Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Maryland, 2004
     B.S.E, Chemical Engineering, The University of Maryland, 1997

Research Activities:

Topic Area:  Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Bioreactor

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) develops as a result of enhanced platelet destruction through the interaction of auto-antibodies and platelet antigens.  The goal of this project is to develop a hollow fiber based bioreactor for the specific removal of these auto-antibodies.  With promising preliminary results obtained, the project is now focused on improving the capacity, efficiency, and reproducibility of the ITP bioreactor.  

The bioreactor is composed of cellulose-based hollow fiber bundles with a GPIIb/IIIa functionalized inner lumen.  Monolayer coverage of the inner lumen surface would provide a bioreactor with limited capacity for auto-antibody removal.  To further increase the ITP bioreactor capacity without increasing reactor size, we are developing a multi-layered immobilization of GPIIb/IIIa.  In this approach, we make use of multiple layers of poly-lysine, anchored by PEG, to increase the available points for attachment.  The optimized bioreactor is expected to provide increased capacity for auto-antibody removal and also improve operational efficiency.

Publications:

Chertok B, Moffat BA, David AE, Yu F, Bergemann C, Ross BD, Yang VC.  Magnetic nanoparticles as MRI-visible vehicle for magnetically targeted drug delivery to brain tumors.  Biomaterials (accepted 2007).

Chertok B, David AE, Huang Y, Yang VC. Glioma selectivity of magnetically targeted nanoparticles:  A role of abnormal tumor hydrodynamics.  Journal of Controlled Release, 122(3): 315-323 (2007).

David AE, Wang NS, Yang VC, Yang AJ.  Chemically surface modified gel (CSMG): An excellent enzyme-immobilization matrix for industrial processes.  Journal of Biotechnology 125(3): 395-407 (2006).

Wang T, Yang ZQ, Emregul E, David A, Balthasar JP, Liang JF, Yang VC.  Strategies for improving the functionality of an affinity bioreactor.  International Journal of Pharmaceutics 306(1-2): 132-141 (2005).

Emregul E, David A, Balthasar JP, Yang VC.  A GPIIb/IIIa bioreactor for specific treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disease.  Preparation, in vitro characterization, and preliminary proof-of-concept animal studies.  Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 75A(3): 648-655 (2005).

Brief Biography:

Allan was born in India and immigrated to the U.S., with his family, at an early age.  He lived in the College Park, MD area for approximately 20 years before coming to Ann Arbor, MI about 3 years ago.  He enjoys a challenge and likes to work with his hands.