Nanosystems for RNAi in Cancer | |
| Sangeeta N. BhatiaProfessor of Health Sciences and Technology and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceMassachusetts Institute of Technology |
Dr. Bhatia's research in the Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies is focused on the applications of micro- and nanotechnology to tissue repair and regeneration. Specifically, she studies the interactions between hepatocytes (liver cells) and their microenvironment and develops microfabrication tools to improve cellular therapies for liver disease (Hepatic Tissue Engineering). The goal is to maximize hepatocyte function, facilitate design of effective cellular therapies for liver disease, and improve fundamental understanding of liver physiology and pathophysiology. She is also interested in using arrays of living cells as high-throughput platforms to study fundamental aspects of stem cell biology (Cell-Based BioMEMS) using a diverse repertoire of tools including chemical, topological, fluidic, electrical, and optical manipulation of living cells on chip platforms. Finally, LMRT is involved in a multidisciplinary effort to develop nanomaterials as tools for biological studies and as multifunctional agents for cancer therapies. Interests center around nanoparticles and nanoporous materials that can be designed to perform complex tasks such as: home to a tumor, sense changes in cells and tissues, enhance imaging, and trigger the release of a therapeutic payload. Having had several stints in the biotechnology industry, Dr. Bhatia holds a number of patents for both clinical and biotechnological applications of engineering principles. She is the author of Microfabrication in Tissue Engineering and Bioartificial Organs and co-author of the undergraduate textbook Tissue Engineering.
