Email
rwang16@wpi.edu
Phone
+1 (508) 8314181
Education
BS, Jilin University, 1990
PhD, University of Tokyo, 1996
Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Alamos National Lab, 1998-2000
Research
Science and Technology that enable the analysis of patients’ minute biopsy samples in the native states to reveal the fundamental causes of diseases and yield intervention points for treatment are in critical demand. Research in Wang group leverages interdisciplinary approaches that merge material science, biochemistry, bioengineering and nanotechnology to address such multifaceted challenges. Students receive training in biochemistry, biophysics, bioanalytical chemistry, surface chemistry, composite materials and cell biology through research projects, such as: a) developing high-performance biocomposite materials with tunable biochemical composition and biophysical properties, and stimuli-responsive for tissue repair and cell therapeutics; b) creating a salivary sensor device, coupled with optical spectroscopy and imaging, machine learning and nano/microfabrication, to assess the risk of periodontitis and comorbidities; c) generating silk based fibers to mimick the aligned fibrous collagen in extracellular matrix for innovative biomedical and industrial devices; and d) designing and synthesizing photothermo-responsive polymer as gating material for aroma compound and drug molecule encapsulation and controllable release.
Dr. Wang’s research are currently funded by National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation. She is a Standing Member of NIH Cellular and Molecular Technologies (CMT) Study Section, an Associate Editor of Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and is on the Editorial Boards of Bioengineering and Journal of Functional Biomaterials.
Email
rwang16@wpi.edu
Education
BS, Jilin University, 1990
PhD, University of Tokyo, 1996
Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Alamos National Lab, 1998-2000
Research
Science and Technology that enable the analysis of patients’ minute biopsy samples in the native states to reveal the fundamental causes of diseases and yield intervention points for treatment are in critical demand. Research in Wang group leverages interdisciplinary approaches that merge material science, biochemistry, bioengineering and nanotechnology to address such multifaceted challenges. Students receive training in biochemistry, biophysics, bioanalytical chemistry, surface chemistry, composite materials and cell biology through research projects, such as: a) developing high-performance biocomposite materials with tunable biochemical composition and biophysical properties, and stimuli-responsive for tissue repair and cell therapeutics; b) creating a salivary sensor device, coupled with optical spectroscopy and imaging, machine learning and nano/microfabrication, to assess the risk of periodontitis and comorbidities; c) generating silk based fibers to mimick the aligned fibrous collagen in extracellular matrix for innovative biomedical and industrial devices; and d) designing and synthesizing photothermo-responsive polymer as gating material for aroma compound and drug molecule encapsulation and controllable release.
Dr. Wang’s research are currently funded by National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation. She is a Standing Member of NIH Cellular and Molecular Technologies (CMT) Study Section, an Associate Editor of Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and is on the Editorial Boards of Bioengineering and Journal of Functional Biomaterials.
Phone
+1 (508) 8314181
Scholarly Work
“Identifying Distinct Nanoscopic Features of Native Collagen Fibrils towards Early Diagnosis of Pelvic Organ Prolapse”, Taeyoung Kim, Indumathi Sridharan, Yin Ma, Bofan Zhu, Naiwei Chi, William Kobak, Jacob Rotmensch, Jay D. Schieber, Rong Wang, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 12: 667–675 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2015.11.006.
“Electrospun Protein-CNT Composite Fibers and the Application in Fibroblast Stimulation” by Naiwei Chi and Rong Wang, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com., 504: 211-217 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.08.157.
“Features of Material Surfaces Affecting Virus Adhesion as Determined by Nanoscopic Quantification”, Ao Guo, Y. Carol Shieh, Rong R. Wang, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 602:125109 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.125109.
“Role of photobleaching process of indocyanine green for killing neuroblastoma cells”, Clutter, E. D., Chen, L. L., & Wang, R. R. (2022). Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 589, 254–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.033.
“Distinctive structure, composition and biomechanics of collagen fibrils in vaginal wall connective tissues associated with pelvic organ prolapse”, Chi N., Lozo S., Rathnayake A.C.R., Botros S., Ma Y., Damaser, M. and Wang R.R. (2022), Acta Biomaterialia. 152:335-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2022.08.059.
“Electrospun Silk Fibroin-CNT Composite Fibers: Structure, Function and Application in Fibroblast Stimulation”, Rathnayake A.C.R, Shinhae Yoon, Zheng S., Elwin Clutter, Wang R.R., Polymers (2023) 15(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010091.