Chemical Engineering
 

David G. Castner
Professor of Chemical Engineering 
and Bioengineering

Contact Information

239A Benson Hall
Box 351750
Seattle, WA 98195-1750		 Phone: 206-543-8094
FAX: 206-543-3778
Email: castner@nb.engr.washington.edu

Education

B.S., Oregon State University, 1975.
Ph.D., University of California (Berkeley), 1979.

For more information, please see the
National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESCA/BIO)
website.

Research Interests

The surface region of a biomaterial is the interface between that material and the biological environment. Thus, the surface structure and composition of a biomaterial mediates the biological reactions that occur when biomaterials are placed into the body. Our research is directed at obtaining detailed information about the surface composition and structure of biomaterials and the interaction of biomolecules with those biomaterials. Recent advances in biochemistry and biomaterials have made it possible to control chemistry on a local scale undreamed of only a few years ago. The dimensions of the lateral chemical variations are diminishing, the complexity of the molecules being introduced at the surface is increasing, and the manipulations of the surface moieties become ever more sophisticated. These advances offer great challenges and opportunities for biomedical surface analysis.

Experimental methods we use in our research include x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, also known as ESCA), static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), scanning force microscopy (SFM), near edge x-ray adsorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Current research projects include the characterization of model biomaterial systems (self-assembled monolayers, peptides, ordered proteins, etc.), the development of chemical state imaging methods, and characterization of adsorbed protein films. The objective of these research projects is to improve our understanding of the relationship between the surface properties of a biomaterial and the biological reactions occurring on that material by determining, in detail, the composition, structure, spatial distribution, and orientation of surface species.

Our research is an integral part of the National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO), an NIH-funded instrumentation center directed by Prof. Castner. NESAC/BIO is dedicated to ensuring that biomedical researchers have the tools to get the maximum benefit from the information-rich spectra and images produced by state-of-the-art surface analysis instrumentation, experimental protocols, and data analysis methods. In addition to our basic research projects at NESAC/BIO, we also work with leading biomedical researchers across the country and around the world through NESAC/BIO collaborative research projects.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. "Multi-technique Surface Characterization of Derivatization Efficiencies for Hydrox-terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers," S. Pan, D.G. Castner, and B.D. Ratner, Langmuir, 14, 3545-3550, 1998.

  2. "Surfaces Designed to Control the Projected Area and Shape of Individual Cells," C.H. Thomas, J. B. Lhoest, D. G. Castner, C.D. McFarland and K.E. Healy, J. Biomechanical Engineering, 121, 40-48, 1999.

  3. "Semifluorinated/Hydrogenated Alkylthiol Thin Films: A Comparison between Disulfides and Thiol Binary Mixtures," M.-W. Tsao, J.F. Rabolt, H. Schonherr, and D.G. Castner, Langmuir , 16, 1734-1743, 2000.

  4. "Attachment of Functionalized Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Films to Gold Surfaces," H. Lu, C.T. Campbell, and D.G. Castner, Langmuir, 16, 1711-1718, 2000.

  5. "Deposition of Highly Ordered CF2-Rich Films using CW and Pulsed Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Plasmas," C.I. Butoi, N.M. Mackie, L.G. Gamble, D.G. Castner J. Barnd, A.M. Miller, and E.R. Fisher, Chem. Mater., 12, 2014-2024, 2000.

  6. "Surface Characterization of Mixed Self-Assembled Monolayers Designed for Streptavidin Immobilization," K.E. Nelson, L. Gamble, L.S. Jung, M.S. Boeckl, E. Naeemi, S. L. Golledge, T. Sasaki, D.G. Castner, C.T. Campbell and P.S. Stayton, Langmuir, 17, 2807-2816, 2001.

  7. "Static ToF SIMS and XPS Characterization of Adsorbed Albumin and Fibronectin Films," C.D. Tidwell, D.G. Castner, S.L. Golledge, B.D. Ratner, K. Meyer, B. Hagenhoff, and A. Benninghoven, Surface and Interface Analysis, 31, 724-733, 2001.

  8. "Characterization of Adsorbed Protein Films by ToF SIMS with PCA," M.S. Wagner and D.G. Castner, Langmuir, 17, 4649-4660, 2001.

  9. "Characterization of Adsorbed Protein Films by Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry," J.-B. Lhoest, M.S. Wagner, C.D. Tidwell, and D.G. Castner, J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 57, 432-440, 2001.

  10. "Inhibition of Monocyte Adhesion and Fibrinogen Adsorption on Glow Discharge Plasma Deposited Tetraethylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether," M. Shen, V. Pan, M.S. Wagner, K.D. Hauch, D.G. Castner, B.D. Ratner, and T.A. Horbett, J. Biomat. Sci., Polymer Edn., 12, 961-978, 2001.

  11. "Biomedical Surface Science: Foundations to Frontiers," D.G. Castner and B.D. Ratner, Surface Science, in press, 2002.

  12. "Surface Structure and Orientation of PTFE Films Determined by Experimental and FEFF8-Calculated NEXAFS Spectra," L.J. Gamble, B. Ravel, D.A. Fischer, and D.G. Castner, Langmuir, in press, 2002.

  13. "Limits of Detection for ToF-SIMS and XPS: Detection of Low Amounts of Adsorbed Protein," M.S. Wagner, S.L. McArthur, M. Shen, T.A. Horbett and D.G. Castner, J. Biomat. Sci., Polymer Edn., in press, 2002.

  14. "Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted Polysiloxane Monolayers for Control of Protein Binding," N. Xia, Y. Hu, D.W. Grainger and D.G. Castner, Langmuir, in press, 2002.

  15. "Interpretation of ToF-SIMS Spectra of Adsorbed Protein Films by Multivariate Pattern Recognition," M.S. Wagner, B.J. Tyler and D.G. Castner, Anal Chem, in press, 2002.

Go to link Recent M.S. Theses
Go to link Recent Ph.D. Dissertations