Our research focuses on the synthesis, understanding and application  of
stimuli-responsive materials, which include nanoparticles,  nanofibers, surfactants,
polymers and gels. Responsive gels, polymers  and surfactants have a wide variety of applications, for example, drug delivery, protein and environmental separations and rheology and  surface tension modification. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (e.g. magnetic fluids) may be used in environmental, biological and chemical  separations. Surface-modified metal and metal oxide nanoparticles may  be used as catalysts in a variety of chemical reactions.

A second area research is comprised of projects supported by the  Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous Manufacturing. These projects aim  to develop innovative crystallization, separations and other  downstream processing steps that could be integrated into a continuous  manufacturing process for pharmaceuticals.