molding and innovative plastics manufacturing processes (such as microcellular injection molding / MuCell process), pioneering materials (biobased polymers, nanocomposites, electro-active polymers (EAPs), etc.), and intelligent modeling and process control (computer-aided engineering (CAE), numerical simulation, design and process optimization, intelligent injection molding control, and Internet-based collaboration) to advance the science and manufacturing techniques surrounding tissue engineering scaffolds.
Ashton Group: Stem Cell Bioprocessing and Regenerative Biomaterials Lab
The Ashton Group is working to understand, model, and recapitulate in vitro the instructive signals utilized by human embryos to pattern tissue-specific differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, and apply this knowledge towards the rational design of tissue engineered scaffolds and other regenerative therapeutic strategies.
Lih-Sheng (Tom) Turng
Kuo K. and Cindy F. Wang Professor, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
Bridging engineering and life sciences for manufacturing of cell-/tissue-based therapeutic products
Shaoqin (Sarah) Gong
Kellett Mid-Career Award 2018-2023
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
Creating nanomedicines and nanomaterials for human health and sustainable energy applications.
Krishanu Saha
Associate Professor
Human cell engineering including CRISPR gene editing and epigenetic reprogramming; science & society
Grant Funds Creation of Spinal Tissue from Scratch in UW-Madison Lab
WKOW Channel 27 highlights Randolph Ashton’s NSF grant to create blank model for spinal cells.
Watching gene editing at work to develop precision therapies
Kris Saha illuminates the inner workings of gene editing.
Professor Lih-Sheng (Tom) Turng: Advancing Microcellular Polymers
Thanks to the research of Professor Lih-Sheng (Tom) Turng, plastics can have applications in products ranging from eyeglass lenses to engineered tissues.
UW-Madison study: ‘Tissue chips’ could screen drugs, chemicals
WID scientists David Page and Bill Murphy were part of a study using stem cells to create model neural tissues to screen for toxicity.
Tools for Discovery: Max Salick
Tools for Discovery is a monthly profile series that inspects the computer programs, gadgets and methods behind WID’s ideas and discoveries.
“Greener” Aerogel Technology Holds Potential for Oil and Chemical Clean-Up
A WID team examines greener materials to offer a cheaper and more sustainable way to absorb oil from water.