200. Nanotechnology for Fentanyl detection | Dr. Shalini Prasad

Episode 200 October 21, 2024 01:01:43
200. Nanotechnology for Fentanyl detection | Dr. Shalini Prasad
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
200. Nanotechnology for Fentanyl detection | Dr. Shalini Prasad

Oct 21 2024 | 01:01:43

/

Show Notes

Fentanyl is the public health crisis of our times with 300 deaths a day from drugs, 60% driven by fentanyl. It is a humanitarian crisis. Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction. Quick fentanyl detection is important, and nanotechnology is playing a big role.

Dr. Shalini Prasad’s research focuses on designing miniature cellular and molecular platforms, with the goal of creating faster and more affordable clinical diagnostics.

She is currently a Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology and a professor in the Department of Bioengineering. She also holds an adjunct appointment as professor in the Department of Physics at Portland State University.

Prasad is the director of the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Lab, which has supported 22 graduate researchers and 30 undergraduate researchers over the last eight years. Her multi-disciplinary work includes the engineering of multi-functional nanomaterials for designing portable devices and platforms for cellular and molecular diagnostics. Her research improves devices for faster, more affordable and accurate diagnosis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.

Prasad earned her doctoral degree in electrical engineering in 2004 from the University of California, Riverside. Her multidisciplinary research work won her the graduate student research award in 2004. From 2005 to 2008, she worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Portland State University and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Oregon Health Sciences University.

From 2008 to 2010, she worked as a research assistant professor and a content expert in the area of organic/inorganic interfaces for the Arizona State University node of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and ASU’s Center for Solid State Electronics Research. From 2010 to 2011, she was an associate professor at Wichita State University in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Bomhoff Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering.

Prasad’s research work has been supported by a number of federal and state agencies as well as corporate entities. She has more than 30 peer-reviewed journal publications and is the recipient of a number of awards in the area of nano-biotechnology.

Other Episodes

Episode 152

November 27, 2023 00:59:29
Episode Cover

Episode #153 High Truths on Drugs and Addiction with Shounak Dharap and Kratom

Kratom, also known as mytragynine  is a plant with opioid and stimulant effects. It can be addictive just like opioids are addictive. And yet,...

Listen

Episode 206

December 02, 2024 00:47:25
Episode Cover

206. Learning from Rx Opioid Epidemic | Mary Bono

Once upon a time, a long time ago, in 1990, people were dying of prescription opioids. Those were the 'good ol days" when 100...

Listen

Episode 27

June 28, 2021 01:22:24
Episode Cover

Episode #27 High Truths with Thomas Wolf on Effective Harm Reduction

Are safe injection sites good for public health? What is the line between harm reduction and drug normalization? Do people who inject drugs or...

Listen