Inside the Labcoat
EPISODE 2
Preventing Fibrosis through Engineered Materials
With William Jeang
About the Guest
William Jeang is an MIT PhD candidate whose journey in biomedical and materials engineering began in high school. He started his research career as a high school intern in a laboratory at Johns Hopkins University before studying Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the Polymers and Soft Matter program at MIT. His research focuses on improving the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases by developing materials that serve as renewable sources of therapeutic treatment.
Research Areas:
Biomaterials – Cell-based Therapy – Medical Devices – Immune Reactions – Polymers
Key Takeaways:
Fibrosis can reduce the effectiveness of therapeutic implants by forming a fibrotic capsule that limits the release of drugs and the exchange of nutrients and therapeutic molecules.
Antifouling materials create a protective hydration layer that helps prevent proteins from adsorbing to the implant surface, while immunomodulatory materials reduce the immune response. Combining these approaches can help reduce fibrosis around implants.
These coatings have a range of potential applications, including improving implants designed to treat glaucoma.
Main Topics Covered: Fibrosis – Antifouling and Immunomodulatory Technologies – Complex Polymers – Drug Delivery – Immune Response