Ashutosh Chilkoti | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Indian American |
Occupation(s) | Biomedical engineer, academic, researcher, and serial entrepreneur |
Awards | NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (1998) Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature, Society for Biomaterials (2011) Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award, Biomedical Engineering Society (2013) |
Academic background | |
Education | B.Tech., Chemical Engineering Ph.D., Chemical Engineering |
Alma mater | Indian Institute of Technology University of Washington |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Duke University |
Ashutosh Chilkoti is an Indian American biomedical engineer,academic,researcher and serial entrepreneur. He is the Alan L. Kaganov Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Senior Associate Dean in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. [1]
Chilkoti has published over 350 papers,has been cited 48,000 times,has a Google Scholar H-index of 116 and has 62 US patents awarded. His research is focused on genetically encoded materials and biointerface science and he has pioneered the development of high-throughput and scalable methods for the recombinant synthesis of repetitive polypeptides,invented a method to purify protein drugs without chromatography,and developed a technology for point-of-care clinical diagnostics. He has founded five start-up companies,including PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals in 2002,Sentilus in 2011,Gateway Bio in 2017,Isolere Bio in 2018,and inSoma Bio in 2019. [2]
Chilkoti is a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, [3] National Academy of Inventors, [4] Biomedical Engineering Society, [5] Controlled Release Society, [6] International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). [7]
Chilkoti obtained his Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from the IIT Delhi in 1985. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Washington,where he earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 1991,and carried out post-doctoral studies in the Center for Bioengineering from 1991 to 1995,also at the University of Washington. [1]
Chilkoti joined Duke University in 1996 as an assistant professor of biomedical engineering. He was promoted to associate professor in 2002 and professor in 2006. He was the Theo Pilkington Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering from 2008 to 2013,and has been the Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University since 2013. [1]
From 2002 till 2007,Chilkoti served as associate director of the Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Material Systems at Duke University and was the director of the center from 2007 to 2011. In 2014,he became Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and served as chair until 2022. As Chair of the Duke BME department,he launched an incubator—BRiDGE—for Biomedical Engineering faculty and student startups, [8] and he created the Duke Engineering Entrepreneurship program (DEEP)—a post-doctoral fellowship program for recent PhD graduates of the department interested in entrepreneurship. [9] Since 2023,he has been serving as the senior associate dean of Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. [1]
Chilkoti founded two Gordon Research Conferences (GRCs)—one on Biointerface Science in 2006 and a second on Bioinspired Materials in 2012. Furthermore,he is the founder of five start-ups. These companies include Sentilus,a clinical diagnostics company that was acquired by Immucor in 2014, [10] Phase Bio Pharmaceuticals—a drug delivery company—that had an IPO on NASDAQ in 2018, [11] Isolere Bio—that uses ELPs to purify complex biologics without chromatography—that was acquired by Donaldson in 2023, [12] and inSoma Bio,that has focused on commercializing injectable biomaterials developed in his laboratory for tissue reconstruction. [13]
Chilkoti's research has focused on protein engineering,polymer chemistry,biointerface science,and nanobiotechnology.
Chilkoti is most known for his work on genetically engineered elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs),which exhibit thermally responsive behavior and have been exploited by his group to develop new technologies and materials for protein purification, [14] controlled drug release, [15] [16] and tissue engineering. [17] He has also pioneered the development of high-throughput and scalable methods for the recombinant synthesis of repetitive peptide polymers that are useful for the recombinant synthesis of ELPs and other repetitive polypeptides. [18] [19] [20] He developed a new non-chromatographic method for the purification of proteins. [14] He also pioneered the development of injectable depots of ELPs fused to peptide and protein drugs for sustained—week or longer—release, [15] and ELP nanoparticles loaded with small molecule chemotherapeutics for cancer therapy. [16] His research group also developed a new class of partially ordered polypeptides that undergo a phase transition from a liquid into a highly porous solid network at body temperature. [17]
Using a method for the rapid and multiplexed gene synthesis of repetitive polypeptides,Chilkoti created new variants of ELPs that show phase separation. He then built upon these findings to identify new sequence heuristics that enable the de novo design of repetitive polypeptides that show LCST and UCST phase behavior. [21] He postulated that the low sequence complexity,structural disorder,and phase separation behavior of these repetitive polypeptides make them an interesting class of minimal synthetic intrinsically disordered proteins IDPs (synIDPs),and suggested that these SynIDPs can provide insights into the behavior of other more complex,native IDPs. His group has started to exploit the phase transition behavior of two classes of SynIDPs—ELPs that exhibit LCST phase behavior and resilin-like polypeptides (RLPs) that exhibit UCST phase behavior—to create artificial condensates within cells whose material properties and function can be precisely programmed at the sequence level of the SynIDP to reprogram cellular function by spatio-temporally controlling the flow genetic information and biochemical signals within the cell. [22] His later work on functional artificial condensates of SynIDPs in cells includes sequestration of mRNA in a condensate regulate protein translation, [23] sequestration of an enzyme in an artificial condensate to amplify its activity,sequestration of a plasmid to control gene flow in bacteria [24] and recruitment of the transcriptional machinery to amplify gene expression. [24]
Chilkoti's research group has developed next-generation polyethylene glycol (PEG)-like conjugates that overcome the immunogenicity issues associated with traditional PEGylation. [25] PEGylation—the attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to biologics—is commonly used to increase their half-life or reduce their immunogenicity,but PEG has itself proven to be antigenic and can elicit a serious anaphylactic response. To overcome these limitations,he designed a new PEG-like stealth hyperbranched polymer that breaks up the long antigenic ethylene glycol sequence in PEG and presents them as much shorter side-chains along a polymer backbone. Peptides and proteins conjugated to this next-generation PEG-like polymer show even longer circulation than PEG conjugates,do not bind to pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies that most people have developed,and do not generate an immune response to this new polymer. He has demonstrated the utility of this technology with a peptide drug for type 2 diabetes, [26] an enzyme drug used to treat gout and an aptamer drug. [27]
Chilkoti has made contributions to biosensors and clinical diagnostics. His group was the first to demonstrate the use of surface-initiated polymerization to synthesize "nonfouling" polymer brushes from diverse surfaces that completely resist the adsorption of proteins and the adhesion of cells. He then used these nonfouling polymer brushes to develop a protein microarray that enables multiplexed detection of protein analytes with a femtomolar limit-of-detection directly from whole blood. [28] Building upon this work,his group then invented the D4 point-of-care testing (POCT) technology,which enables rapid and accurate disease diagnosis by the quantitative measurement of multiple analytes at sub-picomolar concentrations from a drop of blood without user intervention. [29] This technology led to the formation of a startup company —Sentilus—‚that was acquired by Immucor in 2014. [10] His group later used the D4 POCT for serology for COVID-19, [30] COVID-19 variant detection, [31] and detection of Ebolavirus. [29]
Chilkoti introduced an optical method to quantify biomolecular interactions in real time at the surface of an optically transparent substrate. [32] He used this approach to design a label-free plasmonic biosensor in a chip format. Furthermore,he identified several factors to improve the performance of immobilized metal nanoparticle sensors. [33] Moreover,he also conducted a study to discuss the applications of tunable absorption in designing controlled-emissivity surfaces for thermophotovoltaic devices,producing detector elements for imaging and tailoring an infrared spectrum for controlled thermal dissipation. [34]
Biopolymers are natural polymers produced by the cells of living organisms. Like other polymers,biopolymers consist of monomeric units that are covalently bonded in chains to form larger molecules. There are three main classes of biopolymers,classified according to the monomers used and the structure of the biopolymer formed:polynucleotides,polypeptides,and polysaccharides. The Polynucleotides,RNA and DNA,are long polymers of nucleotides. Polypeptides include proteins and shorter polymers of amino acids;some major examples include collagen,actin,and fibrin. Polysaccharides are linear or branched chains of sugar carbohydrates;examples include starch,cellulose,and alginate. Other examples of biopolymers include natural rubbers,suberin and lignin,cutin and cutan,melanin,and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
Polyethylene glycol (PEG;) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications,from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE),depending on its molecular weight. The structure of PEG is commonly expressed as H−(O−CH2−CH2)n−OH.
A hydrogel is a biphasic material,a mixture of porous and permeable solids and at least 10% of water or other interstitial fluid. The solid phase is a water insoluble three dimensional network of polymers,having absorbed a large amount of water or biological fluids. Hydrogels have several applications,especially in the biomedical area,such as in hydrogel dressing. Many hydrogels are synthetic,but some are derived from natural materials. The term "hydrogel" was coined in 1894.
Colloidal gold is a sol or colloidal suspension of nanoparticles of gold in a fluid,usually water. The colloid is coloured usually either wine red or blue-purple . Due to their optical,electronic,and molecular-recognition properties,gold nanoparticles are the subject of substantial research,with many potential or promised applications in a wide variety of areas,including electron microscopy,electronics,nanotechnology,materials science,and biomedicine.
Poloxamer 407 is a hydrophilic non-ionic surfactant of the more general class of copolymers known as poloxamers. Poloxamer 407 is a triblock copolymer consisting of a central hydrophobic block of polypropylene glycol flanked by two hydrophilic blocks of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The approximate lengths of the two PEG blocks is 101 repeat units,while the approximate length of the propylene glycol block is 56 repeat units. This particular compound is also known by the BASF trade name Pluronic F-127 or by the Croda trade name Synperonic PE/F 127. BASF also offers a pharmaceutical grade,under trade name Kolliphor P 407.
Targeted drug delivery,sometimes called smart drug delivery,is a method of delivering medication to a patient in a manner that increases the concentration of the medication in some parts of the body relative to others. This means of delivery is largely founded on nanomedicine,which plans to employ nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery in order to combat the downfalls of conventional drug delivery. These nanoparticles would be loaded with drugs and targeted to specific parts of the body where there is solely diseased tissue,thereby avoiding interaction with healthy tissue. The goal of a targeted drug delivery system is to prolong,localize,target and have a protected drug interaction with the diseased tissue. The conventional drug delivery system is the absorption of the drug across a biological membrane,whereas the targeted release system releases the drug in a dosage form. The advantages to the targeted release system is the reduction in the frequency of the dosages taken by the patient,having a more uniform effect of the drug,reduction of drug side-effects,and reduced fluctuation in circulating drug levels. The disadvantage of the system is high cost,which makes productivity more difficult,and the reduced ability to adjust the dosages.
A foreign body reaction (FBR) is a typical tissue response to a foreign body within biological tissue. It usually includes the formation of a foreign body granuloma. Tissue encapsulation of an implant is an example,as is inflammation around a splinter. Foreign body granuloma formation consists of protein adsorption,macrophages,multinucleated foreign body giant cells,fibroblasts,and angiogenesis. It has also been proposed that the mechanical property of the interface between an implant and its surrounding tissues is critical for the host response.
PEGylation is the process of both covalent and non-covalent attachment or amalgamation of polyethylene glycol polymer chains to molecules and macrostructures,such as a drug,therapeutic protein or vesicle,which is then described as PEGylated. PEGylation affects the resulting derivatives or aggregates interactions,which typically slows down their coalescence and degradation as well as elimination in vivo.
Photothermal therapy (PTT) refers to efforts to use electromagnetic radiation for the treatment of various medical conditions,including cancer. This approach is an extension of photodynamic therapy,in which a photosensitizer is excited with specific band light. This activation brings the sensitizer to an excited state where it then releases vibrational energy (heat),which is what kills the targeted cells.
A fibrin scaffold is a network of protein that holds together and supports a variety of living tissues. It is produced naturally by the body after injury,but also can be engineered as a tissue substitute to speed healing. The scaffold consists of naturally occurring biomaterials composed of a cross-linked fibrin network and has a broad use in biomedical applications.
Arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) is the most common peptide motif responsible for cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM),found in species ranging from Drosophila to humans. Cell adhesion proteins called integrins recognize and bind to this sequence,which is found within many matrix proteins,including fibronectin,fibrinogen,vitronectin,osteopontin,and several other adhesive extracellular matrix proteins. The discovery of RGD and elucidation of how RGD binds to integrins has led to the development of a number of drugs and diagnostics,while the peptide itself is used ubiquitously in bioengineering. Depending on the application and the integrin targeted,RGD can be chemically modified or replaced by a similar peptide which promotes cell adhesion.
Molly S. Shoichet,is a Canadian science professor,specializing in chemistry,biomaterials and biomedical engineering. She was Ontario's first Chief Scientist. Shoichet is a biomedical engineer known for her work in tissue engineering,and is the only person to be a fellow of the three National Academies in Canada.
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are synthetic biopolymers with potential applications in the fields of cancer therapy,tissue scaffolding,metal recovery,and protein purification. For cancer therapy,the addition of functional groups to ELPs can enable them to conjugate with cytotoxic drugs. Also,ELPs may be able to function as polymeric scaffolds,which promote tissue regeneration. This capacity of ELPs has been studied particularly in the context of bone growth. ELPs can also be engineered to recognize specific proteins in solution. The ability of ELPs to undergo morphological changes at certain temperatures enables specific proteins that are bound to the ELPs to be separated out from the rest of the solution via experimental techniques such as centrifugation.
William Mark Saltzman was named the Goizueta Foundation Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at Yale University on July 1,2002 and became the founding chair of Yale's Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2003. Saltzman's research aims to promote new methods for drug delivery and develop new biotechnologies to combat human disease. A pioneer in the fields of biomaterials,nanobiotechnology,and tissue engineering,Saltzman has contributed to the design and implementation of a number of clinical technologies that have become essential to medical practice today. His popular course Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering is available to everyone through Open Yale Courses.
Rohit Pappu is an Indian-born computational and molecular biophysicist. He is the Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor of Engineering and the director of the Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC) at Washington University in St. Louis.
Hydrogel dressing is a medical dressing based on hydrogels,three-dimensional hydrophilic structure. The insoluble hydrophilic structures absorb polar wound exudates and allow oxygen diffusion at the wound bed to accelerate healing. Hydrogel dressings can be designed to prevent bacterial infection,retain moisture,promote optimum adhesion to tissues,and satisfy the basic requirements of biocompatibility. Hydrogel dressings can also be designed to respond to changes in the microenvironment at the wound bed. Hydrogel dressings should promote an appropriate microenvironment for angiogenesis,recruitment of fibroblasts,and cellular proliferation.
Joyce Y. Wong is an American engineer who is Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Boston University. Her research develops novel biomaterials for the early detection treatment of disease. Wong is the Inaugural Director of the Provost's Initiative to promote gender equality and inclusion in STEM at all levels:Advance,Recruit,Retain and Organize Women in STEM. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science,American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Society.
Heather D. Maynard is the Dr Myung Ki Hong Professor in Polymer Science at the University of California,Los Angeles. She works on protein-polymer conjugates and polymeric drugs. Maynard is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Kristi Lynn Kiick is the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Delaware. She studies polymers,biomaterials and hydrogels for drug delivery and regenerative medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society,the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering,and of the National Academy of Inventors. She served for nearly eight years as the deputy dean of the college of engineering at the University of Delaware.
Polymer-protein hybrids are a class of nanostructure composed of protein-polymer conjugates. The protein component generally gives the advantages of biocompatibility and biodegradability,as many proteins are produced naturally by the body and are therefore well tolerated and metabolized. Although proteins are used as targeted therapy drugs,the main limitations—the lack of stability and insufficient circulation times still remain. Therefore,protein-polymer conjugates have been investigated to further enhance pharmacologic behavior and stability. By adjusting the chemical structure of the protein-polymer conjugates,polymer-protein particles with unique structures and functions,such as stimulus responsiveness,enrichment in specific tissue types,and enzyme activity,can be synthesized. Polymer-protein particles have been the focus of much research recently because they possess potential uses including bioseparations,imaging,biosensing,gene and drug delivery.
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