 Assistant Professor
Department of Bioengineering
5121H Engineering V
310-794-6341
310-794-5956 fax
akasko@ucla.edu | Kasko Lab Website
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Education
- B.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1997
- M.S.E., Case Western Reserve University, 1999
- Ph.D., The University of Akron, 2004
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004-2006
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Research Interests
Structural hierarchy is an important concept in the design of new materials for biomedical applications. Because natural materials exhibit structural hierarchy from the nanoscale to the macroscale, biomaterials should ideally exhibit a similar hierarchy. Current research in biomaterials is often limited to chemicals available "off the shelf", which are either naturally occurring materials or biocompatible synthetic polymers. Collagen, heparin, hyaluronic acid, and agarose are examples of natural materials used for biomedical applications, but there is limited control over their chemical and physical properties and thus they are only suitable for specific applications. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(caprolactone) and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) are examples of biocompatible synthetic polymers with the physical and chemical behaviors that can be controlled and/or modified, but that exhibit very little structural hierarchy. In order to mimic, influence or control natural processes, we need to rationally design new materials from the nanoscale to the macroscale, with control over the chemical and physical properties at multiple levels. By controlling molecular structure, assembly and interaction on multiple levels, we can better replicate the critical aspects of physiological materials and processes.
Recent Papers
- Griffin, D.R., and Kasko, A.M., "Photoselective Delivery of Model Therapeutics from Hydrogels," ACS Macro Letters, ACS Publication, 2012 American Chemical Scoiety, 1:1330-1334, October 2012.
- Griffin, D.R., and Kasko, A.M., "Photodegradable Macromers and Hydrogels for Live Cell Encapsulation and Selective Release", J. Am. Chem. Soc., July 2012.
- Chia, H.N., Vigen, M., and Kasko, A.M., "Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Pulmonary Fibroblast Response to TGF-beta, Acta Biomaterialia, 8(7): 2602-2611, July 2012.
- Kasko A.M., Wong D.Y., "Two-photon lithography in the future of cell-based therapeutics and regenerative medicine: a review of techniques for hydrogel patterning and controlled release," Future Med Chem. 2010 Nov;2(11):1669-80.
- Griffin D.R., Patterson J.T., Kasko A.M., "Photodegradation as a mechanisms for controlled drug delivery," Biotechnol Bioeng. 2010 Dec 15;107(6):1012-9.
- Pedron S., Kasko A.M., Penaido C., Anseth K.S., "Effect of heparin oligomer chain length on the activation of valvular interstitial cells," Biomacromolecules. 2010 Jun 14;11(6);1692-5.
- Kloxin A.M., Tibbitt M.W., Kasko A.M., Fairbairn J.A., Anseth K.S., "Tunable hydrogels for external manipulation of cellular microenvironments through controlled photodegradation," Adv Mater. 2010 Jan 5;22(1):61-6.
- Kloxin A.M., Kasko A.M., Salinas C.N., Anseth K.S., "Photodegradable hydrogels for dynamic tuning of physical and chemical properties," Science. 2009 Apr 3;324(5923):59-63
- Salinas C.N., Cole B.B., Kasko A.M., Anseth K.S., "Chondrogenic differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells photoencapsulated within poly(ethylene glycol)-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine thiol-methacrylate mixed-mode networks," Tissue Eng. 2007 May;13(5):1025-34.
Courses
- Bioengr CM178 / CM278: Introduction to Biomaterials (Fall Quarter)
- Bioengr C183 / C283: Targeted Drug Delivery and Controlled Drug Release (Winter Quarter)
- Bioengr C185 / C285: Introduction to Tissue Engineering (Spring Quarter)
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