We work at the interface of biological physics and soft matter science and engineering. We try to understand with
mathematical rigor the molecular basics of physical properties and forces in cell physiology, stem cell development, and
cancer genomes, with select efforts extending to drug/gene/cell delivery and a macrophage checkpoint. Cells and tissues
are of course composed largely of soft hydrated biopolymers, and our micro/nano/molecular manipulations focus on
emergent collective properties. Synthetic materials become tools and include polymer hydrogel-matrices and polymeramphiphile (block copolymer) assemblies. Impacts on cell biology and biophysics include Matrix Elasticity effects on
Stem Cell Differentiation and Mechanosensing by the Nucleus in relation to Development, Aging, Cancer, and other
Diseases. Pre-clinical therapies began by making novel polymer Vesicles and Filaments (we called Polymersomes &
Filomicelles) with tests in Blood Circulation and Disease models (Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy). This motivated us to
study and exploit how Macrophages recognize ‘Self’ versus ‘Foreign’. Methods developed and refined range from
Fluorescence Imaged Microdeformation with micropipettes or Atomic Force Microscopy, ‘Cysteine Shotgun’ Mass Spec for protein
conformation in cells, Titration Microarrays for high-precision genomics. Modeling efforts span Molecular Dynamics to Continua.