Adam Ekenseair

Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Director of MS Programs,  Chemical Engineering

Contact

Office

  • 217 Cullinane
  • 617.373.8742

Lab

  • 230 Egan
  • 617.373.2967

Research Focus

synthesis and application of novel polymeric biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

About

Joined the Chemical Engineering Department in Fall 2013.

The primary focus of my research is exploring the complex interplay between material composition, structural hierarchy, and biological response. The main goal of these efforts is to establish reliable techniques for both active and passive control of cell behavior by controlling matrix and scaffold composition and morphology in order to develop novel therapies for tissue regeneration and the treatment of disease.

Current efforts include the generation of 3D-printed scaffolds to direct tissue organization and repair in a spatiotemporal manner, the production of novel biopolymers for use as injectable, in situ forming tissue engineering scaffolds, and the pursuit of novel treatments for diseases of the bowel based on regenerative medicine.

Education

  • B.S. (Chemical Engineering) University of Arkansas, 2005
  • Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) University of Texas at Austin, 2010
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate (Bioengineering) Rice University, 2010-2013

Honors & Awards

  • ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award
  • Nano Research Young Innovator Award
  • Early Career Alumni Award

Research Overview

synthesis and application of novel polymeric biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Selected Research Projects

  • Biomanufactured Nerve Guidance Channels for Complex Nerve Repair
    • Co-Principal Investigator, Northeastern University
  • Injectable, Multifunctional Polymeric Nanocomposites for Osteochondral Tissue Repair
    • Principal Investigator, Northeastern University
  • Solid Supported Lipase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis
    • Co-Principal Investigator, Northeastern University

Selected Publications

  • S. Emam, A. Adedoyin, X. Geng, M. Zaeimbashi, J. Adams, A.K. Ekenseair, E. Podlaha-Murphy, N.X. Sun, A Molecularly- Imprinted Electrochemical Gas Sensor to Sense Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Air, Journal of Sensors, 2018, 2018, 9 pages
  • O.M. Pehlivaner Kara, A.K. Ekenseair, Free Epoxide Content Mediates Encapsulated Cell Viability and Activity through Protein Interactions in a Thermoresponsive, In Situ Forming Hydrogel, Biomacromolecules, 18(5), 2017, 1473-1481
  • D.M. Schwartz, M.O. Pehlivaner Kara, A.M. Goldstein, H.C. Ott, A.K. Ekenseair, Spray Delivery of Intestinal Organoids to Reconstitute Epithelium on Decellularized Native Extracellular Matrix, Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 23, 2017, 565-573
  • O.M. Pehlivaner Kara, A.K. Ekenseair, In Situ Spray Deposition of Cell-Loaded, Thermally and Chemically Gelling Hydrogel Coatings for Tissue Regeneration, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A, 2016
  • T.N. Vo, A.K. Ekenseair, P.P. Spicer, B.M. Watson, S.N. Tzouanas, T.T. Roh, A.G. Mikos, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Self-Mineralization and Biocompatibility of Injectable, Dual-Gelling Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering, Journal of Controlled Release, 205, 2015, 25-35

Faculty

Feb 26, 2024

Northeastern Among Top 100 Universities for Utility Patents

Northeastern University, recognized for its excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship, has once again been named one of the top 100 universities worldwide for securing utility patents by the National Academy of Inventors.

Faculty

Jul 20, 2023

Advanced Electrochemical Sensors for Early Disease Detection

ECE Professor Nian X. Sun and ChE Associate Teaching Professor Adam Ekenseair were awarded a patent for “Molecularly-imprinted electrochemical sensors.”

Faculty

Jan 11, 2022

Creating a Device for Early Detection of Disease Using Exhaled Breath

ECE Professor Nian X. Sun and ChE Associate Teaching Professor Adam Ekenseair were awarded a patent for “Molecularly-imprinted electrochemical sensors.”

Jan 27, 2020

Spring 2020 PEAK Experiences Awardees

Congratulations to the COE student recipients of the Spring 2020 PEAK Experiences Awards. The PEAK Experiences Awards are a progressively structured sequence of opportunities designed to support learners as they continue climbing to new heights of achievement in undergraduate research and creative endeavor throughout their Northeastern journeys. BASE CAMP AWARDS Developing HPLC Methods for Characterizing […]

Faculty

Jul 03, 2019

Prof. Adam Ekenseair and PhD student Ninad Kanetkar contribute to a new book

Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Adam Ekenseair and PhD Student Ninad Kanetkar contributed a book chapter in the newly published book Handbook of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Volume Two 1st edition.

Faculty

Aug 06, 2018

Prof. Ekenseair Awarded Nano Research Young Innovator Award

ChE Assistant Professor Adam Ekenseair received the 2018 Nano Research Young Innovator Award (NR45) in nanobiotech.

Faculty

Mar 23, 2018

Adam Ekenseair Awarded PMSE Young Investigator Award

ChE Assistant Professor Adam Ekenseair was one of 21 winners of the American Chemistry Society's Polymer Science and Engineering Young Investigator Award. According to the society, the recipients are "young scientists from academia, industry, and national laboratories who have made significant contributions to their fields within Polymer Science and Engineering. These scientists and engineers are […]

Faculty

Aug 06, 2017

ChE Professors Receive Awards at ASEE Summer School Conference

ChE's Adam Ekenseair, Lucas Landherr, and Courtney Pfluger all were honored for their poster sessions during the American Society of Engineering Education Chemical Engineering Division Summer School.

Students

Jul 17, 2017

Bacteria-Coated Nanofiber Electrodes Digest Pollutants

ChE PhD student Meryem Pehlivaner, '18, was featured in R&D's article "Bacteria-Coated Nanofiber Electrodes Digest Pollutants" about the research she is doing in Assistant Professor Adam Ekensair's lab.

Faculty

Jul 11, 2017

University of Arkansas College of Engineering Honors Prof. Adam Ekenseair

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering presented ChE Assistant Professor Adam Ekenseair with an Early Career Alumni Award.

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