Amol Janorkar, PhD
Professor and department chair, Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry,
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Date: Friday, Feb. 13
Time: 9–9:50 a.m.
Location: SCOB 228
Faculty host: Vikram Kodibagkar
Abstract
Biopolymers have emerged as versatile platforms for addressing critical challenges in tissue engineering and localized drug delivery. This work presents the design of hydrogels, surface coatings and microparticles derived from biopolymers for medical applications. Three major technological challenges are addressed.
First, elastin and collagen-based multicomponent hydrogel scaffolds were developed to enable simultaneous tissue regeneration and controlled therapeutic delivery, with a particular emphasis on craniofacial tissue engineering. These composites exhibited tunable mechanical properties, enhanced osteogenic differentiation, effective in vivo bone regeneration and sustained release of antibiotics and growth factors without compromising antibacterial efficacy.
Second, manipulation of biopolymer surface chemistry was used to create scaffold-free three-dimensional spheroid models. Elastin-like polypeptide–polyethyleneimine copolymer coatings supported long-term 3D culture of human adipose-derived stem cells, resulting in spheroids that more closely recapitulate native adipose tissue morphology, metabolism and gene expression compared to traditional two-dimensional or hydrogel-based systems. Transcriptomic and functional analyses demonstrated enhanced adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism and responsiveness to inflammatory and nutritional stimuli.
Third, microparticles with precisely controlled size and stability were fabricated using thiol-ene click chemistry for sustained drug delivery applications relevant to periodontal disease. These microparticles demonstrated effective antibiotic loading, significant antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and acceptable cytocompatibility.
Collectively, these studies highlight the potential of engineered biopolymer systems to integrate tissue engineering and drug delivery strategies, advancing translational solutions for craniofacial, adipose and oral health applications.
Biosketch
Amol Janorkar received his Bachelor’s of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai’s Department of Chemical Technology and his doctorate in chemical engineering from Clemson University. He did a postdoc in the Center for Engineering in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He then joined the Department of Biomedical Materials Science at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, or UMMC, where he is currently a professor and department chair. Janorkar also serves as the chair of UMMC Intellectual Property Committee and the co-director of NIH-funded Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research Mentoring Academy. He served as the founding director of the School of Dentistry’s summer research program from 2008 to 2023, during which time the program trained over 250 dental and undergraduate students. He also served as graduate program director from 2016–2020.
Janorkar leads a research group that focuses on cell-biomaterial interactions for tissue engineering and drug delivery. His research has been funded by NSF, NIH, USDA and the U.S. Army. Janorkar has mentored 97 students at all career levels, including high school to graduate, undergraduate, dental, medical students and post-docs. His students have won 50 awards for outstanding research. His research team has published over 90 journal articles and 75 conference proceedings and has made over 150 conference presentations.
Recognizing his research accomplishments, UMMC has awarded Janorkar the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medallions for Research Excellence. Recognizing his teaching and mentoring, Janorkar was awarded the Toward Educational Advancement in Care and Health Prize, the highest award given to an educator by UMMC. He has also been inducted into the Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence and the UMMC Academy for Excellence in Education. Recognizing his contributions to dental research, he has been inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, which rarely inducts non-dentist faculty members.
