2004–present Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University 2000–2004 Research Chemist, Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology 1998–2000 Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota 1998 Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California (Berkeley) 1993 B.S., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Green & Environmental/Materials & Nanoscience/Polymer

Research in the Washburn Group is on problems at the interface of materials chemistry and biology. Our primary focus has been the development of materials that locally control inflammation in tissues by neutralizing the soluble signaling proteins that mediate these responses. Composed of antibodies conjugated to high molecular weight polymer constructs, these materials have been shown to be active in a broad range of medical applications. Other areas of interest include development of complex fluids based on hyaluronic acid, biomimetic adhesives, and polymers derived from renewable resources.

Cytokine binding by polysaccharide-antibody conjugates. Sun LT, Buchholz KS, Lotze MT, Washburn NR. Mol Pharm. DOI: 10.1021/mp100150z

Design principles for cytokine-neutralizing gels: Cross-linking effects. Sun LT, Bencherif SA, Gilbert TA, Lotze MT, Washburn NR. Acta Biomater. DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2010.06.029

Biological activities of cytokine-neutralizing hyaluronic acid-antibody conjugates. Sun LT, Bencherif SA, Gilbert TA, Farkas AM, Lotze MT, Washburn NR. Wound Repair & Regeneration, 2010, 18: 302-10.

Complex fluids based on methacrylated hyaluronic acid. Prata JE, Barth TA, Bencherif SA, Washburn NR. Biomacromolecules, 2010, 11: 769-75.

Teaching Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Polymeric Biomaterials. Washburn NR. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010.

Enhanced Wet Adhesion and Shear of Elastomeric Micro-Fiber Arrays with Mushroom Tip Geometry and a Photopolymerized p(DMA-co-MEA) Tip Coating. Glass P, Chung H, Washburn NR, Sitti M. Langmuir. 2010.

Synthesis by AGET ATRP of degradable nanogel precursors for in situ formation of nanostructured hyaluronic acid hydrogel. Bencherif SA, Washburn NR, Matyjaszewski K. 2009; 10: 2499-507.