James O. BlanchettePhone 803.777.1541
Fax 803.777.0973
E-mail 2C14 Swearingen Chemical Engineering University of South Carolina 301 Main St. Columbia, SC 29208
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Jay Blanchette
Assistant Professor
The Blanchette Lab’s
research efforts
are focused on developing novel systems for drug delivery and tissue
engineering through rational design of biomaterials, genetic
engineering and
analysis of cell signaling pathways. One
area of particular focus is the study of cell encapsulation. By entrapping living tissue within a
synthetic matrix, bio-synthetic hybrid systems can be created for use
in a
variety of medical applications. An
application of interest related to this research area is treatment of
diabetes
by encapsulation of Islets of Langerhans isolated from the pancreas. On a broader scale, bio-synthetic systems can
be used as living drug delivery systems and the choice of encapsulated
tissue
will determine the application (ex. Islets of Langerhans chosen for
glucose-responsive delivery of insulin).
Because the microenvironment of a synthetic
capsule is different from
what tissue normally interacts with, the related stress and effect on
behavior
is studied in association with strategies to alleviate these stresses
and
control behavior of encapsulated tissue.
Discoveries made in this field can also be
applied in the fields of
tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Education
- Ph. D., University of Texas, Austin (2004)
- B. S. E., Duke University(1998)
Selected Publications
- Blanchette J and Peppas N A. Cellular
Evaluation of Oral Chemotherapy Carriers. J Biomed Mat Res, 72A,
381-388, (2005).
- Brannon-Peppas L and Blanchette J O.
Nanoparticles and Targeted Systems for Cancer Therapy. Adv Drug Del
Rev, 56, 1649-1659, (2004).
- Blanchette J and Peppas N A. Oral
Chemotherapeutic Delivery: Design and Cellular Response. Ann
Biomed Eng, 33, 142-149, (2005).
- Blanchette J, Kavimandan N and Peppas N A.
Principles of Transmucosal Delivery of Therapeutic Agents. Biomed
Pharmacother, 58, 142-151, (2004).
- Blanchette J O and Peppas N A. "Nanotechnology
and Cancer Therapy," in N.A. Peppas, J.Z. Hilt and J.B. Thomas, eds,
Nanotechnology in Therapeutics: Current Technologies and Applications,
287-313, Horizon Press, London, (2007).
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