Research in the Xiong Lab focuses on nanobiomaterial development and preclinical translational drug development to address unmet or challenging drug delivery areas in the pharmaceutics field. Projects include, but are not limited to, improving treatments for iron chelation therapy, designing biological metal sensors for therapy and imaging applications to improve treatment modalities in various human diseases, as well as investigating nanomaterial strategies addressing antimicrobial drug resistance in bacteria. Improving delivery of drugs while minimizing toxicity to nonspecific tissues and organs is a critical aspect of pharmaceutics and formulations in all human diseases therefore our work is relevant irrespective of disease area. Students interested in careers as formulation scientists in the pharmaceutical industry are especially encouraged to apply.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University

Research Areas

Drug delivery and pharmaceutics, specifically the design of macromolecules to improve iron chelation therapy and strategies to combat multi-drug resistance in bacteria

Research Interests

Dr. Xiong is interested in biomaterial-based systems in the area of iron chelation therapy, biological metal sensors, and overcoming antibiotic drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Her current research is supported by an NIH R01 grant focusing on the development of materials for chelation of transfusional iron overload.