The Gianneschi laboratory focuses on how nanomaterials interact with cells, tissues and biomolecules, with an interest in synthetic materials programmed with biopolymers as delivery systems, enzyme-responsive targeting systems and gel-forming materials for IV injection of self-assembling probes and therapeutic nanoparticles. Each of these projects involves the development of fluorescence, and MRI-contrast agent labeled polymeric and nanoparticle systems. Furthermore, we have programs supporting basic research efforts in the development of responsive materials and “smart” nanoparticles as well as a large program focused on developing new techniques for the discovery of functional nanomaterials and bionanomaterials via library screening methodologies being developed in our group. This work is supported and underlined by a heavy emphasis on the development of advanced characterization tools for capturing dynamics of self-assembled nanoparticles and complex nanoscale materials in biological milieu including the in vivo and ex vivo analyses of targeted tissues.
