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Chemistry & Chemical Biology / New Brunswick |
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Kathryn Uhrich Professor B.S. 1986, University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND) Ph.D. 1992, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) Postdoctoral Research Fellow 1992, Bell Laboratories Postdoctoral Research Fellow 1993-95, MIT |
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Research
Summary
The focus in my laboratory is on the synthesis and characterization of biocompatible polymers for medical and dental applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. Our polymers are designed to degrade by incorporating ester, anhydride and/or amide bonds into the polymer backbone - bonds that can be biodegraded by enzymes or hydrolyzed in the aqueous milieu of the body. Biocompatibility is then measured in terms of the biological response to the polymers as well as to the polymers' degradation products.Polymeric Micelles
Polymeric micelles are nanocarriers that water-solubilize hydrophobic drug molecules. These polymers were designed with a branched, hydrophobic interior (core) and hydrophilic exterior (shell) to maintain physical properties characteristic of conventional micelles, but with enhanced thermodynamic stability.Two general classes of nanoscale polymeric micelles are under investigation: amphiphilic starlike macromolecules (ASMs) and amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules (AScMs). These two systems are chemically similar, but structurally different; yet both systems facilitate drug transport. ASMs behave as unimolecular micelles, whereas AScMs must first aggregate to form micellar structures.
Micropatterns
Micron-sized striped patterns of protein on biocompatible polymeric substrates that can mimic cues to promote neuron growth. While both physical and chemical cues direct regrowth in vivo, these cues are not always enough to bridge the gap caused by injury and restore function to the nerve (target). Neuronal alignment is evaluated as a function of polymer (e.g., PMMA, PLAGA, and polystyrene), protein ink (e.g., laminin and BSA), and pattern spacings. Currently, we are developing alternate patterning methods to generate nanoscale features and protein gradients.
PolymerDrugs
PolymerDrugs, such as PolyAspirin, are novel polyanhydrides that hydrolytically degrade into salicylic acid (or related drug molecules), which can locally reduce post-operative inflammation and pain. The characterization of these poly(anhydride-esters) is performed in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the effects of the polymer's degradation on healthy tissue.In addition to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, several other drug classes are investigated, including antiseptics, antiproliferatives, and antibiotics.
Awards & Honors
- Finalist, Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, New York Academy of Sciences, 2007
- ACS Buck-Whitney Award, 2005
- Outstanding Scientist - New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, 2004
- Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award: Medical/Technology Transfer - New Jersey R&D Council, 2003
- Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, 2003
Representative Publications
Steege, KE; Wang, J; Uhrich, KE and Castner, EW “Local Polarity and Microviscosity in the Hydrophobic Cores of Amphiphilic Star-like Macromolecules and Amphiphilic Scorpion-like Macromolecules”, Macromolecules, 40 3739-3748 (2007).
Wang, J; Tian, L, Argenti, A and Uhrich, KE “Nanoscale Amphiphilic Star-like Macromolecules with Carboxy-, Methoxy- and Amine-terminated Chain Ends”, J Bioactive Compat Polym, 21, 297-313 (2006).
Chnari, E; Nikitczuk, JS; Wang, J; Uhrich, KE and Moghe, PV "Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles for Receptor-targeted Blockage of Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein Uptake and Artherogenesis in Macrophages", Biomacromolecules, 7 (7) 1796-1805 (2006).
Tao, L and Uhrich, KE “Novel Amphiphilic Macromolecules and Their In Vitro Characterization as Stabilized Micellar Drug Delivery Systems” , J. Colloid Interfac. Sci., 298 (1) 102-110 (2006).
Micropatterns
Song, MJ and Uhrich, KE “Optimal micropattern dimensions to enhance neurite outgrowth rates, lengths and orientations”, Ann. Biomed. Eng., in press.
Langowski, BA and Uhrich, KE “Microscale Plasma Initiated Patterning (mPIP)”, Langmuir, 21, 10509-10514 (2005).
Langowski, BA and Uhrich, KE “Oxygen Plasma-Treatment Effects on Si Transfer”, Langmuir, 21 (14) 6366-72 (2005).
Schmalenberg, KE and Uhrich, KE “Micropatterned Polymer Substrates Control Alignment of Proliferating Schwann Cells to Direct Neuronal Regeneration”, Biomaterials, 26 (12) 1423-1430 (2005).
PolymerDrugs
Reynolds, MA; Prudencio, A; Aichelmann-Reidy, ME, Woodward, K; and Uhrich, KE “Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)-derived Poly(anhydride-esters) in Bone and Periodontal Regeneration”, Curr. Drug Delivery, 4(3), 233-239 (2007).
Yeagy, B; Prudencio, A; Schmeltzer, RC; Uhrich, KE and Cook, TJ “Characterization and In Vitro Degradation of Microspheres Based on Novel Salicylate Poly(anhydride-esters)”, J. Microencapsulation, 23 (6) 643-653 (2006).
Schmeltzer, R; and Uhrich, KE "Synthesis and characterization of antiseptic-based poly(anhydride-esters)”, Polym. Bull., 57 (3) 281-291 (2006).
Bryers, JD; Jarvis, R; Lebo, J; Prudencio, A; Kyriakides, TR and Uhrich, KE “Biodegradation of Poly(anhydride-esters) into Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Their Effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms in vitro and on the Foreign Body Response in vivo”, Biomaterials, 27 (29) 5039-5048 (2006).
Schmeltzer, R; and Uhrich, KE "Synthesis and Characterization of Salicylic Acid-based Poly(anhydride-ester) Copolymers” , J. Bioactive Compat. Polym., 21 (2) 123-133 (2006).
Whitaker-Brothers, K and Uhrich, KE “Investigation into the Erosion Mechanism of Salicylate-based Poly(anhydride-esters)”, J. Biomed. Mater. Res.: Part A, 764 470-479 (2006).