Nicole M. Iverson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Biomedical Nanotechnology Specialist
Biological Systems Engineering
Nitric oxide, known as a signaling molecule within the body, is used for cell communication and is an important part of human life. It is associated with many inflammatory diseases, including cancer. Unfortunately, nitric oxide degrades rapidly into different molecules which makes it hard to measure. Dr. Nicole M. Iverson’s biomedical engineering laboratory, Iverson Laboratory, researches the biomedical applications of nitric oxide using carbon nanotubes as sensors.
Iverson Laboratory is one of the few laboratories in the world that use carbon nanotube sensors. Through research, the Iverson Lab is currently working to improve the technology of these carbon nanotube sensors to make them better for everyday use and to help understand nitric oxide’s functions within the human body.
The team researches the best methods for delivering these carbon nanotube sensors into cells and animals. Nicole is also working on an ex vivo system to study nitric oxide in human blood. This system would be patient friendly by drawing blood from subjects to avoid placing carbon nanotubes within the body.
Nicole is collaborating with researchers in various fields to learn more about nitric oxide. One project currently underway in the Iverson Laboratory is the study of nitric oxide levels in sheep, with the hypothesis that altered levels of nitric oxide in an animal affects meat tenderness.
Another collaboration between the Iverson Laboratory and researchers in the chemistry and biochemistry departments focuses on the impact of isocyanides on bacteria cells. It is believed that a burst of nitric oxide causes bacteria cell death, but the theory has never before been tested. This collaboration, sponsored by an NIH jumpstart grant, will represent the first experiments to show the relationship between isocyanides and altered nitric oxide concentrations within cells.
Aside from her research, Nicole also teaches the freshman Introduction to Biological Engineering and Agricultural Engineering class (BSEN/AGEN 100) as well as the Introduction to Biomedical Engineering class (BSEN 317). Nicole is working with her co-instructors to improve BSEN/AGEN 100 to get students more excited about engineering and more involved in the department. Nicole is also working to improve BSEN 317 by incorporating hands-on learning activities for the students. For her efforts, Nicole recently received a 2018 Holling Family Junior Faculty Teaching Award.
Article written by Emi Lesser