Boris Polyak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Surgery New College Building 245 N. 15th Street, Mail Stop 413 Philadelphia, PA 19102 Boris.Polyak@DrexelMed.edu Phone: 215-762-3386 Fax: 215-762-8389

Education:
• Ph.D. in Biotechnology Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, Israel, 2006.
• Master of Science in Biotechnology Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, 2003.
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Ben-Gurion University, 1998. 

Magnetic Targeting Laboratory:
The goal of our group is to explore the multiple interfaces between materials science, chemistry and biotechnology. A major focus is the study and development of biodegradable polymeric magnetic carriers to locally deliver drugs, nucleic acids and therapeutic cells. We also develop “smart” biomaterials for tissue engineering with controllable release of bioactive molecules, cell stimulation and magnetically driven cell or tissue assemblies.

Work is in progress in the following areas:
•  Developing formulations of biodegradable polymeric superparamagnetic nanoparticles for targeted delivery of drugs, nucleic acids (DNA and RNAi), and cells with a therapeutic potential (i.e., endothelial precursor cells or multipotent stem cells) to vascular stents or other magnetizable implants. 
•  Investigating the therapeutic effects of targeted drugs, nucleic acids and cell therapies on vascular healing. 
•  Developing controlled release systems that can be magnetically or thermally triggered to modulate release rates.
•  Synthesizing new biodegradable polymeric materials that could be used for preparation of multifunctional delivery systems.
•  Creating magnetically controlled biodegradable 3D-scaffolds for tissue engineering with tunable release properties of bioactive molecules (i.e., growth factors) and remotely controlled mechanical stimulation of cells grown in the scaffold (collaboration with Dr. Smadar Cohen, Ben-Gurion University, Israel).
•  Utilizing of magnetically labeled cells and magnetic forces with or without magnetic scaffolds or templates in preparation of 2- and 3-dimensional tissue constructs suitable for transplantations.
•  Developing nanosurgery tools (i.e,. carbon nano-pipettes) to deliver, probe and monitor cellular processes and control or alter cellular functions (collaboration with Dr. Haim H. Bau and Michael Schrlau, University of Pennsylvania). 

Selected Publications:
Reprints are available in PDF format upon request.

Boris Polyak, Ilia Fishbein, Michael Chorny, Ivan Alferiev, Darryl Williams, Ben Yellen, Gary Friedman and Robert J. Levy. “High field gradient targeting of magnetic nanoparticles-loaded endothelial cells to the surfaces of steel stents”. PNAS, 2008; 105(2): 698 - 703.

Michael Chorny, Boris Polyak, Ivan S. Alferiev, Gary Friedman, Kenneth Walsh & Robert J. Levy. “Magnetically driven plasmid DNA delivery with biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles”. FASEB J., 2007; 21: 2510 –2519. 

Khalil Abu-Rabeah, Boris Polyak, Rodica E. Ionescu, Serge Cosnier and Robert S. Marks.  “Synthesis and characterization of a pyrrole-alginate conjugate and its application in a biosensor construction”. Biomacromolecules, 2005; 6(6): 3313-3318.

Polyak, B., Geresh, S. and R.S. Marks.  “Synthesis and characterization of a biotin-alginate conjugate and its application in a biosensor construction”. Biomacromolecules, 2004; 5: 389-396. 

Pedahzur R., Polyak B., Marks R.S. and S. Belkin. “Water toxicity detection by a panel of stress responsive luminescent bacteria”. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2004; 24: 343-348. 

Shani Sekler, M., Polyak, B., Dunlop, P.S.M., Byrne, J.A. and Marks, R.S. “Monitoring genotoxicity during the photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol”. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2004; 24: 395-400.

Kleiner, Oleg; Ramesh, Jagannathan; Huleihel, Mahmoud; Cohen, Beny; Kantarovich, Keren; Levi, Chen; Polyak, Boris; Marks, Robert S.; Mordehai, Jacov;  Cohen, Zahavi; Mordechai, Shaul. “A comparative study of gallstones from children and adults using FTIR spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy”. BMC Gastroenterology, 2002; 2: 3-15.

Polyak, B., E. Bassis, A. Novodvorets, S. Belkin and R. S. Marks. “Bioluminescent whole cell optical fiber sensor to genotoxicants: system optimization”. Sensors and Actuators B., 2001; 74:18-26.

Premkumar R. J., O. Lev, R. S. Marks, B. Polyak, R. Rosen and S. Belkin. “Antibody-based immobilization of bioluminescent bacterial sensor cells”. Talanta, 2001; 55(5): 1029-1038.

Polyak, B., E. Bassis, A. Novodvorets, S. Belkin and R. S. Marks. “Optical fiber bioluminescent whole-cell microbial biosensor to genotoxicants”.  Water Science and Technology, 2000; 42: 305 – 311

Selected Presentations:
Boris Polyak, Michael Chorny, Ilia Fishbein, Ivan Alferiev, Darryl Williams, Gary Friedman, and Robert J. Levy. “Magnetic Cell Targeting to Stented Arteries”. American Heart Association, Chicago IL. Scientific Sessions, Supplement to Circulation, Vol. 114, No. 18, October 31, 2006. Page II-410, abstract 2034. (http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/114/18_MeetingAbstracts/II_410). 

Boris Polyak, Michael Chorny, Ivan Alferiev, Kenneth Walsh, Gary Friedman and Robert J. Levy.  “Magnetically Driven Non-Viral Gene Delivery Efficiently Transfects Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells and Inhibits Their Growth via Adiponectin Transgene Expression”. American Society of Gene Therapy 9th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. Supplement to Molecular Therapy, Vol. 13, June 2006, Page S211, abstract 547. (http://www.nature.com/mt/journal/v13/n1s/abs/mt2006688a.html).

Boris Polyak, Michael Chorny, Ivan Alferiev and Robert J. Levy. “Magnetically Responsive Polylactide-Based Nanoparticles Potently Enhance Non-Viral Gene Transfer”. American Society of Gene Therapy 8th Annual Meeting, Saint Louis, MO. Supplement to Molecular Therapy, Vol. 11, May 2005, Page S360, abstract 930 (http://www.nature.com/mt/journal/v11/n1s/abs/mt20051050a.html). 

In the news:
Magnet medicine: The use of magnets shows promise in improving the function of coronary stents. Other applications are also envisioned, January 14, 2008 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/20080114_Magnet_medicine.html

Magnetic Cell Therapy: A new technique uses a magnetic field to guide potential therapies to stents in clogged blood vessels, January 09, 2008 
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/20022/

Under Magnetic Force, Nanoparticles May Deliver Gene Therapy, August 1, 2007 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731125801.htm

Magnetic cells could improve endothelialization of stents and reduce in-stent restenosis, November 13, 2006
http://www.theheart.org/article/753265.do