Therapeutic Materials and Biointerfacial Research Laboratory (TMBR)

Welcome

CSU represented at the Biointerface 2018 Workshop & Symposium in Boulder, CO - October 2018.

Our research interests are broadly defined within three distinct areas:

Development and synthesis of new biomedical materials
Applied and fundamental studies of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Analytical method development

Biomedical materials development includes the synthesis of prodrugs to simultaneously detect and kill bacteria, glucose biosensing, fabrication of biomass-sourced and biodegradable nitric oxide (NO) releasing polymers, the creation of new pediatric cancer therapeutics, and the creation of new materials to improve extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Applied areas of MOF research include the development of next-generation glucose biosensing, fluorescence-based sensing of heavy metals, incorporation of MOFs into biocompatible medical devices, and MOF-based high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations. Fundamental areas of MOF research include thermal/materials analysis of MOF catalysts, development of flow catalysis systems with MOFs, and kinetic/mechanistic investigations into MOF biocatalysis. Current projects related to analytical method development include generation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) separation and detection methods to analyze the safety and biocompatibility of biodegradable medical devices, fast and easy LC-MS based detection methods for fungal infection biomarkers, and MOF based HPLC separations.

Nitric oxide MOF image

News and Updates

Group News

Hailey’s research on nitroreducatase-activated prodrugs for antimicrobial treatments was published in the Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry!!
International collaboration on MOFs for enantiomeric separations with J.R. Galan, garners C&E News highlight – Nice work Jesus and Heather!
Hailey Hibbard, organic student, receives ACS Medicinal Chemistry travel award for her work on enzyme activated prodrugs to treat bacterial infections.
Jesus, Jason and Pam published on the "Identification of the Degradation Products of a Biodegradable Crosslinked Polyester Using LC-MS" in Polymer Degradation and Stability! This method is important for FDA approval of devices.
Congratulations to Christina and Pam for their published manuscript on nitric oxide-releasing lotion in RSC Advances.
Congratulations to Heather for her published manuscript on fluoresence sensing in Inorganic Chemistry.
Congratulations to Rob and Heather for their joint publication with the Finke group investigating the mechanism of MOF-mediated NO catalysis in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.
The group showcased research to 6-12th graders during Math Circles - thanks Hunter and Alyssa.
Congratulations to BME student, Yanyi Zang, who was selected from more than 2100 abstracts to give an oral presentation at MHSRS on "Acute Lung Injury in Trauma and Critical Illness - A Heparin-free Technique For Improving ECLS Performance".
Our research with antibacterial fibers was highlighted in Newsweek magazine as a novel method to address the superbug pandemic.
Hailey Hibbard, Chris Allison, Rob Tuttle, Jon Thai and Alyssa Melvin are presenting their research at the ACS Meeting in San Diego in August.
Jack Miera, CBE undergraduate, has an analytical internship at Cannabistry Labs this summer.
Prof. Reynolds has been invited to speak at EuroMOF 2019 in Paris, France.

Group Picture: August 2017 (New Chemistry Research Building Lab!)

Funding and Award News

Prof. Reynolds and Dr. Batchinsky of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research were awarded a $3.4 million DoD award to improve breathing for critically ill patients
Reynolds lab receives $1.4 million NIH grant to develop MOF-based catheters in collaboration with Prof. Handa from the University of Georgia.
Prof. Reynolds named 2017 Professor Laureate by the College of Natural Sciences for outstanding contributions to research, teaching, mentoring, and outreach.
Prof. Reynolds was awarded a Monfort Professorship. The award includes research support for fundamental and applied studies focused on metal-organic framework materials as anti-platelet and anti-bacterial agents.
Advanced Industries Accelerator has provided funding for biological MOF studies.
Prof. Borlee and Prof. Reynolds were awarded funding to study biofilm dispersion.
Professors Kipper, Krapf, Li and Reynolds were awarded a collaborative NSF-CBET grant to study protein adsorption in polysaccharide brushes.
Prof. Reynolds and her research group are members of two multidiscplinary teams that have received $200,000 in seed funding from the Catalyst for Innovative Partnerships (CIP) program.
Professors Melissa Reynolds and Richard Finke have been awarded a collaborative NIH grant: Catalytic Nitric Oxide Release Coatings for Prolonged Anticlotting Catheters.