Research
The Choi Lab works at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and medicine. We design biomolecules- and polymer-based biomaterials with molecular-level precision and engineer them to respond intelligently to their environment. Our research spans four connected directions—from the fundamental chemistry of peptides and polymers, to smart adaptive materials, to translational therapies for pain and drug delivery. By uniting organic, materials, and biomolecular chemistry, our goal is to build the next generation of functional materials that address pressing challenges in human health and the environment.
Smart, Adaptive Biomaterials
We design materials that sense and respond to their environment. By building stimuli-responsive hydrogels and nanomaterials that react to cues such as pH, temperature, light, or specific biological signals, we create systems capable of changing their structure, stiffness, or function on demand. These adaptive platforms form the foundation for responsive drug-release systems, self-healing materials, and dynamic scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Peptide Chemistry & Design
Peptides offer remarkable precision: their sequence encodes structure, function, and biological activity. We design and synthesize custom peptides to build materials with defined architecture and tunable properties. By controlling sequence and assembly at the molecular level, we create programmable building blocks for a range of systems—including peptide-based therapeutics and drug-development platforms, peptide coacervates for encapsulation and delivery, and self-assembling peptide hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue engineering. These molecular tools drive the behavior of our larger biomaterial systems and open new routes to functional, bioinspired materials.
Functional Polymer Materials
Synthetic polymers give us a versatile toolbox for engineering material properties at scale. Using modern polymerization methods—including photoinduced and controlled techniques—we build macromolecules with tailored architecture and function. These designs allow us to tune how materials respond to their environment, including to chemical, optical, and mechanical cues such as stress or strain. By controlling polymer structure across multiple scales, we create materials that span applications from biomedical hydrogels and drug carriers, to force-responsive systems that report stress or damage, to materials for environmental water remediation.
Targeted Drug Delivery & Pain Management
A central focus of our lab is improving therapeutic delivery, particularly for pain management. We develop injectable hydrogels and responsive carriers for prolonged local anesthesia and safer, controlled opioid delivery. These systems aim to provide site-specific, long-lasting treatment while reducing systemic exposure and side effects.