Overview
The Becker Laboratory for Functional Biomaterials is a multidisciplinary organic chemistry and biomaterials group working at the interface of chemistry, engineering and medicine. My team is developing families of degradable polymers with highly tunable physical, structural and biological properties. These materials are being applied to unmet needs in flexible electronics, drug delivery, soft tissue repair, neural, orthopedic and vascular tissue engineering. We are also actively engaged in additive manufacturing and the development of custom inks that are enabling unique solutions to challenging design paradigms in women's health, trauma surgery and bioprinting of tissues and organoids.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
·
2020 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Chemistry
·
2019 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science
·
2019 - Present
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
·
2019 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Recent News Items
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Recent Scholarly Works
Stereochemically-Controlled Fluorinated Copolymers for Selectively Permeable Barrier Applications
Journal article Advanced Functional Materials · April 30, 2026 Selective oxygen permeability coupled with low water vapor transmission is essential for biomedical and packaging applications requiring controlled oxygen flux under humid conditions. However, most high-performance barrier polymers depend on perfluoroalkyl ... Full text CitePeptide concentration gradients and aligned microfiber topography synergize to speed and direct Schwann cell migration.
Journal article Acta biomaterialia · April 2026 Conjugating precise concentrations of bioactive peptides on aligned topographies holds a promising application in directionally guiding Schwann cell migration, a significant step in peripheral nerve regeneration. To harness this behavior, we have developed ... Full text CiteAll-PEG-Like Block Copolymers Self-Assemble into Stealth Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery.
Journal article Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · March 2026 Poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) is a stealth polymer that does not exhibit polyethylene glycol (PEG) antigenicity. Herein, we engineered self-assembling nanoparticles composed entirely of POEGMA by designing AB diblock copol ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Pharmacological Sciences Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Overcoming Complications of Polypropylene Prolapse Meshes: Development of Novel Elastomeric Membranes
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation · 2019 - 2030Biofabrication of Surface-functionalized Composite Grafts for Vascularized Bone Regeneration Following Craniomaxillofacial Trauma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ohio State University · 2024 - 2028View All Grants
Education
Washington University in St. Louis ·
2003
Ph.D.
Washington University in St. Louis ·
2000
M.A.
Northwest Missouri State University ·
1998
B.S.