Mary Beth Browning Monroe

Associate Professor

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering

303F Bowne Hall

mbmonroe@syr.edu

315.443.3323

Personal Website

Lab/Center Affiliation:

BioInspired Institute

Areas of expertise:

  • Biomaterials
  • Shape memory polymers
  • Antimicrobial materials
  • Hemostatic materials
  • Polymer engineering

The Monroe Biomaterials Lab utilizes fundamental advances in polymer chemistry to provide biomaterials that could improve healing outcomes. Our research spans polymer synthesis, 3D scaffold fabrication, materials characterization, cell/material interactions, bacteria/material interactions, and in vivo characterization of biomaterials. Our research focuses on shape memory polymers (SMPs). These ‘smart’ materials can be deformed and stored in a temporary shape. Upon application of a stimulus (e.g. heating to body temperature, exposure to water), the materials rapidly return to their original shape. Specific applications of SMPs that we study include hemorrhage and infection control in traumatic wounds, infection surveillance and prevention in chronic wounds, and cell and antimicrobial delivery to Crohn’s fistulas.

Honors and Awards:

  • Society for Biomaterials Young Investigator Award (2024)
  • Rosalind Franklin Society Special Award in Science, Tissue Engineering, Part A (2023)
  • Litwin IBD Pioneers Award, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (2020-2022)
  • New York State Science Congress Keynote Speaker (2022)

Selected Publications:

  • M.B.B. Monroe, D.A. Fikhman, “Mini-Review: Antimicrobial Smart Materials: The Future’s Defense,” Frontiers in Biomaterials Science Special Issue: Women in Biomaterials Science. 2 (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fbiom.2023.1285386
  • C. Du, D. A. Fikhman, D. Persaud, M.B.B. Monroe, “Dual burst and sustained release of p-coumaric acid from shape memory polymer foams for polymicrobial infection prevention in trauma-related hemorrhagic wounds,” ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 15 (20) 24228-24243 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04392
  • M. Ramezani, M.B.B. Monroe, “Bacterial Protease-Responsive Shape Memory Polymers for Chronic Wound Infection Surveillance and Biofilm Removal,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A. 111 (7) 921- 937. (2023). DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37527
  • H.T. Beaman, M.B.B. Monroe, “Direct Cell Encapsulation Within Highly Porous Gas-Blown Hydrogels With High Cell Viability,” Tissue Engineering, Part A. (2023). 29 (11-12) 308-321 (2023). DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2022.0192.
  • A.U. Vakil, N.M. Petryk, C. Du, B. Howes, D. Stinfort, S. Serinelli, L. Gitto, M. Ramezani, H.T. Beaman, M.B.B. Monroe, “In Vitro and In Vivo Degradation Correlations for Polyurethane Foams with Tunable Degradation Rates,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A. 111 (5) 580-595 (2023). DOI:10.1002/jbm.a.37504
  • N.M. Petryk, G. Haas, A.U. Vakil, M.B.B. Monroe, “Shape Memory Polymer Foams with Tunable Interconnectivity Using Off-the-Shelf Foaming Components,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A. 110 (8) 1422-1434 (2022). DOI:10.1002/jbm.a.37383
  • H.T. Beaman, B. Howes, P.S. Ganesh, M.B.B. Monroe, “Shape Memory Polymer Hydrogels with Cell-Responsive Degradation Mechanisms for Crohn’s Fistula Closure,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A. 110 (7) 1329-1340 (2022). DOI:10.1002/jbm.a.37376.
  • H.T. Beaman, E. Shepherd, J. Satalin, S. Blair, H. Ramcharran, K. Dong, D. Fikhman, G. Nieman, S.G. Schauer, M.B.B. Monroe, “Hemostatic Shape Memory Polymer Foams With Improved Survival in a Lethal Traumatic Hemorrhage Model,” Acta Biomaterialia. 137, 112-123 (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.005
  • J. Liu, C. Du, H.T. Beaman, M.B.B. Monroe, “Characterization of Phenolic Acid Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Structure-Property Relationships,” Pharmaceutics, 12 (5), 419 (2020). DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12050419.
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