CHEE Seminar: Armando Lucero
Monday, April 22, 2024 – 10:00 a.m.
Armando Lucero, PhD
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering
University of Sonora
“Nanoparticle Engineering Analysis for Biomedical Applications: Reactor Design, Controlled Drug Release and Photothermal Effects”
César Chávez Building, Room 400
ABSTRACT
Modern medicine demands innovative materials and technologies capable of meeting multifaceted challenges. Accordingly, there has been a high interest in materials research at the nanoscale, resulting in emerging technologies such as nanoparticle drug delivery, biosensors, etc. In this presentation, I will showcase some of my research group's endeavors at the intersection of engineering, nanotechnology and biomedical applications. The talk will focus on two areas: first, the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles using techniques such as emulsion-solvent evaporation, nanoprecipitation, and microfluidics, along with controlled drug release analysis. Controlled drug delivery plays a critical role in effectively administering bioactive molecules for various clinical applications. Similarly, I will present the preparation and photothermal evaluation of polypyrrole nanoparticles and polypyrrole-PLGA nanoparticle composites for photothermal therapies. In this therapy, nanoparticles can be positioned at different tissue-penetration depths and convert irradiated energy from the near-infrared (NIR) region into thermal energy. Additionally, I will discuss the design of a microfluidic reactor for the scalable synthesis of gold nanoparticles by considering the reaction kinetics. Insights from these studies contribute in the development of new methodologies for nanoparticle synthesis and the assessment of potential biomedical applications.
BIOSKETCH
Armando Lucero has been serving as a professor of chemical engineering and physics at the University of Sonora in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico since 2013. His research focuses on bionanotechnology, drug delivery, nanoparticle synthesis, surface functionalization, biosensors, and mathematical modeling. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Sonora and completed his PhD at the University of Arizona in 2013, specializing in the same area. Throughout his career, he has successfully secured funding for numerous research projects and played a key role in developing the educational program: Master's in Nanotechnology, offered at the University of Sonora. Additionally, he has actively contributed to organizing conferences and academic events centered around nanotechnology and materials research.