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Anshu B Mathur, PhD

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery - Research, Division Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Interests

 Dr. Mathur’s research encompasses a new and upcoming area of Engineered Biologics and their applications in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine. Her doctoral training in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University with Master’s training in the area of Polymer Chemistry at NC State University provided her an opportunity to develop unique expertise and apply them in the area of reconstructive therapy for cancer patients. 

Her current work at MD Anderson Cancer Center is highly applied and translational for repair and reconstruction of cancer patients. The laboratory that she heads is called Tissue Regeneration and Molecular Cell Engineering Labs (TRAMCEL). The work in the laboratory is focused in many areas of regenerative medicine such as musculofascia, bone, trachea, and microvascular guidance. There are various groups in the laboratory that comprise of a clinical trainee and a bioengineering trainee who study and develop Engineered Scaffold Design per clinical application, Characterize the physical and mechanical properties of cells and scaffolds at the nanoscale and macro scale, Investigate Stem Cell-scaffold interactions, Study tissue remodeling in various animal models (rats, sheep, guinea pig), and Fabricate and Characterize Nanotherapeutics for Delivery via a Reconstructive Tissue Flap.

 Not only are the “engineered scaffolds” customizable, but they also eliminate the need for harvesting material from a human or animal source. Dr. Mathur coined the name “engineered biologics” for the scaffolds. “They are biologically derived, but we’re engineering the structure (nano to macro),” she explained. Dr. Mathur has been testing these scaffolds since 2004 in animal studies.

 In the area of Nanomedicine, Dr. Mathur is applying biological materials to make biodegradable nanoparticles containing therapeutic agents against cancer; results thus far indicate that the efficacy of drugs encapsulated in the material is increased using this delivery method in association with higher intra-cellular retention and increased bioavailability. A patent for the formulation is pending. “It’s a multifunctional material because of its biomimetic properties,” Dr. Mathur noted.

Rebuilding What Cancer Has Ravaged

 http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/09/4-apr/4-09-1.html

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Unit Number: 602
Houston, TX 77054
Room Number: ER1.409
Phone: (713) 563-7568
Fax: (713) 563-0231

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 Duke University, Durham, NC, PHD, Biomedical Engineering
1999 Duke University, Durham, NC, MS, Biomedical Engineering
1995 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, MS, Polymer Chemistry
1994 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, BS, Biochemistry
1993 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, BS, Polymer Chemistry

Postgraduate Training

2001-2002 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Duke University, Durham, NC

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006-2009

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Director of Research, Tissue Regeneration and Molecular Cell Engineering Lab, Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007-present

Honors and Awards

2010 Iwao Yasuda Award, Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Altman AM, Gupta V, Ríos CN, Alt EU, Mathur AB. Adhesion, Migration, and Mechanics of Human Adipose Tissue Derived Stem Cells on Silk Fibroin-Chitosan Matrix. Acta Biomater 09(4):S1742-7061, 4/2010. e-Pub 10/2009. PMID: 19861180.
2. Gupta V, Davis G, Gordon A, Altman AM, Reece GP, Gascoyne PR, Mathur AB. Endothelial and stem cell interactions on dielectrophoretically aligned fibrous silk fibroin-chitosan scaffolds (p NA). JBMA(DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.32720), 2/2010.
3. Burns NK, Jaffari MV, Rios CN, Mathur AB, Butler CE. Non-Cross-Linked Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrices for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 125(1):[Epub ahead of print], 1/2010. PMID: 19910855.
4. Ríos CN, Skoracki RJ, Miller MJ, Satterfield WC, Mathur AB. In vivo bone formation in silk fibroin and chitosan blend scaffolds via ectopically grafted periosteum as a cell source: a pilot study. Tissue Engineering Part A 9:2717-25, 9/2009.
5. Burns NK, Jaffari M, Rios CN, Mathur AB, Butler CE. Evaluation of visceral adhesions and mechanical strength of abdominal wall reconstructions with porcine acellular dermal matrix vs. polypropylene mesh. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 6S(76):76, 2009.
6. Gupta V, Aseh A, Rios CN, Aggarwal BB, Mathur AB. Fabrication and characterization of silk fibroin derived curcumin nanoparticles for cancer therapy. International Journal of Nanomedicine 4:115-122, 2009.
7. Burns NK, Gupta V, Rios CN, Rasmussen M, Butler CE, Mathur AB. Silk fibroin fibrillogenesis via decorin: effect on microstructure and mechanical properties. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 6S(123):113, 2009.
8. Altman AM, Yan Y, Matthias N, Bai X, Rios C, Mathur AB, Song YH, Alt EU. Human adipose-derived stem cells seeded on a silk fibroin-chitosan scaffold enhance wound repair in a murine soft tissue injury model. Stem Cells IFATS Series 27(PMID: 18818439):250-258, 2008.
9. Wright A, Wu X, Frye C, Mathur AB, Patrick Jr CW. A ten-year assessment of a biomedical engineering summer research internship within a comprehensive cancer center. JSTEM 8:28-39, 2007.
10. Mathur AB, Reichert WM, Truskey GA. Flow and high affinity binding affect the elastic modulus of the nucleus, cell body, and the stress fibers of endothelial cell. Ann Biomed Eng (*Cover Illustration) 35:1120-1130, 2007.
11. Radhakrishnan R, Radhakrishnan HR, Xue H, Moore-Olufemi SD, Mathur AB, Weisbrodt NW, Moore FA, Allen SJ, Laine GA, Cox CS. Hypertonic saline reverses stiffness in a Sprague-Dawley rat model of acute intestinal edema, leading to improved intestinal function. Crit Care Med 35:538-43, 2007.
12. Cheema S, Chen E, Shea L, Mathur AB. Regulation and guidance of cell behavior for tissue regeneration via the siRNA mechanism. Wound Repair Regen 15:286-295, 2007.
13. Cheema S, Gobin A, Rhea R, Lopez G, Newman R, Mathur AB. Silk fibroin mediated delivery of liposomal emodin to breast cancer cells. Int J Pharm 329:221-229, 2007.
14. Gobin AS, Butler CE, Mathur AB. Repair and regeneration of the abdominal wall musculofascial defect using silk fibroin-chitosan blend. Tissue Eng 12:3383-3394, 2006. PMID: 17107336.
15. Rios C, Augustine JN, Mathur AB. The effect of processing temperature on mechanical properties of novel silk fibroin and chitosan blend scaffolds for muscuskeletal regeneration. Mol Cell Biomech 3:173-174, 2006.
16. Choi MG, Koh H, Kluess D, O'Connor D, Mathur AB, Truskey G, Rubin J, Zhou DX, Sung KL. Effects of titanium particle size on osteoblast functions in vitro and in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:4578-4583, 2005.
17. Gobin A, Newman R, Mathur AB. Silk-fibroin coated liposomes for long term and targeted delivery. Int J Nanomedicine 1:81-87, 2005.
18. Gobin AS, Froude VE, Mathur AB. Structural and mechanical characteristics of silk fibroin and chitosan blend scaffolds for tissue regeneration. J Biomed Mater Res A (*Cover Illustration) 74:465-73, 2005. PMID: 15983992.

Book Chapters
1. Mathur AB. Regenerative Wound Healing via Biomaterials. In: Bioengineering Research of Chronic Wounds: A Multidisciplinary Study Approach. 1, 405-424, 2009.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Engineered Biologics for Repair of Abdominal Wall Musculofascia
Funding Source: National Institute on Aging(NIH/NIA)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2010 - 2013

Last updated: 12/7/2010