Research
In the Rwei Group, we envision a field of precision therapeutics: drug delivery systems coupled with biosensing and stimulation platforms for effective design, evaluation, and modulation. The advantages and disadvantages of drug delivery and bioelectronics are highly complementary. Drug delivery systems are versatile and would be greatly benefited by the precision of bioelectronics for continuous, real-time understanding of the microenvironment and drug-tissue interaction. The functionality of bioelectronics may be further expanded through the molecular mechanisms of pharmaceutics, enhancing the potential of on-demand therapy. These systems empower a range of therapeutic interests, including mechanistic understandings of disease states, real-time therapeutic feedback, and on-demand drug release, opening the door to previously-unknown pharmacological and environmental information to facilitate rational designs of effective therapeutics. Current opening projects are classified into three categories, with a focus on pain therapy.
Precision Medicine with Externally-Triggerable Nanoparticles for Spatiotemporally-Controlled Drug Delivery
In the externally triggerable drug delivery track, we dive into on-demand drug delivery employing light and ultrasound, harnessing liposomes as the primary drug carriers. By developing remotely-triggerable drug delivery systems, we enable non-invasive control over the timing, intensity, and duration of therapy, tailored to individual physiological states. In our pursuit, we navigate the challenges posed by the intricate transport barriers guarding the central nervous systems. Similarly, we potentiate targeting specificity towards cancer cells and the central nervous systems by exploiting biomimetic liposome technology.
Wearable Sensor Technology for Continuous Monitoring of a Patient's Health Status
In the wearable biosensors track, our primary focus is to enable non-invasive monitoring of individuals’ health status and physiological responses to environmental stressors. The current multifaceted approach aims to develop sensors capable of continuously and simultaneously detecting a range of biomarkers, metabolites, and vitamins. Initially, we establish robust biosensing platforms to selectively detect specific biomarkers, essential nutrients, and metabolites. These platforms serve as the foundation for the creation of multiplexing sensor devices that seamlessly integrate into wearable technology for the on-the-go analysis of sweat as a key metric.