Sandra Lopez

PTVisiting Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

My long term research interests involve the convergence of engineering and health sciences. My academic training, research experience and mentors have helped me to acquire and refine skills in multiple disciplines including cell and molecular biology. My research focuses on the regulation of transport across the vasculature for drug delivery, especially to the brain. 

Education

Postdoctoral Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, The graduate Center, CUNY

M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, CUNY

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia

Courses Taught

  • ENGS 201: Materials Science
  • ENGS 202: Materials Science Laboratory
  • MECH 211: Technical and Graphical Communication
  • MECH 401: Mechanical Engineering Design I
  • MECH 402: Mechanical Engineering Design II
  • Research

    I conduct research in the area of nanoparticle transport across the blood-brain barrier using in-vitro and in-vivo models.

  • Publications and Scholarly Activities
    • Navati M, Lopez-Quintero SV,  Maldonado M, Silva M, Segall J, Spray DC, Cabrales P,  Friedman J. “Fine Tuning the Design of Nanoparticles to Cross the Blood Brain Barrier”. Article in preparation
    • Lopez-Quintero SV and Spray DC. "Hyperglycemia Damages the Endothelial Glycocalyx: Implications for The Blood Brain Barrier" Am J Biomed Sci & Res. (2019)  6(5). AJBSR.MS.ID.001072. DOI: 10.34297/AJBSR.2019.06.001072.
    • Ebong EE, Lopez-Quintero SV, Rizzo V, Spray DC, Tarbell JM “Shear-induced endothelial NOS activation and remodeling via heparan sulfate, glypican-1, and syndecan-1” Integr Biol (2014) Mar;6(3):338-47. PMID: 24480876
    • Lopez-Quintero SV, Cancel LM, Pierides A, Antonetti D, Spray DC, Tarbell JM “High glucose attenuates shear-induced changes in endothelial hydraulic conductivity by degrading the glycocalyx.” PLoS One. (2013)  Nov 18;8(11) PMID: 24260138
    • Spray DC, Hanstein R, Lopez-Quintero SV, Stout RF, Suadicani S, and Thi M. “Gap junctions and Bystander Effects:  Good Samaritans and executioners”. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Membrane Transport and Signaling (2013).Jan 2;1:1-15
    • Lopez-Quintero SV, Ji XY, Antonetti DA, Tarbell JM. “A Three Pore Model Describes Transport Properties of Bovine Retinal Endothelial Cells Under Normal and Elevated Glucose” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. (2011)  Feb 28;52(2):1171-80. PMID: 21357410
    • Giantsos-Adams K, Lopez-Quintero V, Kopeckova P, Kopecek J, Tarbell JM, Dull R. “Study of the therapeutic benefit of cationic copolymer administration to vascular endothelium under mechanical stress” Biomaterials. (2011) Jan;32(1):288-94. PMID: 20932573
    • Lopez-Quintero SV, Datta A, Amaya R, Elwassif M, Bikson M, Tarbell JM “DBS-relevant electric fields increase hydraulic conductivity of in vitro endothelial monolayers”. J Neural Eng.(2010) Feb;7(1):16005. PMID: 20075507
    • Lopez-Quintero SV, Amaya R, Pahakis M and Tarbell JM. “The endothelial glycocalyx mediates shear-induced changes in hydraulic conductivity”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. (2009) May;296: H1451-H1456.  PMID: 1928695
    • Lopez-Quintero SV. “Teeth microstructure and fluid flow in dentine tubules, an application of the poroelasticity theory". Master of Science Degree thesis at The City College of New York Library (2004).
    • Lopez-Quintero SV, Sandino C. “Development of a process to enhance the chemical resistance of glass containers for injectable physiological serum”, Bachelor’s Degree thesis at Universidad de los Andes Library (1998).
  • Honors, Awards, and Grants
    • Research award to attend the Vienna Technical University Junior Scientist Conference (2006). The City College of New York. Poster presentation. “Retinal vascular permeability in diabetes”. 
    • Doctoral Student Research Grant Competition 2 (2007). The Graduate Center at CUNY. “Design and fabrication of an apparatus to impose shear stress to in-vitro cell cultures”.
    • Research award to attend the Vienna Technical University Junior Scientist Conference (2008). The City College of New York. Poster presentation. “Deep Brain Stimulation induced electric fields effects on endothelial cell barrier function”. 
    • Doctoral Student Research Grant Competition 4 (2009). The Graduate Center at CUNY. Travel Award to attend “The European association for the study of diabetes. Eye Complications Study Group (EASDec) Conference” at Oxford University, UK.
    • Excellence Award (2009). Teaching Assistant in Senior Design. Biomedical Engineering. The City College of New York.
    • Teaching Fellow (2006-2009). National Institutes of Health. NIH R25 Program. “A National Urban Model for Minority Undergraduate Biomedical Education”.
    • Research Fellowship (2005-2010). National Institutes of Health. NIH RO1 EY 016413. “Mechanisms for Permeability in Diabetes”.
    • Harold Shames Award for Outstanding Academic Service (2010). Biomedical Engineering. The City College of New York.