MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering

DMSE researchers consider the entire life-cycle of materials: from selection, through manufacturing, to recycling. Learn more

What’s New

Controlling drug activity with light

In a new publication, a team co-led by Professor Polina Anikeeva and OHSU Research Assistant Professor James Frank introduces a microfiber technology to deliver and activate a drug that can be induced to bind its receptor by exposure to light. To use light to control drug activity, light and drugs must be delivered simultaneously to the targeted cells, which can be difficult when the target is deep in the body. Their work provides an integrated approach for on-demand delivery of light and drugs through a single fiber.

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New diagnostic test can detect scarred or fatty liver tissue

Michael Cima has a new paper published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on a diagnostic device that can be used to diagnose and monitor liver disease. The device, which is small enough to fit on a table, uses magnetic resonance (MR) to analyze tissue composition, and can be used to diagnose fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis, which combined affect about 1 billion people worldwide.

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Danielle Grey-Stewart named 2021 Rhodes Scholar

Danielle Grey-Stewart (DMSE '21) has been selected to be a 2021 Rhodes Scholar. As a Rhodes Scholar, she will pursue an MPhil in nature, society, and environmental governance at Oxford University’s School of Geography and the Environment. Grey-Stewart wants to become a leader in science policy with the goal of opening new avenues for fellow scientists of color.

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Researchers develop new gelatin microcarrier for cell production

Researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have developed a novel microcarrier for large-scale cell production and expansion that offers higher yield and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods, and reduces steps required in the cell retrieval process.

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System inspired by camel fur harnesses evaporation to keep items cool

Inspired by camel fur's performance in the desert, MIT researchers have developed a two-layer passive cooling system, made of hydrogel and aerogel, that can keep foods and pharmaceuticals cool for days without the need for electricity.

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DMSE researchers use physics technology to develop rapid COVID-19 test

A team led by Professor Alfredo Alexander-Katz has adapted physics technology to create a rapid antigen COVID test that has been able to detect viral proteins quickly with high accuracy. The test provides a mechanical readout to assess the strength of biomolecular interactions, looking at friction to detect a sample's molecular interactions and confirm the presence of the virus in very small concentrations.

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Seeking candidates for tenure-track opening

DMSE at MIT is looking for candidates for a tenure-track faculty position to begin July 1, 2021 or later. We seek candidates with proven excellence in research who have the vision and interest to contribute to science and engineering for design, synthesis, processing, and manufacture of soft matter, molecular materials, and polymers. MIT is committed to diversity in engineering education, research, and practice. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

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Information about MIT's response to COVID-19

Informed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, MIT is acting to keep our community safe and stop the spread of COVID-19. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and their families are of the utmost importance to all of us. MIT updates are posted at now.mit.edu. DMSE-specific information is linked below, including new information about responding to cases.

UPDATED - September 16

Spotlight

Accelerating oxygen surface exchange

Enhancing the oxygen exchange rate at the surface of oxides through rational design has long been a key goal of researchers pursuing sustainable energy solutions. Building on research co-authored by Professor Harry Tuller and Bilge Yildiz, DMSE alum Sossina M. Haile's simple infiltration method reveals that reaction rates on porous mixed-conducting oxides scale with the acidity of the infiltrate and can be tuned by orders of magnitude.

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Developing new ways to advance copper production

Copper and sulfur are two products of a new electrochemical process that the Allanore group has proposed, which converts natural sulfide minerals into liquid copper and elemental sulfur. Copper is the backbone of the electronic area we live in, and is predicted to support the deployment of sustainable power generation. Sulfur is an essential chemical element, source of power, acids or sulfates such as used in agriculture.

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