Abstract Detail

Abstract

This talk will discuss how we have used nanotechnology eliminate infections in over 30,000 humans to date. It will discuss how medical devices have been modified to have nanoscale surface features that repel bacteria while promoting tissue growth. Moreover, it will discuss how we are using artificial intelligence (AI) to design better biomaterials for various biomedical applications. In particular, AI is being used in implantable nano sensor design to prevent, diagnose, and treat various diseases from cancer to infection. Specifically, here, implantable sensors were designed, fabricated, and tested. Such sensors can detect the type of cell that attaches to an implant, communicate such information to a handheld device, and respond to ensure implant success. In particular, such sensors have been tested in animal studies in which sensors were inserted into the calvaria of rats, bacteria purposedly injected, and sensors used to detect bacteria presence as well as on-demand release antibiotics to eliminate infection. Further, AI has been used in such sensors to predict what types of drug delivery vehicles will be most effective for that particular patient based on prior patient health data and real time response to therapies. It is well known that due to variations in immune systems from patient to patient, patients will respond differently to the same biomaterial and drug treatment, thus, personalized or tailored treatments are necessary and can result from AI. In vitro, in vivo, and human clinical studies will be presented in which AI has already improved medicine. In this manner, this presentation presents a positive view on the implementation of AI into medicine via sensors showing how it can be used to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Biography

Thomas J. Webster’s (H index: 129; Google Scholar) degrees are in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (B.S., 1995; USA) and in biomedical engineering from RPI (Ph.D., 2000; USA). He has served as a professor at Purdue (2000-2005), Brown (2005-2012), and Northeastern (2012-2021; serving as Chemical Engineering Department Chair from 2012 - 2019) Universities and has formed over a dozen companies who have numerous FDA approved medical products currently improving human health in over 30,000 patients.  His technology is also being used in commercial products to improve sustainability and renewable energy. He is currently helping those companies and serves as a professor at Brown University, Saveetha University, Hebei University of Technology, UFPI, and others.  Dr. Webster has numerous awards including: 2020, World Top 2% Scientist by Citations (PLOS); 2020, SCOPUS Highly Cited Research (Top 1% Materials Science and Mixed Fields); 2021, Clarivate Top 0.1% Most Influential Researchers (Pharmacology and Toxicology); 2022, Best Materials Science Scientist by Citations (Research.com); and is a fellow of over 8 societies.  Prof. Webster is a former President of the U.S. Society for Biomaterials and has over 1,350 publications to his credit with over 55,000 citations. He was recently nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Prof. Webster also recently formed a fund to support Nigerian student research opportunities in the U.S.