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	Podcast:		UC Science Today
	Episode:		The development of drug absorbing materials in the body
	Category:		Science & Medicine
	Duration:		00:01:03
	Publish Date:		2016-09-13 19:00:00
	Description:		Did you know that researchers are developing new materials that can soak up excess drugs inside your body? Engineer Chelsea Chen of the University of California, Berkeley is building a polymer membrane that can absorb circulating chemotherapy drugs after treatment. The membrane is known as a ChemoFilter, and how it absorbs drugs depends on the materials inside it. "We study the structure-property relationship of the polymer membranes. So basically by establishing the structure-property relationships, we can predict what kind of structure would work best, so we could design the optimal performance membrane. That’s our goal." When it comes to testing the filter, Chen is trying to create an environment similar to what the membrane would be exposed to within the body. "We are trying to improve the design to mimic body environment more closely, instead of just doing a simple benchtop experiment. So we’re working on both a more real environment in vitro experiment and also the next step is the in vivo."
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