Nanomedicine and Molecular Systems Bioengineering Laboratory

My research group utilizes engineering tools and paradigms to advance novel therapeutic approaches to challenging conditions. A major focus of the group is on development and applications of nanomedicine. Over a span of 20+ years, my group made contributions to the science of oligonucleotide design and delivery for antisense and siRNA-based gene silencing. This work has spanned fundamental studies of polymer-oligonucleotide self-assembly and nanoparticle-cell interactions to translational applications in cancer and heterotopic ossification. In another line of research, I have worked with a multiple PI team at Rutgers on the development of a nanotechnology-enabled optical imaging approach and its application to identifying tumors and metastases at the earliest stages before they can grow and do harm. Several high-profile papers emerged from this work, including ones published in Nature Communications and Nature Biomedical Engineering. In recent years, the Roth group has adapted their “smart polymer” approach from oligonucleotide delivery and applied it to development of advanced formulations for cationic antimicrobial peptides and aminoglycosides. Current work has featured the development of aerosolization of drug-containing nanoparticles for lung delivery to treat cystic fibrosis infections and of liquid spray formulations for wound infections. We also integrate engineering modeling and design into our projects. This has included quantitative analyses of gene and cell therapies. We are currently developing detailed pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models tailored to treatment of bacterial biofilm infections using nanomedicines.