Research
in the Banaszak Holl Group
at
The University of Michigan
Welcome to the home page of the interdisciplinary research group at the University of Michigan's Chemistry Department led by Professor Mark M. Banaszak Holl.
We have active research programs in the following areas:
- Main
Group CH-activation chemistry (Si, Ge, Sn)
- The development of targeted nanotherapeutic
devices and imaging agents for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
- The use of polymers as vectors for gene
therapy and cell transfection with a particular focus on how these
polymers, and polymer/DNA polyplexes, cross the cell plasma membrane.
The
organometallic chemistry revolves around a reaction we recently discovered that
allows the direct activation of CH-bonds coupled with the formation of a Si-C,
Ge-C, or Sn-C bond. The reaction is shown below for the example of
Germanium (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 8986-8987; Organometallics
2006, 25, 4738-4740).
As part of the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Biology and Medicinal Science (MNiMBS), we are studying biological interfaces and drug delivery systems as they relate to chemotherapy treatments for breast, colon, and lung cancer. The role of multivalent interactions in targeting nanoparticles directly to the tumors is of particular interest (Chemistry and Biology 2007, 14, 107-115). We are exploring the interaction of modified polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with model surfaces (such as glass and mica), lipid bilayers, and cancer cells. As part of this study, we are also exploring how morphology changes of cells, the apoptotic volume decrease or AVD, is related to the process of programmed cell death (Langmuir 2005, 21, 9280-9286).
Our work with our colleagues in MNiMBS made us aware of the complex interactions that nanoparticles could have with biological systems. We are now exploring this question in detail having discovered that nanoparticles are capable of inducing nanoscale hole formation in cell membranes (Bioconjugate Chemistry 2004, 15, 774-782 and 2006, 17, 728-734).
The talented scientists working in the group have diverse professional backgrounds and interests. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the research projects, the differing perspectives of all subdisciplines of chemistry, as well as the fields of Physics, Applied Physics, Biophysics, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering are extremely valuable to the overall group dynamic.
We can currently accept students onto the following projects:
1) Development of Nanotherapeutics for Cancer
Treatment.
2) Nanoparticle interactions with biological
membranes with a focus on transfection and toxicity
3) Main Group (Si, Ge, Sn)
CH-activation chemistry.
If you are looking for a research group,
please talk to Prof. Banaszak Holl or one of the students on the project of
your interest.
The
research group works on many projects jointly with the with Orr group from the Applied Physics and Physics programs. The
students who work on projects in my group, or on joint projects with Prof.
Orr's group, are listed below. The students in the group come from a
variety of graduate programs including Applied Physics, Biology, Biophysics,
Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Macromolecular Science
and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Post-Doctoral Associates
Graduate Students
Damian Khan
Song
Ge
Randon Walker
Kevin
Landmark
Christopher
Kelly
Ajdin
Kavara
Jiumei Chen
Douglas
Mullen
Dan McNerny
Blake Erickson
Rahul Rattan
Kandarpa
Cousineau
Ahleah Rohr
Prashant
Padmanabhan
Undergraduates
Meghan
Liroff
Stephanie
Berry
Kristin
Duthie
Zubair
Ahsan
Generation 4 PAMAM Dendrimer
The
Group is Associated with the Following Departments and Programs:
Macromolecular Science and
Engineering
Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for
Biological and Medicinal Sciences
Chemical Sciences at the
Interface of Education
A Low
Energy Electron Diffraction Image of Si(111)-7x7 taken by Neil Greeley using
our rear-view video LEED.
