Dr. Milan Mrksich

Biography

Milan Mrksich is the Henry Wade Rogers Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, as well as the Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern University. His research group focuses on the Laboratory for BioInterface Science Engineering, where they delve into the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering with an emphasis on designing and synthesizing materials for biologically active applications. The work includes creating self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on gold to prepare model surfaces with spatially organized ligands and complex compositions. Mrksich has pioneered the design of dynamic substrates that can switch activities in response to electrical or optical signals, particularly in studies addressing the responses of adherent cells to changes in the extracellular matrix. His research has led to the discovery of novel ligands that mediate cell adhesion and the development of surface chemistries suitable for biochip arrays compatible with new analytical methods. Recently, his lab has undertaken efforts to explore biochemical reaction systems and understand the role of enzyme localization in controlling reaction networks.

Research Interests