Heather Sheardown
Profile and Department: Professor, Chemical Engineering, McMaster University
Research Interests:
The focus of the work in our lab is the development of novel polymeric biomaterials and novel surfaces for biomedical applications including the delivery of drugs as well as on understanding and manipulating the interactions of these materials and surfaces with the surrounding cells and proteins. Chemical and biological modification techniques are used to improve the interactions between the materials and the surrounding biological environment. The research is focused on two different areas – materials for ophthalmic applications and materials for cardiovascular applications. The research is highly multidisciplinary and we collaborate with other scientists as well as a number of companies. Specific representative projects are described below:
- Artificial Corneas and Corneal Onlays for Restoration of Sight
- Drug Delivery to the Eye
- Modification of Intraocular Lenses for Reduction of Posterior Capsule Opacification
- Surface Modified Polymers to Minimize Fouling