Future Innovations

Matrix's research activity is at the interface of biomaterials, biology, micro/nanofabrication, and basic/clinical medicine. Matrix HT, Inc. is involved with developing science and technology and procuring personalized medical equipment comprised of novel biosensors for early-stage detection of cancers and viral infections, and novel biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for emerging medical technologies of RNA-based therapeutics on advancing the development of mRNA vaccines and RNA drugs.

Our research interests are closely related to the needs of the society. To address pressing needs in healthcare, environment, and security, we carry out cutting edge research in the following areas:

Personalized Medicine

There is enormous need in the market for new tools for the detection of DNA, proteins, bacteria, and viruses which can provide a fast and reliable response, allowing at the same time in-situ analysis. Modern biosensors based on micro- and nanoscale techniques have the potential to greatly enhance methods of detecting foreign and potentially dangerous toxins and may result in cheaper, faster, portable, and robust that could be commercialized and used in various fields of biomedical sciences such as drug discovery, diagnostic tools, agriculture, and therapeutic approaches in medicine. Bottom of approach of nanotechnology is applied through self-assembling molecules to engineer novel smart biomaterials that are similar to native tissue/organ mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) to influence cell/tissue development. Top down approach of semiconductor industry developed in Taiwan is applied to fabricate specific diagnostic tools. 

mRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics

RNA technology is a major achievement in pharmaceutical developemnt and prospective new form of medicine because it leads to the development of therapeutic proteins for treating diseases, ranging from infections diseases to immune diseases, and various RNA drugs have already been approved by US FDA. mRNA vaccines are not only faster to develop, but they also trigger strong, long-lasting immune responses. There are major challenges to RNA-based therapeutics, namely that they degrade rapidly and exhibit poor cellular uptake and rapid renal clearance following administration. Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles such as cationic polysaccharides (dextran-spermine) are new class of engineered viral-like vectors for safe, low-immunogenicity, efficient delivery of DNA/RNA therapeutics both in vitro and in vivo, protecting from degradation of mRNA at room temperature, and large-scale production at low cost.