Education

• MBA, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, 2015
• Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology, 2007-2010
• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Drexel University, 2007
• B.S., Polymer Engineering, Amir Kabir University, 2002

Research

The overarching theme of our research is the robust design and engineering of tissues through understanding and modeling of the environmental effects on stem cell differentiation and tissue remodeling and development. We are engineering microenvironments based on carbon nanotube arrays with finely controllable biophysical and biochemical properties for the investigation of molecular mechanisms associated with cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Investigations in the lab revolve around how cells sense distinctive types of mechanical, biochemical and morphological cues and integrate them to generate an appropriate response. This work is complemented by a parallel effort to construct a single cell based mathematical model of intercellular signaling events that are linked to signaling outputs associated with fate commitment. In addition, our laboratory is actively pursuing the development of biomaterials that recapitulate the key characteristics of natural extracellular matrix for applications in bone and vascular tissue engineering.

Selected Publications

Yanez, J. Blanchette, E. Jabbarzadeh, “Modulation of Inflammatory Response to Implanted Biomaterials Using Natural Compounds,” Current Pharmaceutical Design, In Press.

W. F. Taylor and E. Jabbarzadeh, “The Use of Natural Products to Target Cancer Stem Cells,” American Journal of Cancer Research 7 (7), 1588 (2017).

E. Rutledge, Q. Cheng and E. Jabbarzadeh*, “Modulation of inflammatory response and induction of bone formation based on combinatorial effects of resveratrol,” Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology 7(1):1-10 (2016).

M. V. Pryzhkova, I. Aria, Q. Cheng G. Harris, M. Gharib, and E. Jabbarzadeh*, “Carbon nanotube based substrates for modulation of human pluripotent stem cells,” Biomaterials 35(19): 5098-5109 (2014).

G. Harris, M. E. Piroli, and E. Jabbarzadeh, “Deconstructing the effects of matrix elasticity and geometry in mesenchymal stem cell lineage commitment,” Advanced Functional Materials 14: 2396-2403 (2014).

K. Rutledge, Cheng G., M. V. Pryzhkova, Harris, and E. Jabbarzadeh, “Enhanced Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells on Extracellular Matrix-Containing Osteomimetic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering,” Tissue Engineering Part C In Press (2014).

G. Harris, T. Shazly, and E. Jabbarzadeh, “Deciphering the combinatorial roles of geometric, mechanical, and adhesion cues in regulation of cell spreading,” PloS One 8(11)  e81113 (2013).

Q. Cheng, G. Harris, and E. Jabbarzadeh, “PLGA-Carbon Nanotube Conjugates for Intercellular Delivery of Caspase-3 into Osteosarcoma Cells,” PLoS One 8(12) e81947 (2013).

Teaching

• BMEN 271 -  Introduction to Biomaterials
• BMEN 354 -  Biotransport
• BMEN 389 -  Engineering Cancer Therapeutics
• BMEN 389J - Stem Cell Engineering
• ECHE 300 -   Chemical Engineering Process Principles
• ENCP 460 – Entrepreneurial Engineering

Honors and Awards

• Promising Young Investigator Award, University of South Carolina, 2012
• Best Doctoral Dissertation in Engineering Award, Drexel University, 2007
• George Hill Fellowship, Drexel University, 2006