Other roles: Associate Member, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine McMaster University
Overview
When materials come in contact with biological fluids such as blood, protein adsorption occurs rapidly and influences subsequent interactions with cells. For medical devices and implants, these adverse reactions lead to serious complications including thrombosis, inflammation and infection. My research is aimed at achieving a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in protein and cell interactions at material surfaces for the development of advanced devices. Chemical, biological and topographical surface modification strategies are used to control and analyze surface properties. We use sophisticated characterization techniques and new methods in nanotechnology, surface patterning, 3D printing, microfluidics, and proteomics. The main focus is on improving polymeric materials for blood contacting devices, and we have an interest in pediatric applications. Our work on protein-material interfaces also has the potential to impact a breadth of areas including tissue engineering, drug delivery, nanomaterials, membranes and biosensors.
We are currently accepting applications for future MASc and PhD positions to work on various projects related to biomaterials and biointerfaces. Please see the posting for further details here.
Did you know?
Dr. Sask worked at Interface Biologics Inc., a company that develops transformative biomedical polymer technologies to improve the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.
Dr. Kyla Sask obtained her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in 2006 and her Ph.D from the School of Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University in 2012. Her Ph.D research was supervised by Dr. John Brash (Biomedical Engineering) and Dr. Anthony Chan (Pediatric Hematology) and focused on the development of antithrombogenic biomaterials. She joined Dr. Brian Amsden’s Advanced Biomaterials Laboratory (ABiL) at Queen’s University for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in 2018.
Dr. Sask worked at Interface Biologics Inc. (IBI) for several years as an Associate Research Engineer. IBI develops transformative biomedical polymer technologies that improve the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. During her time with IBI she worked on Endexo™, a platform technology utilized for its antithrombogenic properties in various medical device applications and Epidel™, an anti-infective polymer coating technology for sustained release. She has given guest lectures in Regenerative Medicine at the University of Toronto and taught Statistics for Engineers at McMaster University as a Sessional Instructor.
B.Sc. (Eng), Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University
Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Programs Excellence Award
PolyMAC Oral Presentation Award (voted by peers at PolyMAC conference)
Dave Williams Graduate Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering
Oral Presentation Award – 28th Annual Meeting, Canadian Biomaterials Society (CBS)
NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS)
Ontario Graduate Fellowship – McMaster Prestige Award
E.C. Joyce Memorial Award (voted as outstanding graduate in Chemical Engineering)
2 unit(s) A sequence of experiments to investigate surface modification of biomaterials involving electrodeposition of composite biopolymers and relevant biological characterization methods. One lecture, one lab (three hours) Prerequisite(s): Registration in the final level of Materials Engineering Antirequisite(s): MATLS 4L02, MATLS 4L04
Instructor
Dr. Kyla Sask
TECHNICAL ELECTIVE LIST A 3 unit(s) Advanced applications of biomaterials including nanobiomaterials, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, microfluidics, biosensing, immunomodulatory materials. Three lectures; one term Prerequisite(s): MATLS 4B03 and registration in Level III or above in Materials Engineering; or Registration in Level IV or above in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (IBEHS) program Offered on an irregular rotation basis.
