Abstract: Soft electronic devices that seamlessly integrate with the human body represent an essential trend for future consumer electronics and mobile healthcare. Combined strategies of advanced microfabrication and materials design allow the integration of various components and devices on a soft platform, resulting in functional systems with minimal constraints on the human body. In this presentation, I will demonstrate the first of its kind a multilayered stretchable multichannel patch that can sense a collection of signals from the human skin in a wireless mode. Additionally, existing wearable electronic devices are limited to sensing signals on the skin surface. I will show a stretchable ultrasonic patch that adds a new third dimension to the detection range of existing soft electronics. Ultrasound waves can penetrate the skin and noninvasively capture dynamic events in deep tissues, such as blood pressure and blood flow waveforms in central arteries and veins. For the power source, I will demonstrate a protocol for growing large area single-crystal hybrid halide perovskites for high performance flexible solar cells. This soft platform holds profound implications for a wide range of applications in personal electronics, sports medicine, defense, and clinical practices.

Abstract

The controlled delivery of bioactive molecules to target tissues can significantly improve drug effectiveness while reducing side effects by concentrating medicine at selected sites in the body. Mucus layers coat and protect nearly all entry points into the body that are not coated by skin. Until recently, human mucus was thought to be nearly impenetrable to drug delivery particles even as small as 59 nm in diameter. Particles that become trapped in mucus are typically rapidly cleared from the organ of interest, usually within minutes to a few hours. Thus, while the barrier properties of mucus provide outstanding protection against infection and other potentially toxic substances, they have also thwarted efforts to achieve uniform and sustained drug and gene delivery to mucosal surfaces. This talk will focus on our work to understand the lengthscale dependent and adhesion-mediated barrier properties of mucosal fluids, and how this knowledge has guided the development of polymeric nanoparticulate carriers capable of improved drug and gene delivery to the respiratory tract, female reproductive tract, gastrointestinal tract, surface of the eye, and other mucosal tissues.

Abstract:

Towards Accelerated Medical Innovation

When developing technologies to solve medical problems, often one encounters significant hurdles, that at times seem insurmountable. Overcoming these hurdles requires new ways of thinking. One approach is to turn to nature for inspiration.  Millions and millions of years of research and development at our fingertips, and all we need to do is look outside to the amazing creatures that inhabit our planet. This talk will explore medical technologies being developed that harness lessons from nature for inspiration, from creatures such as geckos, spider webs, jellyfish, porcupine quills, snails, to spiny headed worms.  Another approach is radical simplicity — the art and discipline of reducing a problem to its essence. This tool has been harnessed to develop a new skin care approach that is advancing towards global market adoption, and therapeutic strategies to combat inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis that are advancing towards clinical studies. Some of the technologies that will be described are rapidly advancing to the clinic and some are already on the market helping patients. This talk opens new paths to the continual innovation that is so important in our fast-changing world.