Nanobiotechnology

The unique electromagnetic properties of nanomaterials have already enabled significant advances in molecular detection, long term cellular tracking, and non-invasive imaging of disease in vivo. In collaboration with Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti (Burnham Instiute), our laboratory has shown that CdSe/ZnS ‘ quantum dots' can be functionalized to target tumors in vivo and be actively trafficked to intracellular organelles by living cells. Furthermore, using in vitro liver tissue models, we have explored the role of nanoparticle coatings in mitigating their potential cytotoxicity . In collaboration with Dr. Michael Sailor (Chemistry, UCSD), we have explored biomedical applications of nanoporous crystalline silicon. Together, we have explored the biocompatibility of this material with mammalian cells to develop a ‘smart petri dish,' the utility of encoded nanoporous silicon fragments for biomolecular screening, and its function as a template for polymer replicas that can deliver drugs while being monitored remotely. We are actively pursuing both areas of research to develop nanomaterial platforms for biomedical applications.