Roles
Research Assistant Professor of Surgery
-
Research Interests
Nanotechnology uses nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm to deliver drugs directly to the target area. As a Research Professor at the Diabetes Research Institute, my main goal is advancing beta-cell replacement therapies using nanotechnologies, extending the applicability of pancreatic islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes (T1D). To do so, I developed customizable nanoparticles, named Drug-Integrating-Amphiphilic-Nano-Assemblies (DIANA), specially designed and synthesized in my laboratory to carry drugs in a controlled and safe manner, enhancing their efficacy and eliminating side effects. By adjusting the DIANA chemical properties, we can fine-tune the type of medication and the dose that can be loaded and carried and how and where in the body each medication is released by our nanoparticles. Therefore, my laboratory is at the forefront of developing nanotechnologies for targeted immunotherapies. These therapies aim to shield the transplanted cells from the host immune response, enhancing their survival without the need for systemic immunosuppression. I also combine nanotechnology with other technologies, such as stem cell-based therapy and gene therapy, and I am involved in many projects related to immunoregulation for T1D, and several collaborations. With a focus on diabetes, my main desire is to expand the DIANA application to the most severe diseases of our age (e.g., cancer). My research work is reported in more than 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 3 patents, and 1 patent application in the field of nanomedicine. -
Publications
Disclaimer: The information presented in this section has been consolidated using AI and machine learning technologies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies, please use this link to inform our data team. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us improve the quality of our content.