I am a materials scientist working at the converging frontiers of materials engineering, biology, and medicine. My guiding philosophy is simple yet profound: therapeutic function can be programmed by precisely engineering a material’s structure and kinetic behavior from the nanoscale upward.
My early research established the concept of the “Kinetic Blueprint” for bioactive glass‑ceramics, demonstrating that synthesis control can predetermine the complete therapeutic lifecycle of a material, from ion exchange dynamics and pH modulation to final biomineralization within physiological environments. Using scalable fabrication methods such as spray pyrolysis, I showed that biomaterials need not be static entities; instead, they can be designed as predictable, time‑responsive systems with built‑in biological timelines.
Building on this framework, my current work expands the approach into “4D materials design”, adding programmed time as a design parameter alongside 3D spatial control; to tackle one of oncology’s most formidable challenges: multi‑drug resistance (MDR) in aggressive cancers such as osteosarcoma. I am developing multi‑stage, intelligent nanoplatforms that deliver a sequential prime‑and‑strike therapeutic strategy:
Target the tumor microenvironment with precision Neutralize resistance pathways through an initial drug release Activate a potent chemo‑photothermal response via an external trigger to eradicate sensitized cancer cells
This platform integrates biodegradable photothermal cores (e.g., black porous silicon), advanced surface chemistry for selective targeting, and multi‑stimuli gating mechanisms to achieve tightly controlled, sequential drug release.
My long‑term vision is to lead an interdisciplinary research group dedicated to engineering next‑generation programmable nanomedicines; translating fundamental materials science into therapeutic systems that deliver hope and options for patients with otherwise intractable diseases. I actively welcome collaborations that push the boundaries of biomaterials, nanomedicine, and translational engineering.
Research Interests
ySequential Bio-Instruction & 4D Biomaterials
Programmable Bio-interfaces for Tissue Engineering
Controlled Ion Release for Therapeutic Applications
Structure-Property-Function Relationships in Biomaterials
Advanced Synthesis of Bioactive Glasses & Ceramics
RESEARCH-activities
Featured Project: Programmable Nanomedicine for Resistant Cancers The 4D nanoparticle for nanomedicine Description: Focuses on developing spatio-temporally controlled nanotherapeutics to overcome multi-drug resistance in osteosarcoma. This '4D' platform integrates bone-homing ligands, a biodegradable photothermal core, and a dual-stimuli release system. This sequential 'prime-and-strike' strategy is designed to re-sensitize resistant tumors to chemotherapy, offering a new paradigm for treating recurrent cancers.
Foundational Project: The Kinetic Blueprint for Bioactive Ceramics Temporal evolution of the interfacial structure at 700 °C (top) and 1100 °C (bottom) over 3, 7, and 21 days. The wollastonite-enriched surface at 1100 °C promotes accelerated and enhanced formation of the hydroxyapatite (HA) layer
Description: Established a predictive framework, the 'Kinetic Blueprint,' for designing bioactive materials with pre-programmed in vitro behavior. By systematically mapping the relationship between thermal processing, phase composition, and surface kinetics, I developed methods to precisely control apatite formation and degradation profiles. This research provides a robust methodology for creating highly consistent and predictable biomaterials for bone regeneration applications.
EXPERTISE & SKILLS
Nanomaterial Synthesis & Formulation
Black Porous Silicon (BPSi) Synthesis & Functionalization
Spray Pyrolysis for Nanoparticle & Thin-Film Fabrication
Drug Loading & Stimuli-Responsive Release Systems (pH, NIR-light)
Advanced Characterization
Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), TGA
Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis, and Cell Viability Assays (MTT, Flow Cytometry)
In Vitro Bioactivity & Biomineralization Studies (SBF)
Preclinical Methods
Orthotopic & Subcutaneous Tumor Models
Biodistribution & Pharmacokinetic Studies
Advanced Preclinical Imaging (PET/MRI, µCT)
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Workie, A.B., Shih S-J. "A comprehensive review on the spray pyrolysis technique..." Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 170 (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2023.105915
Workie, A.B., et al. "An Investigation of In Vitro Bioactivities and Cytotoxicities of Spray Pyrolyzed Apatite Wollastonite Glass-Ceramics." Crystals 13.7 (2023).Doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13071049
Workie, A.B., et al. "Mesoporous bioactive glasses: synthesis, characterization, and their medical applications." Surface Review and Letters 30.04 (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218625X23300046
Workie, A.B., et al. "A study of bioactive glass-ceramic's mechanical properties, apatite formation, and medical applications." RSC Advances 12.36 (2022). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RA03235J
Preprints
Workie, A.B., Shih S-J. "A Kinetic Blueprint for Bioactive Ceramics: Programming the Bio-interface through Thermal Processing." ChemRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-5xw28-v2
Workie, A.B., Shih S-J. "A Quantitative Phase-Temperature Map for Spray-Pyrolyzed AWGCs: A Predictive Tool for Bioceramic Design." ChemRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-tlgns
