Nathan C. Gianneschi, Ph.D.

Scientists at Northwestern University and at the University of California San Diego have developed a potent injectable therapy that the results of rodent studies showed can protect the heart from damage after a heart attack.

The therapeutic approach comprises specially designed polymers that act like proteins. These protein-like polymers (PLPs) “grab” onto regulatory proteins, which blunt the body’s natural healing process, in heart tissue. With those proteins out of the way, the healing proteins are free to do their job—preventing stress and inflammation. After demonstrating success in cell culture, the scientists tested their new therapy in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI)… Continue reading.

Scientists at Northwestern, and Case Western Reserve universities have developed the first polymer-based therapeutic for the genetic disorder Huntington’s disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disease that causes nerve cells to break down in the brain.

The new treatment leverages peptide-brush polymers, which act as a shield to prevent proteins from binding to one another. In studies in mice the treatment successfully rescued neurons to reverse symptoms. Treated mice also experienced no significant side effects, indicating that the therapy was nontoxic and well tolerated… Continue reading.

In the latest stride toward combating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a team led by Professor Nathan Gianneschi from the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University has unveiled a novel approach that could transform patients’ lives worldwide.

Their research, published in Science Advances, introduces Thrombospondin-1 mimetic protein-like polymers (TSP1 PLPs) as a potential game-changer in the fight against this leading cause of blindness.

nAMD is the primary cause of blindness in developed nations, leaving millions grappling with deteriorating eyesight and a diminished quality of life. While effective for many, current treatments fall short for a significant portion of patients, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapies… Continue reading.

Whether we buy it at a drugstore or at a salon, hair dye can make a big difference in how we feel about our appearance—but how safe is it?

There are ongoing questions about whether or not hair dye increases cancer risks, with at least two studies linking permanent hair dye with increased likelihood of breast cancer in Black women. There are also significant allergy risks associated with hair dyes, and many people are bothered by fumes from the chemicals… Continue reading.

Packing for outer space? Here’s one thing you won’t want to forget.

Northwestern University researchers have synthesized a new form of melanin enriched with selenium. Called selenomelanin, this new biomaterial shows extraordinary promise as a shield for human tissue against harmful radiation.

“Given the increased interest in space travel and the general need for lightweight, multifunctional, and radioprotective biomaterials, we’ve become excited about the potential of melanin,” said Nathan Gianneschi, professor of biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering at Northwestern Engineering, who led the research. “It occurred to our postdoctoral fellow Wei Cao that melanin containing selenium would offer better protection than other forms of melanin. That brought up the intriguing possibility that this as-yet undiscovered melanin may very well exist in nature, being used in this way. So we skipped the discovery part and decided to make it ourselves… Continue reading.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the induction of Nathan C. Gianneschi, Ph.D., Jacob and Rosaline Cohn Professor, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, to its College of Fellows.

Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to a medical and biological engineer. The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers. College membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering and medicine research, practice, or education” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of medical and biological engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to bioengineering education.”

Dr. Gianneschi was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows for “pioneering and creative contributions to nanomedicine through the invention of bioresponsive phase-change materials for selective tissue targeting.“