Our research theme is “biotransport phenomana,” which are trasnport processes of matters, momentum, energy and even information through biological systems. We measure, model and understand these processes to engineer new biotechnology and biomaterials. Current research projects include drug and nanoparticle transport in the tumor microenvironment, biomimetic disease models of pancreatic cancer and blood-brain interface for …
Our recent paper on the Journal Lab on a Chip is highlighted as the Journal Cover article. The paper regards creation of functional pancreatic acinus model using reprogrammed cancer cells by PTF1a induction. The artwork is developed by Hye-ran.
Hye-ran and Altug’s paper in Lab on a Chip is featured as a Back Cover. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/lc/d0lc90115f#!divAbstract
Time-lapsed micrographs of invasion of mouse pancreatic cancer cells from an epithelial duct to the surrounding collagen matrix. This work is published in Bradney et al (2020) Small. This confocal micrograph illustrates the sprouts of invading pancreatic cancer cells are multi-cellular structures rather than morphological changes of a single cell. This image is also published …
Our microscopy image in our recent article in the Journal of Royal Society Interface is highlighted as “Seven Stunning Cell Images from 2017.” by TechnologyNetworks.com
This videoclip shows the deformation of collagen matrix (left, bright fields) and migration of fibroblasts on the matrix (right, fluorescence micrographs). This videoclip illustrate that, when a large number of fibroblasts migrate all together (i.e., en masse), cells can collectively deform the matrices. Fibroblasts are seeded on the left half of each image. The matrix …
Altug’s 3D drawing of nanoparticle transport through extracellular matrix from our recent article at WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology is selected as the Cover Image of the Issue.
Biological tissues and engineered biomaterials consist of cell, porous extracellular matrix, and interstitial fluid filling the pores of the matrix. Complex and highly dynamic interactions among these regulate various physiological and pathological processes in stromal tissues such as wound healing and cancer metastasis. We are both experimentally and theoretically studying these biophysical interactions.
Chemotherapeutic drugs and drug delivery systems have to overcome complex transport barriers to reach targeted cancer cells. These barriers are posed by chaotic and hostile tumor microenvironment. We study the transport physics of small molecule drugs and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems at tumor microenvironment.
Advance of cancer treatment and personalized medicine depends on rapid and effective drug screening. In vitro assays currently used for this purpose can be convenient and high-throughput but the results are often not indicative of in vivo or clinical outcomes due to lack of culture settings specific to tumor microenvironment. Although a small animal model …