Research

BME undergraduate student helps uncover new treatment for respiratory syndrome

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:53:40 +0000

BME undergraduate student helps uncover new treatment for respiratory syndrome Alexander Jame… Fri, 09/26/2025 - 09:53

Alexander Servantez

For many undergraduate students, ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is an opportunity to obtain early hands-on experience in a lab setting.

Aiming to increase undergraduate research engagement and interest, the program pairs nearly 125 engineering students from across the college in research labs with faculty members and graduate mentors. For 10 weeks, students foster unique, hands-on research experiences and develop crucial skills that serve them well beyond their undergraduate journey.

But for Joshua Smith, it was more than just exposure and learning—it was the chance to contribute to a real scientific breakthrough.

Smith, an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Engineering Program (BME), started his SPUR research journey under the supervision of Assistant Professor Wyatt Shields and graduate mentor Bianca Santana in the Shields Lab. Their project, like something straight out of a health sci-fi movie, involved studying a method of drug transport to the lungs using tiny microrobots to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

“Usually, therapies are based on something called ‘passive delivery,’ which means a drug is injected or inhaled and the patient is left to hope everything works okay from there,” said Smith. “In this method of drug delivery, not much of the treatment actually gets where it needs to go. We’re trying to develop a new method of active transport where we can direct where those drugs go after they enter the body.”

The winding road to treatment

ARDS is a life-threatening lung condition characterized by severe lung inflammation and fluid build-up. It often arises as a complication of other illnesses or injuries and has been seen to develop in a significant percentage of COVID-19 patients—nearly 61 to 81% of those requiring intensive care, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine.

BME undergraduate student Joshua Smith working alongside graduate mentor Bianca Santana of the Shields Lab. (Credit: Jesse Morgan Petersen)

Most ARDS treatment options today are ill-equipped to address the underlying cause of the illness. Current therapies merely look to support the patient and improve select symptoms.

That’s why Smith and his lab group began exploring RNA-based gene therapy, a next-generation therapeutic approach that uses molecules from ribonucleic acid to influence genetic expression, modulate biological pathways and treat diseases.

“We are testing circular RNA, which is a different kind of RNA. Its ends are covalently bonded together, meaning it's less susceptible to degrading enzymes and immune responses,” Smith said.

RNAs face difficulties crossing cellular membranes on their own, so the group is exploring another new solution: pairing them with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). These tiny, spherical vesicles encapsulate the RNA and increase membrane permeability, allowing them to access the cell.

But that’s not the only obstacle. Drug delivery, especially to the lungs, is extremely difficult. The lungs are protected by a viscous mucosal barrier that acts as a physical shield, trapping and blocking potentially infectious inhaled particles and pathogens.

Smith says that’s where the microrobots come in. By attaching the LNPs to the biodegradable, polymeric microbots, he and his team believe they have the power to overcome the tough layer of mucus and safely deliver drugs to the lungs in a much more targeted manner.

“These little bots—we can control them using acoustic, electric and rotating magnetic fields,” said Smith. “If our project is successful, it can lead to much more of the drug reaching its intended destination, thus making the RNA way more effective and efficient.”

Early exposure to discovery

For Smith, a certain allure behind the project captured his curiosity.

“I was looking through SPUR projects one night and I saw the word ‘robot’ in the chemical engineering section. Honestly, it just sounded like it was interdisciplinary and super cool,” Smith said. “When you get to combine two different fields, that’s the best part about science.”

But it wasn’t just a learning experience. Smith said he was able to observe first-hand, and even play a role in a key discovery.

Smith inspecting a piece of lab equipment in the Shields Lab. (Credit: Jesse Morgan Petersen)

“We tested cell viability in circular RNA over the course of a five-day experiment. We were looking to see how much protein the cells produced when exposed to circular RNA as opposed to linear RNA,” said Smith. “We found that circular RNA produced 20 times more protein than linear RNA for a longer period of time. This means the therapies we are working on can be 20 times more effective and last a day longer than other industry standards.”

Smith says these findings have the potential to make a broad impact in the field of gene therapy as a whole, not just ARDS.

“Our project is unique because we’re not just focusing on a specific drug,” Smith said. “We’re focused on drug delivery. Our experiment can easily be applied to other areas, or at least the base concepts of RNA-based gene therapy.”

Going forward, Smith’s experience in the lab has inspired him to potentially pursue medical school after his undergraduate journey. It also illuminated other career fields with ample opportunities to conduct important research.

Regardless of where he ends up, Smith says he’ll bring a strong air of confidence with him.

“There’s definitely expectations and a steep learning curve when it comes to working in a lab,” said Smith. “But throughout the summer, I feel like I grew to be more of a partner, not just a mentee. I was a big contributor to our project and I’m excited to apply what I learned towards my future.”

The project, like something straight out of a health sci-fi movie, combines RNA-based gene therapy with tiny microrobots for drug transport to help treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

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Credit: Jesse Morgan Petersen

New optical technique could transform brain imaging in animals

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:27:07 +0000

New optical technique could transform brain imaging in animals Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/05/2025 - 11:27

��ɫ��Ƶ postdoc Catherine Saladrigas is helping bring high-resolution imaging into miniature microscopes for neuroscience research. Collaborators on this project include Juliet Gopinath, BME faculty member.

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"Cyborg jellyfish" could aid in deep-sea research, inspire next-gen underwater vehicles

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0000

"Cyborg jellyfish" could aid in deep-sea research, inspire next-gen underwater vehicles Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/14/2025 - 12:00

��ɫ��Ƶ engineer Nicole Xu, an assistant professor with BME, first became fascinated with moon jellies more than a decade ago because of their extraordinary swimming abilities. Today, Xu has developed a way to harness their efficiency and ease at moving through the water in ways that could make some types of aquatic research much easier.

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New bioimaging device holds potential for eye and heart condition detection

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0000

New bioimaging device holds potential for eye and heart condition detection Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/13/2025 - 12:00

A ��ɫ��Ƶ research team that included BME faculty members Juliet Gopinath and Shu-Wei Huang have developed a new bioimaging device that can operate with significantly lower power and in an entirely non-mechanical way. It could one day improve detecting eye and even heart conditions.

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New cancer therapy clings to tumors, with inspiration from gecko toes

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:36:32 +0000

New cancer therapy clings to tumors, with inspiration from gecko toes Alexander Jame… Wed, 07/23/2025 - 15:36

A gecko-inspired technology developed by the Shields Lab, in collaboration with doctors at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, uses a specially designed material that adheres to tumors inside the body and steadily releases chemotherapy drugs over several days—potentially allowing for fewer but longer-lasting therapies.

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Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:05:24 +0000

Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors Alexander Jame… Tue, 07/15/2025 - 15:05

Nearly 80% of all stroke survivors experience walking issues and turn to ankle braces for increased support, but ankle braces are still very limited and many stroke survivors report no improvements when using them. Assistant Professor Cara Welker is leading a new, collaborative research project that aims to transform the way these assistive devices are designed.

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Scientists develop method to build tine custom microrobots

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Scientists develop method to build tine custom microrobots Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/07/2025 - 12:00

Researchers in the Shields lab, including a BME undergraduate researcher at the ��ɫ��Ƶ have created a new way to build and control tiny particles that can move and work like microscopic robots, offering a powerful tool with applications in biomedical and environmental research.

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Bruns & Leslie research cybernetic human advancement with New Frontiers Grant

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Bruns & Leslie research cybernetic human advancement with New Frontiers Grant Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/17/2025 - 11:00

With funding designed to foster groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research projects for the potential for high impact, Drs. Carson Bruns (BME, ATLAS) and Grace Leslie (ATLAS) are working to develop the seamless skin integration of brain/body computer interfaces.

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New discovery could make a risky heart failure treatment safer

Alexander James Servantez — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:30:38 +0000

New discovery could make a risky heart failure treatment safer Alexander Jame… Thu, 06/12/2025 - 13:30

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) designed to improve blood flow throughout the body can aid nearly 26 million people globally struggling with heart failure. But these implantable devices come with risks. New research by Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee suggests that studying patient blood flow patterns could help determine who’s at risk of dangerous side effects from LVADs and lead to improvements that could make them safer.

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Robots and chemistry isn’t just a fun combo. Bruns says it’s the future

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 22:22:41 +0000

Robots and chemistry isn’t just a fun combo. Bruns says it’s the future Alexander Jame… Fri, 06/06/2025 - 16:22

Assistant Professor Carson Bruns is leading the charge on an NSF-funded project that he and his team like to call "robochemistry." Their goal is to create robotic sidekicks that can assist chemists with burdensome or unsafe tasks that they may routinely encounter in a wet lab. But that's not all: this unique blend of bots and beakers can also inspire youth interest in science.

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