Nicole M. Moore, D.Sc.

Research  

My research focuses on developing new technologies to advance the development of novel biomaterials and new metrologies for tissue engineering and gene delivery applications. Current research includes: (1) The fabrication and characterization of bioactive libraries that can be used to quantify cell responses, such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, to a range of bioactive materials simultaneously. (2) The development of a three color FRET technique for analysis of non-viral gene delivery trafficking. (3) Quantum dot biomarkers for quantifying cell differentiation in 2D and 3D scaffolds.

Background

I received a D.Sc. in chemical engineering from Washington University in 2008. While at Washington University, I researched non-viral gene delivery systems under the direction of Dr. Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. My dissertation, entitled “The Development of a Polyethylene Glycol Based Gene Delivery System” examined intracellular trafficking and efficiency of four arm PEG-peptide conjugated systems for gene delivery. Prior to Washington University, I earned a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Awards and Honors

• MSEL Work-Life Diversity Award (2009)
• NRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2008)
• Alumni Award, University of Notre Dame (2003)

Professional and Academic Society Memberships

• Society for Biomaterials
• American Society of Gene Therapy
• University of Notre Dame Monogram Club

Relevant Publications

• Moore NM, Lin NJ, Becker ML. Enhancing MC3T3-E1 Osteoblast Proliferation Using Immobilized Osteogenic Growth Peptide on Gradient Substrates Synthesized via “Click” Chemistry. To be submitted. Biomaterials
• Moore NM, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Analysis of Cell Binding and Internalization of Multivalent Poly(ethylene glycol) Based Gene Delivery Vehicles. In submission.
• Moore NM, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Functional Peptides on Intracellular Gene Delivery Processes of PEG-based Vehicles. In submission.
• Moore NM, Sheppard CL, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Characterization of a multifunctional PEG-based gene delivery system containing nuclear localization signals and endosomal escape peptides. Acta Biomater. 2009 Mar;5(3):854-64.
• Moore NM, Sheppard CL, Barbour TR, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. The effect of endosomal escape peptides on in vitro gene delivery of polyethylene glycol-based vehicles.  J Gene Med. 2008 Oct;10(10):1134-49
• Moore NM, Barbour TR, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Synthesis and characterization of four-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-based gene delivery vehicles coupled to integrin and DNA-binding peptides. Mol Pharm. 2008 Jan-Feb; 5(1):140-50. Epub 2007 Dec 13.
• Schmieder AH, Grabski LE, Moore NM, Dempsey LA, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Development of novel poly(ethylene glycol)-based vehicles for gene delivery. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2007 Apr 1; 96(5): 967-76.