Cell control with tiny, fast pH changes around cells
Official title: Cell Control via Spatiotemporal Microenvironmental pH Modulation
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11394463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses nanoelectrochemistry and graphene microelectrodes to precisely alter pH around cells in real time, potentially guiding cell behavior for therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $380,756 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151128-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cancers or cardiovascular cell models that could be studied using controlled microenvironment pH changes.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in cellular or tissue engineering research or without access to experimental labs may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to control how cells grow and behave by changing their surrounding acidity very quickly and at very small, localized regions. It uses graphene-based microelectrodes to modulate pH in nano-scale zones with high spatial and temporal precision. The goal is to develop a closed-loop system where cells respond to pH changes that are tailored to their location and timing, enabling advances in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Researchers will test how targeted pH shifts affect cell fate, metabolism, and morphogenesis in cancer-related contexts. If successful, this could lead to new ways to direct tissue formation and healing at the cellular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise biomedical interventions that guide tissue repair and targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods rely on slower, diffuse pH changes; this project explores faster, localized control, which is a novel and pioneering approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ping, Jinglei — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Ping, Jinglei
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.