PUBLICATIONS
To see a complete list of publications by Dr. Polacheck, visit his google scholar page.
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Singh, T., Jacobs, K.A., Polacheck, W.J., and Kutys, M.L.* (2026) The Notch1 intracellular domain orchestrates mechanotransduction of fluid shear stress. Life Science Alliance 9, 4.​
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Sawhney, A., Piatt, R., Stack, R., Rathod, M., Whitworth, C.P., Polacheck, W.J.* (2025) Smooth muscle microgauges for modeling pulmonary arterial vasoregulation. Lab on a Chip 25, 6177-6190.
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Dy, D.C.M., Lehman, T., Othon, A., Rathod, M., Polacheck, W.J., and Wirka, R.* Functional analysis of TWIST1 domains regulating smooth muscle cell phenotype. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 12:1659847.
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​Cao, Y.* and Polacheck, W.J. New Approach Methodology: what clinical pharmacologists should prepare for. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 118(6): 1269-1272.
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​Polacheck, W.J.* A new friend for measuring forces in living tissues. Biophysical Journal 124(17): 2779-2781.
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​Rathod, M., Huang, S.A., Aw, W.Y., Doherty, E.L., Meehan, S.M., Roy-Chaudhury, P., Polacheck, W.J.* Microphysiological uremia model reveals biophysical potentiators of vascular dysfunction. Advanced Science 12, no. 33: 12, e17091.
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​Moiseiwitsch, N., Pandit, S., Zwennes, N., Nellenbach, K., Sheridan, A., LeGrand, J., Chee, E., Ozawa, S., Troan, B., Aw, W.Y., Polacheck, W.J., Haider, M., and Brown, A.* (2025) Colloidal-fibrillar composite gels demonstrate structural reinforcement, secondary fibrillar alignment, and improved vascular healing outcomes. Communications Engineering (2025)4:67.
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​Aw, W.Y., Sawhney, A., Rathod, M., Whitworth, C.P., Doherty, E.L., Madden, E., Lu, J., Westphal, K., Stack, R., and Polacheck, W.J.* (2025) Dysfunctional mechanotransduction regulates the progression of PIK3CA-driven vascular malformations. APL Bioengineering 9, 016106.
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​Polacheck, W.J.*, Dixon, J.B., and Aw, W.Y. (2025) Understanding the Lymphatic System: Tissue on Chip Modeling. Annual Reviews Biomedical Engineering 27:73-100.
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​Mote, N., Kubik, S., Polacheck, W.J., Baker, B.M., and Trappmann, B.* (2024) A nanoporous hydrogel-based model to study chemokine gradient-driven angiogenesis under luminal flow. Lab on a Chip 2024,24,4892-4906..
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​Whitworth, C.P., Aw, W.Y., Doherty, E.L., Handler, C., Ambekar, Y., Sawhney, A., Scarcelli, G., Polacheck, W.J. P300 modulates endothelial mechanotransduction of fluid shear stress. 17, 507-523 (2024).
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​Surendran, V., Safarulla, S., Ali, R., Griffith, C., Madan, A., Polacheck, W.J., Chandrasekaran, A.* (2024) A Magnetically integrated Tumor-Vascular Interface System to mimic Pro-angiogenic Endothelial Dysregulations for On-Chip Drug Testing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 16, 36, 47075-47088.
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​Farber, G., Qiaozi, W., Rathod, M.L., Wang, H., Dixit, M., Keepers, B., Xie, Y., Butz, K., Polacheck, W.J., Liu, J., Qian, L* (2024) Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells using Sox17 and Erg. Nature Communications 15, 4170.
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​Doherty, E.L., Krohn, G., Warren, E.C., Patton, A., Whitworth, C.P., Rathod, M., Biehl, A., Aw, W.Y., Freytes, D.O., Polacheck, W.J. Human cell-derived matrix composite hydrogels with diverse composition for use in vasculature-on-chip models. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2024, 13, 2400192.
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​Rathod, M., Aw, W.Y., Huang, S.A., Lu, J., Doherty, E.L., Whitworth, C.P., Xi, G., Roy-Chaudhury, P., Polacheck, W.J. Engineered blood vessels for predicting cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease. Small 2024, 2307901.
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​Whitworth, C.P. and Polacheck, W.J. Patient-derived vascular organs-on-chip: technologies to transform drug discovery and disease modeling. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery. 19(3)339-351.
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​Rich, M.J., Burnash, S., Krishnan, R.R., Chubinskaya, S., Loeser, R.F., Polacheck, W.J., Diekman, B.O. Use of a novel magnetically actuated compression system to study the temporal dynamics of axial and lateral strain in human osteochondral plugs. Journal of Biomechanics 162:11187.
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​Du, Y., Jong, I.E.M., Gupta, K., Waisbourd-Zinman, O., Har-Zahav, A., Soroka, C.J., Boyer, J.L., Llewellyn, J., Liu, C., Naji., A., Polacheck, W.J., Wells, R.G. Human vascularized bile duct-on-a-chip: a multi-cellular microphysiological system for studying primary sclerosing cholangitis. Biofabrication 16(1): 150004.
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​Lee, E.L, Polacheck, W.J., Kwak, S., Wen, A., Nguyen, D.H.T., Kutys, M.L., Alimperti, S.A., Eyckmans, J., Bielenberg, D.R., Chen, H., Chen, C.S. A biomimetic lymphatics-on-chip reveals ROCK2 as a therapeutic target for lymphedema. PNAS 120(41): e2308941120.
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​Wang, H., Aw, W.Y., Rathod, M., Huang, S.A., Polacheck, W.J. A facile fluid pressure system reveals differential cellular response to interstitial pressure gradients and flow. Biomicrofluidics 17(5):054103.
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​Doherty, E.L., Aw, W.Y., Warren, E.C., Hockenberry, M., Krohn, G., Howell, S., Diekman, B.O., Legant, R.L., Nia, H.T., Hickey, A.J., Polacheck, W.J. Patient-derived extracellular matrix demonstrates role of COL3A1 in blood vessel mechanics. Acta Biomaterialia 166:346-359.
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​Aw, W.Y., Cho, C., Wang, H., Cooper, A.H., Doherty, E.L., Rocco, D., Huang, S.A., Kubik, S., Whitworth, C.P., Armstrong, R., Hickey, A.J., Griffith, B., Kutys, M.L., Blatt, J., Polacheck, W.J. Microphysiological model of PIK3CA-driven vascular malformations reveals a role of dysregulated Rac1 and mTORC1/2 in lesion formation. Science Advances 9(7):eade8939. PMCID: PMC9931220.
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​Conrad, C., Moore, K., Polacheck, W.J., Rizvi, I.R., Scarcelli, G. Water transport regulates nucleus volume, cell density, Young's modulus, and E-cadherin expression in tumor spheroids. Eur. J. Cell Biology 151278.
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​Chhabra, A., Song, H.H., Grzelak, K.A., Polacheck, W.J., Fleming, H.E., Chen, C.S., Bhatia, S.N. A vascularized model of the human liver mimics regenerative processes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences USA 119(28)e2115867119.
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​Lee, G., Huang, S.A., Aw, W.Y., Rathod, M.L., Cho, C., Ligler, F.S., Polacheck, W.J. Multilayer microfluidic platform for the study of luminal, transmural, and interstitial flow. Biofabrication 14, 025007.
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​Pérez-Rodríguez, S., Huang, S.A., Borau, C., García-Aznar, Polacheck, W.J. Microfluidic model of monocyte extravasation reveals the role of hemodynamics and subendothelial matrix mechanics in regulating endothelial integrity. Biomicrofluidics 15(15), 054102. PMCID: PMC8443302.
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​Wang, W.Y., Kent, R.N., Huang, S.A., Jarman, E.H., Shikanov, E.H., Davidson, C.D., Hiraki, H.L., Lin, D., Wall, M.A., Shin, J., Polacheck, W.J., Shikanov, A., Baker, B.M. Direct comparison of angiogenesis in natural and synthetic biomaterials reveals matrix porosity regulates endothelial cell invasion speed and sprout diameter. Acta Biomaterialia. S1742-7061(21)00571-7. PMID: 34469789.
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​Rickard, B.P.,Conrad, C., Sorrin, A.J., Ruhi, M.K., Reader, J.C., Huang, S.A., Franco, W., Scarcelli, G., Polacheck, W.J., Roque, D.M., del Carmen, M.G., Huang, H.C., Demirci, U., Rizvi, I. Malignant ascites in ovarian cancer: cellular, acellular, and biophysical determinants of molecular characteristics and therapy response. Cancers. 13:4318.
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​Liu, J., Long, H., Zeuschner, D., Rader, A.F.B., Polacheck, W.J., Kessler, H., Sorokin, L., Trappmann, B. Synthetic extracellular matrices with tailored adhesiveness and degradability support lumen formation during angiogenic sprouting. Nature Communications (2021) 12:3402.
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​Conrad, C., Moore, K., Polacheck, W.J., Rizvi, I.R., Scarcelli, G. Mechanical modulation of tumor nodules under flow. IEEE Transactions in Biomedical Engineering doi: 10.1109/TMBE.2021.3092641.
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​Thomas, K., Henley, T., Rossi, S., Costello, J., Polacheck, W.J., Griffith, B., Bressan, M. Adherens junction engagement regulates functional patterning of the cardiac pacemaker cell lineage. Developmental Cell (2021) 56(10):1498-1511e7.
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​Doherty, E.L.*, Aw, W.Y.*, Hickey, A.J., Polacheck, W.J. Microfluidic and organ-on-a-chip approaches to investigate cellular and microenvironmental contributions to cardiovascular function and pathology. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2021) 9:624435. PMCID7890362.
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​Kutys, M.L.*, Polacheck, W.J.*, Welch, M.K., Gagnon, K.A., Koorman, T., Kim, S., Li, L., McClatchey, A.I., Chen, C.S. Uncovering mutation-specific morphogenic phenotypes and paracrine-mediated vessel dysfunction in a biomimetic vascularized mammary duct platform. Nature Communications (2020)11:337.
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​Griffith, C.M.*, Huang, S.A.*, Cho, C., Khare, T.M., Rich, M., Lee, G., Ligler, F.S., Diekman, B.O., Polacheck, W.J. Microfluidics for the study of mechanotransduction. Journal of Physics Part D: Applied Physics 53(22):224004.
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​Wang, W.Y., Lin, D., Jarman, E.H., Polacheck, W.J., Baker, B.M. Functional angiogenesis requires microenvironmental cues balancing endothelial cell migration and proliferation. Lab on a Chip 20(6):1153-1166.
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Waldeland, J.O., Polacheck, W.J., Evje, S. Collective tumor cell migration in the presence of fibroblasts. Journal of Biomechanics 100:109568. PMID: 31902609, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.109568
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​Sorrin, A.J., Ruhi, M.K., Ferlic, N., Karimnia, V., Polacheck, W.J., Celli, J.P., Huang, H.C., Rizvi, I.R. Photodynamic therapy and the biophysics of the tumor microenvironment. Photochemistry and Photobiology 96(2), 232-259. PMID: 31895481, DOI: 10.1111/php.13209
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​ Du, Y., Khandekar, G., Llewellyn, J., Polacheck, W.J., Chen, C.S., Wells, R.G.​ A bile duct-on-a-chip with organ-level functions. Hepatology 71(4):1350-1363. PMID: 31465556, PMCID: PMC7048662, DOI: 10.1002/hep.30918
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​Polacheck, W.J., Kutys, M.L., Tefft, J.B., Chen, C.S. Microfabricated blood vessels for modeling the vascular transport barrier. Nature Protocols 14, 1425-1454.
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Featured on the cover. ​​​​
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Benhamouche, S., O’Loughlin, E., Liu, C., Polacheck, W.J., Fitament, J., El-Bardeesy, N., Chen, C.S., McClatchey, A.I. Proliferation-independent role of NF2 (merlin) in limiting biliary morphogenesis. Development 145(9), 1-11.​​
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Chopra, A. Kutys, M.L., Zhang, K., Polacheck, W.J., Sheng, C., Eyckmans, J., Seidman, J.G., Seidman, C.E., Hinson, J.T., Chen, C.S. Force generation via β-cardiac myosin, titin, and α-actinin drives cardiac sarcomere assembly from focal adhesions. Developmental Cell 44(1):87-96.
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​Polacheck, W.J., Kutys, M.L., Yang, J., Eyckmans, J.E., Wu, Y., Vasavada, H., Hirschi, K.K., and Chen, C.S. A non-canonical Notch signaling complex regulates adherens junctions and endothelial barrier function. Nature 552:258-262
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Reviewed in a Current Biology dispatch entitled Vascular Permeability: Flow-Mediated, Non-canonical Notch Signalling Promotes Barrier Integrity.
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Reviewed as a spotlight in Trends in Cell Biology entitled Notching a New Pathway in Vascular Flow Sensing.
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Highlighted in Science Signaling editor's choice - cell and molecular signaling.
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Highlighted in Faculty of 1000 - Cell Biology.
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Highlighted in The Wyss Institute press release.
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Alimperti, S., Mirabella, T., Bajaj, V., Polacheck, W.J., Ward, D., Duffield, J.D., Assoian, R., Chen, C.S Three-dimensional biomimetic vascular model reveals a RhoA, Rac1, and N-cadherin balance in mural cell-endothelial cell-regulated barrier function. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences USA 2017, 114(33):8758-8763.
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Trappmann, B., Baker, B.M., Polacheck, W.J., Choi, C.K., Burdick, J.A., Chen, C.S. Matrix degradability controls multicellularity of 3D cell migration. Nature Communications 2017, 8(1):371
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Abbas, Y., Oefner, C.M., Polacheck, W.J., Gardner, L., Farrell, L., Sharkey, A., Kamm, R.D., Moffett, A., Oyen, M.L A microfluidics assay to study invasion of human placental trophoblast cells. J. R. Soc. Interface 2017, 14(13): 20170131.
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​McCurley, A., Alimperti, S., Campos-Bilderback, S.B., Sandoval, R.M., Calvino, J.E., Reynolds, T.L., Quigley, C., Mugford, J., Polacheck, W.J., Dovey, J., Marsh, G., Huang, A., Qian, F., Wienreb, P.H., Dolinski, B.M., Moore, S., Duffield, J.S., Chen, C.S., Molitoris, B.A., Violette, S.M., Crackower, M.A. Inhibition of avb5 integrin leads to a pericyte-dependent attenuation of vascular permeability and protects against renal ischemia reperfusion injury. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2017, 28(6):1741-1752.
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​Polacheck, W.J. and Chen, C.S. Measuring cell-generated forces: a guide to the available tools. Nature Methods 2016, 13(5): 415-423.
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​Hinson, J.T., Chopra, A.C., Nafissi, N., Polacheck, W.J., Benson, C.C., Swist, S., Gorham, J., Yang, L., Schafer, S., Hubner, N., Church, G., Cook, S.A., Linke, W.A., Chen, C.S., Seidman, J.G., Seidman, C.E. Titin mutations in iPS cells define sarcomere insufficiency as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Science 2015, 349 (6251): 982-986.
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​Scarcelli, G., Polacheck, W.J., Nia, H.T., Grodzinsky, A.J., Kamm, R.D., Yun, S.H. Noncontact three-dimensional mapping of intracellular hydro-mechanical properties by Brillouin microscopy. Nature Methods 2015, 12(12): 1132-1134.
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​​Borau, C., Polacheck, W.J., Kamm, R.D., Garcia-Aznar, J.M. Probabilistic voxel-FE model for single cell motility in 3D. In Silico Cell and Tissue Science 2014, 1 (1), 2
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​Polacheck, W.J., German, A.E., Mammoto, A., Ingber, D.E., and Kamm, R.D. Mechanotransduction of fluid stresses governs 3D cell migration. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences USA 2014, 111(7): 2447-2452
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​Polacheck, W.J. and Kamm, R.D.​ Responsible research in an international laboratory: personal perspectives from a lab member and principal investigator. J. Philosophy Science and Law 2014, 14:13-31
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​Polacheck, W.J., Li, R., Uzel, S.U., and Kamm, R.D. Microfluidic platforms for mechanobiology. Lab on a Chip 2013, 13(12):2252-2267
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​Polacheck, W.J., Zervantonakis, I.K., and Kamm, R.D. Tumor cell migration through complex microenvironments. Cell Mol. Life Sci. 2013, 70(8): 1335-1356
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Featured on the cover
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​Chan, J.M., Zervantonakis, I.K., Rimchala, T., Polacheck, W.J., Whisler, J., and Kamm, R.D. Engineering of In Vitro 3D Capillary Beds by Self-Directed Angiogenic Sprouting. PLoS ONE 2013, 7(12): e508
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Highlighted in Lab on a Chip
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​Polacheck, W.J., Charest, J.L., and Kamm, R.D. Interstitial flow influences tumor cell migration through competing mechanisms. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences USA 2011, 108(27): 11115-11120
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Highlighted on the MIT homepage
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Highlighted in the MIT Mechanical Engineering Newsletter
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​Chandler, E.M., Berglund, C.M., Lee, J.S., Polacheck, W.J., Gleghorn, J.P., Kirby, B.J., and Fischbach, C. Stiffness of Photocrosslinked RGD-Alginate Gels Regulates Adipose Progenitor Cell Behavior. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2011, 108(7): 1683-1692
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​Rouillard, A.D., Berglund, C.M., Lee, J.Y., Polacheck, W.J., Tsui, Y., Bonassar, L.J., and Kirby, B.J. Methods for photocrosslinking alginate hydrogel scaffolds with high cell viability. Tissue Engineering 2010, 17(2): 173-179
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Rouillard, A.D., Tsui, Y., Polacheck, W.J., Lee, J.Y., Bonassar, L.J., and Kirby, B.J. Control of the Electromechanical Properties of Alginate Tissue Scaffolds via Ionic and Covalent Crosslinking and Microparticle Doping. Biomacromolecules 2010, 11(8): 2184-2189
