Welcome to the Almodovar Lab at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. We specialize in engineering polymeric biomaterials for cell manufacturing, tissue repair, and drug delivery. The Almodovar Lab values diversity and inclusiveness as top priorities for our research community. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Our research focuses on the tailoring and engineering of polymeric-based biomaterials for fundamental studies and applications in therapeutics, cell manufacturing, and tissue repair. Specific topics of interest include: cell-material interactions, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and extracellular matrix mimetic materials. Our laboratory has extensive experience with multiple techniques for generating polymeric biomaterials such as polyelectrolyte multilayers via layer-by-layer assembly, nanofibers via electrospinning, and microneedles via molding. A wide array of techniques are employed to characterize these biomaterials including: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (IR-VASE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, and atomic force spectroscopy (AFM), among others. Our laboratory also has extensive expertise in cell-culture techniques using both primary cells and immortalized cell lines.
