Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D.

	Joshua Brock Thomas Graduate Student The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station, MC C0400 Chemical Engineering Dept. Austin, TX 78712 PHONE: (512) 471-6910 thomasj@che.utexas.edu

Background
I am originally from Henderson, Tennessee, a small town in the western portion of the state. I attended the University of Tennessee and received my B.S. in Chemical Engineering in May 2003. While at the University of Tennessee, I performed research under the supervision of Dr. Paul Frymier working on various projects studying the bioluminescent bacterium PM6 for applications in water toxicity analysis. I also had the opportunity to spend 7 months in Australia and New Zealand, half the time interning with a joint venture company between Alcoa Aluminum and Kobe Steel called KAAL Australia Pty., Ltd and the other half traveling. I embarked upon my graduate studies during the fall semester of 2003.

Research Summary
My research area focuses on the development of bioadhesive materials that can be utilized in mucoadhesive drug delivery systems. There has been quite an extensive amount of research in the field by performing various in vitro, in situ and in vivo experimental studies. However, there is a limited a priori understanding of how various systems will behave in spatial controlled release delivery systems, and in vitro and in vivo studies often correlate poorly. Therefore, a need exists to understand the synergistic effects of the various theories of adhesion: fracture, diffusion, electronic, adsorption, wetting. By examining and understanding the applicable theories, one will be able to develop superior mucoadhesive devices. Increasing mucoadhesion will further help bioavailability by localizing the drug at a specific adsorption target, decreasing the diffusion barriers, and increasing the residence time. The engineering of the mucoadhesive and drug release properties of the system will enable the development of superior sytems for oral delivery. The benefits of these systems will be more patient compliance, a more effective and efficient treatment, and highly cost-effective.

Publications
N.A. Peppas, J.B. Thomas, K.M. Wood. Controlled Release in Membranes Vol. I, K.V. Peinemann, ed. Wiley, New York (in preparation). J.B. Thomas, N.A. Peppas. Adhesives in Encylopedia of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, 2nd Edn., G. Wnek and G. Bowlin, eds. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (submitted). J.B. Thomas, N.A. Peppas, M. Sato, and T.J. Webster. Nanotechnology and Biomaterials in CRC Nanomaterials Handbook, Y. Gogotsi, ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton (in press). J.B. Thomas, C.M Creecy, J.W. McGinity, and N.A. Peppas. Synthesis and Properties of Lightly Crosslinked Poly((meth)acrylic acid) Microparticles Prepared by Free Radical Precipitation Polymerization. Polym. Bull. (submitted).

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