The Kao Laboratory
Faculty > W. John Kao
W. John Kao
Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences; Center For Neuroscience
wjkao@pharmacy.wisc.edu
Organ System/Disease Focus
Inflammation and immune reaction
Aligned Research Focus
Biofunctionalized extracellular matrix mimetics, host cell - material interaction
Research Description
Our overall research goal focuses on the role of biomaterials in managing various pathological conditions. Specifically, we are interested in (1) elucidating the mechanisms of cell adhesion and activation on biomaterials, (2) delineating the critical factors in material biocompatibility and biodegradation, and (3) developing enabling technology in the synthesis of novel materials for tissue engineering.
To address these issues, we plan (1) to elucidate the material-modulated molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion and signal transductions leading to phenotypic expressions and cellular activation, (2) to analyze material/tissue interfacial phenomena as mediated by material chemicophysical properties, cytokines, and ligand-receptor interactions, and (3) to develop novel biomaterial constructs of specific biofunctions in manipulating biological responses for therapeutic application.
Selected References
King Heiden TC, Dengler E, Kao WJ, Heideman W, Peerson RE. Developmental toxicity of RGD-conjugated PAMAM dendrimers in zebrafish. Tox Appl'd Pharmacol. In press.
Potter W, Kao WJ. Biomimetic material systems for neural stem cell-based therapy. Frontiers Biosci. In press.
Zuckerman S, Kao WJ. LC/MS identification of 12 intracellular cytoskeletal and inflammatory proteins from monocytes adherent on surface-adsorbed fibronectin-derived peptides. J Biomat Mat Res. In press.
Waldeck H, Gustafson AS, Kao WJ. Interpenetrating networks containing gelatin modified with PEGylated RGD and soluble KFG: synthesis, characterization, application to in vivo critical dermal wound. J Biomed Mat Res. 82A, 861-871. 2007.
Schmidt D, Kao WJ. The interrelated role of fibronectin and interleukin-1 in biomaterial-modulated macrophage function. Biomaterials. 28, 371-382. 2007.