Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery
Abbott Hall AB522
5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 5032
Chicago, IL 60637
Email:
Education
BS, Materials Science,
Rice University (1995)
MS, Biomedical Engineering,
University of Texas at Austin (1998)
PhD, Biomedical Engineering,
Northwestern University (2003)
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Bibliography
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Endothelial cells on peptide hydrogel matrix
Peptide nanofibers
Research in our laboratory focuses on designing novel synthetic biomaterials and investigating how they may be engineered to direct biological processes. We are particularly interested in understanding how assemblies of proteins, peptides, polymers, and conjugates of these molecules can be constructed into synthetic extracellular matrices capable of directing cell behavior in vitro (e.g. as defined 3-D culture media) or in vivo (e.g. as scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine). Our research questions center around three interconnected areas:
1) Investigating structure-function relationships that determine how molecular design impacts folding and assembly into nanostructures (fibrils, networks, and gels), and how the physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of the assembled material may be subtly modulated through choices in molecular design.
2) Understanding how cells interact with defined synthetic extracellular matrices so that the matrices can be systematically tuned to favor particular cell phenotypes.
3) Understanding how molecular design and assembly state directs tissue-level or organism-level responses. We are primarily interested in understanding how assemblies of peptides and proteins engage inflammatory and immune responses so that they can be engineered to modulate these processes locally. Although these questions and approaches are applicable to many tissues, we are currently focusing on epithelial and endothelial tissues, as these tissues mediate the interfaces of physiology.
P. Jing, J.P. Jung, and J.H. Collier, “Nanostructured Materials Constructed from Polypeptides,” in Nanoscience and its Applications in Biomedicine, D. Shi, Editor, Springer-Verlag, 2008 (in press).
Jung, J. P.; Jones, J. L.; Cronier, S. A.; Collier, J. H., Modulating the mechanical properties of self-assembled peptide hydrogels via native chemical ligation. Biomaterials, 29, (13) 2143-2151 (2008). (PubMed)
J. H. Collier and M. Mrksich, “Engineering a Biospecific Communication Pathway Between Cells and Electrodes,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 103 (7), 2021-2025 (2006). (PubMed)
J. H. Collier and P. B. Messersmith, “Nanostructural Tailoring of Self-Assembled Peptide Structures,” Advanced Materials, 16 (11), 907-910 (2004).
J. H. Collier and P. B. Messersmith, “Enzymatic Modification of Self-Assembling Peptide Structures with Tissue Transglutaminase,” Bioconjugate Chemistry, 14 (4), 748-755 (2003). (PubMed)
C.H. Thomas, J.H. Collier, C.S. Sfeir, and K.E. Healy, “Engineering Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis by Modulation of Nuclear Shape,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 99(4), 1972-1977 (2002). (PubMed)
J.H. Collier and P.B. Messersmith, “Phospholipid Strategies in Biomineralization and Biomaterials Research,” Annual Reviews of Materials Science, 31, 237-63 (2001).
J.H. Collier, B.H. Hu, J.W. Ruberti, J. Zhang, P. Shum, D. H. Thompson,
and P.B. Messersmith, “Thermally and Photochemically Triggered
Self-Assembly of Peptide Hydrogels,” Journal of the American Chemical
Society, 123, 9463-9464 (2001). (PubMed)
J.H. Collier, J.P. Camp, T.W. Hudson, C.E. Schmidt, “Synthesis
and Characterization of Polypyrrole/ Hyaluronic Acid composites for
peripheral nerve regeneration,” Journal of Biomedical Materials
Research 50(4), 574-84 (2000). (PubMed)
R.C. Thomson, G.G. Giordano, J.H. Collier, S.L. Ishaug, A.G.
Mikos, D. Lahiri-Munir, C.A. Garcia, “Manufacture and Characterization
of Poly(alpha-hydroxy ester) Thin Films as temporary Substrates for
Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells,” Biomaterials 17(3), 321-327
(1996). (PubMed)
