Research in our group is focused on the structure/property relationship and dynamic behavior of collagen and collagen-inspired materials.
The triple helical structure of collagen and collagen peptides is key to its strength, flexibility, and ability to self-assemble into higher-order structures. Our group is interested in fundamental principles that govern the self-assembly processes of helical proteins and peptides. We plan to apply these fundamental principles in design and synthesis of new collagen-based materials possessing interesting structural and physical properties. We are particularly interested in application of collagen-based materials in novel drug delivery systems for small molecules and nucleic acid therapeutics.
Collagen is the main component of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and its regulation is vital in wound healing and proper function of the skin. In our group we are interested in the regulation mechanism and signaling pathways of collagen expression, and in development of experimental strategies to regulate that expression.