معرفی
Thomas Werfel is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Mississippi, with affiliations in Chemical Engineering and Biomolecular Sciences. He serves as Co-Director of the Center for Nano-Bio Interactions and is based at the School of Pharmacy in Oxford. His research focuses on advanced biomaterials, nanomedicine, and targeted drug delivery systems for cancer and mental health applications.
Dr. Werfel earned his M.S. (2015) and Ph.D. (2017) in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. His work integrates polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering to develop novel therapeutic delivery platforms, including glycopolymeric nanoparticles, ROS-responsive systems, and hybrid nanobiocomposites. He explores mechanisms such as efferocytosis inhibition in tumor microenvironments and photothermal ablation of biofilms.
His recent studies address challenges in cancer therapy (e.g., breast cancer growth inhibition via glycopolymer nanoparticles), mental illness treatment (e.g., interval delivery of 5HT2A agonists), and biomaterial-driven immune modulation. His lab also investigates charge-shifting polymers, drug conjugation strategies, and stimuli-responsive release mechanisms.
Dr. Werfel collaborates on projects such as the design of tumor-penetrating nanocarriers and the development of anti-miRNA therapies for vascular disorders. His work emphasizes translational applications, including improved siRNA delivery and biocompatible material synthesis.
