Precise local pH control to guide cell behavior
Cell Control via Spatiotemporal Microenvironmental pH Modulation
This project is developing tiny graphene-based electrodes that change acidity right next to cells in real time to help guide cell growth, drug delivery, and tissue repair for conditions like cancer and heart damage.
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 ID | NIH-11174341 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, the team is building microscopic graphene electrodes that can make small, fast changes to acidity (pH) around individual cells so researchers can direct how those cells behave. Current methods change pH slowly and everywhere at once, but these devices aim to work within seconds and at cell-sized spots. The researchers will test this approach in lab-grown cell systems and engineered tissues to show they can control metabolism, shape, and function. If successful, the technique could be used to trigger targeted drug release or guide tissue regeneration with much finer control than now possible.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors, patients needing tissue repair or regenerative therapies, and those who might join future trials of pH-directed devices are the types of patients who could potentially benefit.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions not related to local tissue acidity or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic-lab–focused project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable treatments that steer cell behavior more precisely, improving targeted cancer therapies and regenerative medicine while reducing side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Previous approaches using buffering and diffusion control have been slow and nonspecific, and direct nanoelectrochemical, graphene-based control is relatively new and has shown promise in lab models but is not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ping, Jinglei — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Ping, Jinglei
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 below.