Northwestern University, Institute for BioNanotechnology
Indian Institute of Technology (in collaboration with Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Japan)
Indian Institute of Technology
University of Calcutta
The biochemical and biophysical properties of cellular microenvironment send instructive signals to cells to control a variety of processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. Our lab aims for a molecular level understanding of these regulatory mechanisms using designed artificial matrices as a tool. In collaboration with experts from the field of chemistry and materials science, the matrices will be built on a modular, self-assembled materials platform to take advantage of the controllable nanostructure and mechanical properties these materials afford. In addition, such materials have the ability to present or release of bioactive molecules and incorporate dynamic properties such as stimuli-triggered spatio-temporal modulation in the material properties and bioactivity. We will focus on understanding how material properties such as stiffness, topography, alignment and surface charge affect the events at the cell-material interface (e.g. receptor mobility and clustering, cytoskeletal organization) and how these surface interactions lead to activation of signaling cascades and modulation of gene expression. We will also investigate the significance of temporal presentation of extracellular cues on cell development. Our long-term goal is to improve stem cell-based regenerative strategies where rationally designed materials could be used to drive transplanted cells into preferred cell lineage and function.
Publications (last 5 years)
* indicates equally contributing authors
1. Saahir Khan, Shantanu Sur, Patricia Dankers, Ricardo Da Silva, Job Boekhoven, Taylor Poor, Samuel I. Stupp (2014): “Post-assembly functionalization of supramolecular nanostructures with bioactive peptides and fluorescent proteins by native chemical ligation”, Bioconjugate Chemistry, Volume 25, Issue 4, 707-717.
2. Shantanu Sur, Mustafa O. Guler, Matthew J.Webber, Eugene T. Pashuck, Masao Ito, Samuel I. Stupp, Thomas Launey (2014): “Synergistic regulation of cerebellar Purkinje neuron development by laminin epitopes and collagen on an artificial hybrid matrix construct”, Biomaterials Science, Volume 2, Issue 6, 903-914
3. Christina J. Newcomb*, Shantanu Sur*, Julia H. Ortony, One-Sun Lee, John B. Matson, Job Boekhoven, Jeong Min Yu, George C. Schatz, Samuel I. Stupp (2014): “Cell death versus cell survival instructed by supramolecular cohesion of nanostructures”, Nature Communications, Volume 5, 3321.
4. Eric J. Berns*, Shantanu Sur*, Joshua E. Goldberger, Samuel I. Stupp (2014): “Aligned neurite outgrowth and directed migration in monodomain gels of self-assembling, peptide based nanofibers”, Biomaterials, Volume 35, Issue 1, 185-195.
5. Job Boekhoven, Charles Perez Rubert, Shantanu Sur, Amanda Worthy, Samuel I. Stupp (2013): “Dynamic display of bioactivity via host guest chemistry”, Angewandte Chemie Int Ed English, Volume 52, Issue 46, 12077-12080.
6. Shantanu Sur*, Christina J. Newcomb*, Matthew J. Webber, Samuel I. Stupp (2013): “Tuning supramolecular mechanics to guide neuron development”, Biomaterials, Volume 34, Issue 20, 4749-4757.
7. R. Helen Zha, Shantanu Sur, Samuel I. Stupp (2013): “Self assembly of cytotoxic peptide amphiphiles into supramolecular membranes for cancer therapy”, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Volume 2, Issue 1, 126-133.
8. Sungsoo S. Lee, Brian J. Huang, Stuart R. Kaltz, Shantanu Sur, Christina J. Newcomb, Stuart R. Stock, Ramille N. Shah, Samuel I. Stupp (2013): “Bone regeneration with low dose BMP-2 amplified by biomimetic supramolecular nanofibers within collagen scaffolds”, Biomaterials, Volume 34, Issue 2, 452-459.
9. Shantanu Sur*, John B. Matson *, Matthew J.Webber, Christina J. Newcomb, Samuel I. Stupp (2012): “Photodynamic control of bioactivity in a self-assembled matrix,” ACS Nano, Volume 6, Issue 12, 10776-10785.
10. Saahir Khan, Shantanu Sur, Christina J. Newcomb, Elizabeth A. Appelt, Samuel I. Stupp (2012): “Self-Assembling glucagon-like peptide 1-mimetic peptide amphiphiles for enhanced activity and proliferation of insulin-secreting cells”, Acta Biomaterialia, Volume 8, Issue 5, 1685-1692.
11. Shantanu Sur, Eugene Pashuck, Mustafa Guler, Masao Ito, Samuel I. Stupp, Thomas Launey (2012): “A hybrid nanofiber matrix to control the survival and maturation of brain neurons” Biomaterials, Volume 33, Issue 2, 545-555.