Bioelectricity in Medicine: Drug Delivery and Imaging using Charged Biomaterials
Many biologically and clinically important tissues-such as cartilage, intervertebral disc, meniscus, and mucosal membranes-are dense, avascular, and highly negatively charged. These properties make them uniquely resistant to conventional drug delivery and imaging strategies, contributing to the persistence of prevalent conditions like osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, and mucosal inflammation. A major barrier is the inability of therapeutic molecules to penetrate the negatively charged extracellular matrix and reach their cellular targets. In this talk, I will present a biomolecular engineering approach that leverages electrostatic interactions to overcome these challenges. By rationally designing proteins, peptides, and exosome-based gene therapy vectors with optimized positive charge domains, we enhance their transport, uptake, and retention within these otherwise inaccessible tissues. This platform enables targeted delivery of both small molecules and nucleic acids and supports applications ranging from regenerative therapies to localized gene modulation. I will also highlight the development of charged imaging agents for deep tissue diagnostics, as well as ongoing translational work in relevant animal models. The talk will emphasize design strategies, tunability, and the broader potential for integration into drug delivery and diagnostic platforms.
Bio: Ambika Bajpayee is an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Northeastern University, where she leads the Molecular Bioelectrostatics and Drug Delivery Laboratory. Her research focuses on targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioelectrostatics and modeling of biotransport and biomechanics. Bajpayee earned her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by postdoctoral research in drug delivery and biomaterials. Prior to academia, she worked in the biotech industry on development and FDA approval of orthopedic and dental implants. Her honors include the US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, NSF CAREER Award, NIH Trailblazer Award, Department of Defense Discovery Award, Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigator Award, and MIT’s Women of Excellence and Meredith Kamm Awards in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Bajpayee’s work is supported by the NIH, NSF, the Department of Defense, and pharmaceutical industry partnerships, with a strong emphasis on translational research aimed at bridging basic science and clinical application. Bajpayee was also recognized by the World Bank for her contributions to women’s and children’s health. She supports scientific and social service initiatives towards education and medical needs of children and young people through the Aarav Amar Bajpayee Foundation for Children.