CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en-US"> <head> <title>Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology</title> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"><link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link href='https://fonts.gstatic.com' crossorigin rel='preconnect' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology » Feed" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology » Comments Feed" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/comments/feed/" /> <style id="nanospace-text-widget-icon-fallback">.widget-symbol::before { content: "?"; font-family: inherit; }</style> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/12.0.0-1\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/12.0.0-1\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=5.4.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(e,a,t){var r,n,o,i,p=a.createElement("canvas"),s=p.getContext&&p.getContext("2d");function c(e,t){var a=String.fromCharCode;s.clearRect(0,0,p.width,p.height),s.fillText(a.apply(this,e),0,0);var r=p.toDataURL();return s.clearRect(0,0,p.width,p.height),s.fillText(a.apply(this,t),0,0),r===p.toDataURL()}function l(e){if(!s||!s.fillText)return!1;switch(s.textBaseline="top",s.font="600 32px Arial",e){case"flag":return!c([127987,65039,8205,9895,65039],[127987,65039,8203,9895,65039])&&(!c([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819])&&!c([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]));case"emoji":return!c([55357,56424,55356,57342,8205,55358,56605,8205,55357,56424,55356,57340],[55357,56424,55356,57342,8203,55358,56605,8203,55357,56424,55356,57340])}return!1}function d(e){var t=a.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=t.type="text/javascript",a.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t)}for(i=Array("flag","emoji"),t.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},o=0;o<i.length;o++)t.supports[i[o]]=l(i[o]),t.supports.everything=t.supports.everything&&t.supports[i[o]],"flag"!==i[o]&&(t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&t.supports[i[o]]);t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!t.supports.flag,t.DOMReady=!1,t.readyCallback=function(){t.DOMReady=!0},t.supports.everything||(n=function(){t.readyCallback()},a.addEventListener?(a.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",n,!1),e.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(e.attachEvent("onload",n),a.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===a.readyState&&t.readyCallback()})),(r=t.source||{}).concatemoji?d(r.concatemoji):r.wpemoji&&r.twemoji&&(d(r.twemoji),d(r.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style type="text/css"> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 .07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=5.4.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wpsm_tabs_r-font-awesome-front-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/plugins/tabs-responsive/assets/css/font-awesome/css/font-awesome.min.css?ver=5.4.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wpsm_tabs_r_bootstrap-front-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/plugins/tabs-responsive/assets/css/bootstrap-front.css?ver=5.4.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wpsm_tabs_r_animate-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/plugins/tabs-responsive/assets/css/animate.css?ver=5.4.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace_main-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/css/header-main.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='tablepress-default-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/plugins/tablepress/css/default.min.css?ver=1.12' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace-google-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Fira+Sans%3A100%2C300%2C400%2C700%2C900&subset=latin&ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='genericons-neue-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/fonts/genericons-neue/genericons-neue.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace-stylesheet-main-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/css/main.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace-stylesheet-shortcodes-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/css/shortcodes.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace-stylesheet-custom-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/css/custom-styles.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nanospace-stylesheet-print-css' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/css/print.css?ver=1.1.3' type='text/css' media='print' /> <style id='nanospace-inline-css' type='text/css'> /* START CSS variables */ :root { --color_intro_background: #000042; --color_intro_text--a20: rgba(10,10,10,0.2); --color_intro_text: #0a0a0a; --color_intro_overlay_opacity: 0.4; --footer_image_repeat: no-repeat; --typography_size_html: 20px; } /* END CSS variables */ .intro-special { background-image: url('https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/6armNetwork.png'); } </style> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/library/js/vendor/css-vars-ponyfill/css-vars-ponyfill.min.js?ver=1.16.1'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> window.onload = function() { cssVars( { onlyVars: true, exclude: 'link:not([href^="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes"])' } ); }; </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js?ver=1.12.4-wp'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=1.4.1'></script> <link rel='https://api.w.org/' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-json/' /> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 5.4.2" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu%2F&format=xml" />  <style type="text/css" id="nanospace-custom-css"> /* Customizer CSS */ .nanospace-header-logo .nanospace-logo-image{width:20px}.nanospace-header-main-bar .menu .menu-item>.nanospace-menu-item-link{font-weight:700}.nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar .nanospace-menu-icon{font-size:25px} </style> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/favicon-32x32-1.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/favicon-32x32-1.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/favicon-32x32-1.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/favicon-32x32-1.png" /> </head> <body class="footer-layout-boxed has-intro has-navigation-mobile has-post-thumbnail header-layout-fullwidth home is-singular no-js page page-id-51 page-template-default site-layout-fullwidth"> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#header-menu-1">Skip to main navigation</a><a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#content">Skip to main content</a><a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#colophon">Skip to footer</a><div id="page" class="site"> <header id="masthead" class="site-header" role="banner"> <div id="mobile-vertical-header" class="nanospace-header-mobile-vertical nanospace-header-mobile-vertical-position-left nanospace-text-align-left nanospace-header nanospace-popup" itemtype="https://schema.org/WPHeader" itemscope> <div class="nanospace-popup-background nanospace-popup-close"> <button id="btn_close" class="nanospace-popup-close-icon nanospace-popup-close nanospace-popup-toggle nanospace-toggle" data-set-focus=".nanospace-popup-toggle"><span class=" nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M36.2,32,56,12.2a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0-2.8L54.6,8a1.93,1.93,0,0,0-2.8,0L32,27.8,12.2,8A1.93,1.93,0,0,0,9.4,8L8,9.4a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0,2.8L27.8,32,8,51.8a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0,2.8L9.4,56a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,2.8,0L32,36.2,51.8,56a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,2.8,0L56,54.6a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0-2.8Z"/></svg></span></button> </div> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-vertical-bar nanospace-header-section-vertical nanospace-popup-content"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-vertical-bar-inner nanospace-header-section-vertical-inner"> <div class="nanospace-header-section-vertical-column"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-vertical-bar-top nanospace-header-section-vertical-row nanospace-flex-align-left"> <div class="nanospace-header-search-bar nanospace-header-search"> <form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/"> <label> <span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span> <input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="Search…" value="" name="s" /> </label> <input type="submit" class="search-submit" value="Search" /> <span class="nanospace-search-icon nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M26,46.1a20,20,0,1,1,20-20A20,20,0,0,1,26,46.1ZM63.4,58.5,48.2,43.3a3.67,3.67,0,0,0-2-.8A26.7,26.7,0,0,0,52,26a26,26,0,1,0-9.6,20.2,4.64,4.64,0,0,0,.8,2L58.4,63.4a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,2.8,0l2.1-2.1A1.86,1.86,0,0,0,63.4,58.5Z"/></svg></span></form> </div> <nav class="mobile-nav nanospace-header-menu site-navigation" itemtype="https://schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" itemscope role="navigation" aria-label="Mobile Header Menu"> <ul id="nanospace_mobile_menu" class="menu nav-menu nanospace-hover-menu"><li id="menu-item-26" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-26"><a href="http://utw10984.utweb.utexas.edu/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Home</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/research/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Research</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-1521" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-1521"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/nicholas-peppas/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">People</span><span class="nanospace-dropdown-sign nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M32,43.71a3,3,0,0,1-2.12-.88L12.17,25.12a2,2,0,0,1,0-2.83l1.42-1.41a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0L32,36.47,47.59,20.88a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0l1.42,1.41a2,2,0,0,1,0,2.83L34.12,42.83A3,3,0,0,1,32,43.71Z"/></svg></span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-32" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/nicholas-peppas/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Nicholas Peppas</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-33" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-33"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/current-students/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Current Lab Members</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-34" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-34"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/former-students/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Previous Lab Members</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-48" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-48"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/publications/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Publications</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-1522" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-1522"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/news/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Archives</span><span class="nanospace-dropdown-sign nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M32,43.71a3,3,0,0,1-2.12-.88L12.17,25.12a2,2,0,0,1,0-2.83l1.42-1.41a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0L32,36.47,47.59,20.88a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0l1.42,1.41a2,2,0,0,1,0,2.83L34.12,42.83A3,3,0,0,1,32,43.71Z"/></svg></span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-30" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-30"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/news/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">News</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-31" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-31"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/photo-gallery/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Photo Gallery</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-60" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-60"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/croquet/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Croquet</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-1957" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1957"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/what-is-a-peppamer-2/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">What is a Peppamer?</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-1979" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1979"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/contact-us/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Contact Us</span></a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="full-screen-vertical-header" class="nanospace-header-full-vertical nanospace-header nanospace-popup" itemtype="https://schema.org/WPHeader" itemscope> <div class="nanospace-popup-background nanospace-popup-close"> <button class="nanospace-popup-close-icon nanospace-popup-close nanospace-toggle" data-set-focus=".nanospace-popup-toggle"><span class=" nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M36.2,32,56,12.2a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0-2.8L54.6,8a1.93,1.93,0,0,0-2.8,0L32,27.8,12.2,8A1.93,1.93,0,0,0,9.4,8L8,9.4a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0,2.8L27.8,32,8,51.8a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0,2.8L9.4,56a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,2.8,0L32,36.2,51.8,56a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,2.8,0L56,54.6a1.93,1.93,0,0,0,0-2.8Z"/></svg></span></button> </div> <div id="full-screen-header"> <div class="nanospace-header-full-vertical-bar-inner"> <div class="nanospace-header-section-vertical-column"> <div class="nanospace-header-full-vertical-bar-top nanospace-header-section-vertical-row nanospace-flex-align-left"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="header" class="nanospace-header-main nanospace-header "> <div id="nanospace-header-main-bar" class="nanospace-header-main-bar nanospace-header-section nanospace-section nanospace-section-full-width nanospace-header-menu-highlight-none" data-height="80"> <div class="nanospace-header-main-bar-inner nanospace-section-inner"> <div class="nanospace-wrapper"> <div class="nanospace-header-main-bar-row nanospace-header-row"> <div class="nanospace-header-main-bar-left nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-left"> <div class="nanospace-header-logo site-branding menu"> <div class="site-title menu-item h1"> <a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/" rel="home" class="nanospace-menu-item-link"> <span class="nanospace-default-logo nanospace-logo">Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nanospace-header-main-bar-center nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-center"></div> <div class="nanospace-header-main-bar-right nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-right"> <nav class="nanospace-header-menu-1 nanospace-header-menu site-navigation" id="header-menu-1" itemtype="https://schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" itemscope role="navigation" aria-label="Header Menu 1"> <ul id="menu-primary" class="menu nav-menu nanospace-hover-menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-26"><a href="http://utw10984.utweb.utexas.edu/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Home</span></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/research/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Research</span></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-1521"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/nicholas-peppas/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">People</span><span class="nanospace-dropdown-sign nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M32,43.71a3,3,0,0,1-2.12-.88L12.17,25.12a2,2,0,0,1,0-2.83l1.42-1.41a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0L32,36.47,47.59,20.88a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0l1.42,1.41a2,2,0,0,1,0,2.83L34.12,42.83A3,3,0,0,1,32,43.71Z"/></svg></span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/nicholas-peppas/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">Nicholas Peppas</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-33"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/current-students/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">Current Lab Members</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-34"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/former-students/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">Previous Lab Members</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-48"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/publications/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Publications</span></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-1522"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/news/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Archives</span><span class="nanospace-dropdown-sign nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M32,43.71a3,3,0,0,1-2.12-.88L12.17,25.12a2,2,0,0,1,0-2.83l1.42-1.41a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0L32,36.47,47.59,20.88a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0l1.42,1.41a2,2,0,0,1,0,2.83L34.12,42.83A3,3,0,0,1,32,43.71Z"/></svg></span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-30"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/news/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">News</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-31"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/photo-gallery/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">Photo Gallery</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-60"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/croquet/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">Croquet</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1957"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/what-is-a-peppamer-2/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link ">What is a Peppamer?</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1979"><a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/contact-us/" class="nanospace-menu-item-link "><span class="nanospace-menu-item-title">Contact Us</span></a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="mobile-header" class="nanospace-header-mobile nanospace-header "> <div id="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar" class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar nanospace-header-section nanospace-section nanospace-section-default " data-height="60"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar-inner nanospace-section-inner"> <div class="nanospace-wrapper"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar-row nanospace-header-row"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar-left nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-left"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-vertical-toggle"> <button class="nanospace-popup-toggle nanospace-toggle" data-target="mobile-vertical-header" data-set-focus=".nanospace-popup-close"> <span class="nanospace-menu-icon nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M60,35H4a2,2,0,0,1-2-2V31a2,2,0,0,1,2-2H60a2,2,0,0,1,2,2v2A2,2,0,0,1,60,35Zm0-22H4a2,2,0,0,1-2-2V9A2,2,0,0,1,4,7H60a2,2,0,0,1,2,2v2A2,2,0,0,1,60,13Zm0,44H4a2,2,0,0,1-2-2V53a2,2,0,0,1,2-2H60a2,2,0,0,1,2,2v2A2,2,0,0,1,60,57Z"/></svg></span> <span class="screen-reader-text">Mobile Menu</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar-center nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-center"> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-logo site-branding menu"> <div class="site-title menu-item h1"> <a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/" rel="home" class="nanospace-menu-item-link"> <span class="nanospace-default-logo nanospace-logo">Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nanospace-header-mobile-main-bar-right nanospace-header-column nanospace-flex-align-right"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div id="content" class="site-content"> <section id="intro-container" class="entry-header intro-container" role="complementary"> <div class="intro-special"> <div id="intro-media" class="intro-media"> <div id="wp-custom-header" class="wp-custom-header"><img src="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/6armNetwork.png" width="1920" height="1080" alt="Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology" /></div></div> <div id="intro" class="intro"> <div class="intro-inner"> <h1 class="page-title h1 intro-title">Improving Medicine with Materials</h1> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="site-content-inner"> <div id="primary" class="content-area"> <main id="main" class="site-main" role="main"> <article id="post-51" class="post-51 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry entry"> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-content-inner"> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%"> <p class="has-large-font-size">The <em><strong>Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bionanotechnology,</strong> </em>led by Professor Nicholas A. Peppas, has been the leading group and pacesetter in the fields of <em><strong>drug delivery and controlled release</strong></em>, which have developed into mature areas of scholarly and applied research. </p> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Our recent research has concentrated in three major areas: <a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/research#nanoparticle">nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery</a>, <a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/research#biosensor">protein-recognitive biosensors</a>, and <a href="https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/research#scaffold">hydrogel scaffold design</a> for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. We focus primarily on fundamental materials-based approaches to solving critical healthcare problems. Current clinical targets include early detection of <strong>Sjörgen’s syndrome</strong>, treatment of <strong>gastrointestinal diseases</strong>, oral delivery for <strong>multiple sclerosis</strong> and <strong>diabetes</strong> treatment, healing <strong>non-union bone fractures</strong>, and innovative approaches for treating <strong>bone marrow-associated cancers</strong>, <strong>glioblastoma multiforme</strong>, and <strong>colorectal cancer</strong>.</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%"> <figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <a class="twitter-timeline" data-width="1200" data-height="1000" data-dnt="true" href="https://twitter.com/NPeppas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Tweets by NPeppas</a><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div></figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text focus-position-static" href="#header-menu-1">Skip back to main navigation</a> </article> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="colophon" class="site-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div id="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar" class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar site-info nanospace-footer-section nanospace-section "> <div class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-inner nanospace-section-inner"> <div class="nanospace-wrapper"> <div class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-row nanospace-footer-row"> <div class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-left nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-column"></div> <div class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-center nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-column"> <div class="nanospace-footer-copyright"> <div class="nanospace-footer-copyright-content">Copyright © 2025 Nicholas Peppas — Designed by Nate Richbourg — Powered by <a href="https://labinator.com/wordpress-marketplace/themes/nanospace/">NanoSpace</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-right nanospace-footer-bottom-bar-column"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="back-to-top" aria-hidden="true"><span class="nanospace-top-icon nanospace-icon" title=""><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="64" height="64"><path d="M32,43.71a3,3,0,0,1-2.12-.88L12.17,25.12a2,2,0,0,1,0-2.83l1.42-1.41a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0L32,36.47,47.59,20.88a2,2,0,0,1,2.82,0l1.42,1.41a2,2,0,0,1,0,2.83L34.12,42.83A3,3,0,0,1,32,43.71Z"/></svg></span></div><script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/plugins/tabs-responsive/assets/js/bootstrap.js?ver=5.4.2'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var $nanospaceBreakpoints = {"s":"448","m":"672","l":"880","xl":"1280","xxl":"1600","xxxl":"1920","xxxxl":"2560"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/js/skip-link-focus-fix.js?ver=1.1.3'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/js/scripts-navigation.js?ver=1.1.3'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/js/jquery.fitvids.js?ver=1.1.3'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/js/scripts-global.js?ver=1.1.3'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-content/themes/nanospace/assets/js/main.js?ver=1.1.3'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.peppamers.bme.utexas.edu/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js?ver=5.4.2'></script> </body> </html>