Bioheat and Mass Transfer Laboratory

• Thermal Therapies (TT) - destruction of diseased (i.e. tumor) tissue by the use of energy sources (and sinks) such as:  Cryosurgery, Microwave, Radiofrequency (RF), High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and Laser.
• Thermal Therapy Enhancement -  Nanoparticle Drug (TT Adjuvant) Delivery and Heating by Various Electromagnetic Sources.
• Cryo- and Biopreservation - preservation of cells and tissues by freezing, hypothermic storage, drying or vitrification (glass formation).
• Burn injury - characterization of burn injury in tissues.

The latest area of emphasis in the BHMT lab focuses on the use of iron oxide and gold nanoparticles to enhance thermal therapies.  For example, iron oxide can be used for detection and heating of cancer.  In addition, gold nanoparticles can be used to deliver drugs and to heat cancer locally by both optical and electrical sources.  Basic investigations of nanoparticle biodistribution and heating based on nanoparticle core, coating, size, and charge are currently underway. In brief the lab focuses on basic aspects of thermal injury as well as applied work in the characterization and development of devices for preservation and destruction of  cells and tissue using heat or cold.