TITLE:

Patterned Biomaterials: New Tools to Mimic, Quantify, and Understand Complex Biological Systems

ABSTRACT:

Engineered materials and molecular sensing tools are transforming how we study and control complex biological systems. Yet many technologies operate at a single scale—either manipulating cellular environments without molecular precision or profiling molecular signals without spatial or mechanical context. My lab addresses this challenge through chemical and materials innovation, developing scalable platforms that integrate molecular design with quantitative analysis. We focus on two complementary directions: (1) physico-chemical design of soft interfaces with tunable nanoscale architecture and dynamic mechanics to probe and control material–biology interactions, and (2) biomolecular sensing platforms that combine polymer chemistry, optical or electrochemical detection, and data-driven analysis for accessible diagnostics. In this talk, I will highlight two representative efforts: nature-inspired nanopatterned coatings with dynamically tunable surface topography for long-term antibacterial activity, and integrated bioanalytical sensing technologies for early, point-of-care detection of sepsis.