My past research focuses on the development of novel polymer micro/nanofabrication and DNA manipulation techniques for biomedical applications. Specifically, I have developed a series of polymer microfabrication methods and fabricated various drug delivery devices with structures and functions that are difficult or impossible for conventional technology. I have also developed a novel strategy for stretching and patterning DNA chains into well-defined arrays with potential applications ranging from gene chip to nanowire/nanochannel-based biosensing. In addition, I have been working on micro/nanofluidic production of highly engineered multi-functional nanodevices for the delivery of DNA/RNA therapeutics. As an assistant professor, I will seek to establish an interdisciplinary research program that specializes in multi-scale engineering of soft materials for biomedical applications. In particular, my future research will consist of two thrust areas: 1) developing novel biosensing technologies such as nanofluidic devices for DNA sensing/separation and DNA microarrays based on stretched DNA, and 2) developing multi-functional nanodevices for the efficient and safe delivery of therapeutic DNA/RNA in anticancer therapy.

References:

1. J. Guan, L. J. Lee, Generating Highly Ordered DNA Nanostrand Array, Proceedings of National Academy of Science, U. S. A. (2005) 102: 18321.

2. J. Guan, B. Yu, L. J. Lee, Forming Highly Ordered Arrays of Functionalized Polymer Nanowires by Dewetting on Micropillars, Advanced Materials (2007) 19: 1212.

3. J. Guan, H. He, D. Hansford, L. J. Lee, Fabrication of Particulate Reservoir-Containing, Capsule-Like, and Self-Foldable Polymer Microstructures for Drug Delivery, Small (2007) 3: 412.

4. J. Guan, N. Ferrell, B. Yu, D. J. Hansford, L. J. Lee, Simultaneous Generation of Hybrid Arrays of Micro/Nanoparticles and Nanowires by Dewetting on Micropillars, Soft Matter (2007) published online, DOI: 10.1039/b709910j.

5. H. He, J. Guan, L. J. Lee, An Oral Delivery Device Based on Self-Folding Hydrogels, Journal of Controlled Release (2006) 110: 339.

6. J. Guan, N. Ferrell, L. J. Lee, D. Hansford, Fabrication of Polymeric Microparticles for Drug Delivery by Soft Lithography, Biomaterials (2006) 27: 4034.

7. J. Guan, H. He, L. J. Lee, D. Hansford, Self-Folding of Hydrogel Three Dimensional Microstructures, Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2005) 109: 23134.

8. J. Guan, A. Chakrapani, D. Hansford, Polymer Microparticles Fabricated by Soft Lithography, Chemistry of Materials (2005) 17: 6227.