Sabliov Research Group

Bioprocessing and Colloidal Systems

Current Research Group Members

Cristina Sabliov

Jake Farlow Photo

Education:

    2002-2003 Post Doctorate, Food Science, North Carolina State University
    2002 Ph.D., Food Sci./Bio. & Ag. Eng., North Carolina State University
    2001 M.S., Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University
    1998 M.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia
    1997 B.S., Food Technology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania

Contact Information: csabliov@lsu.edu

Cristina Sabliov, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Louisiana State University. Dr. Sabliov is leading an international renowned research program in the field of nanotechnology, specifically focused on polymeric nanoparticles designed for delivery of bioactive components for improved food quality and human health. Projects pursued in her laboratory range from design and synthesis of multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles of controlled properties (size, surface charge, controlled-release profile and targeting properties) for delivery of bioactives, to in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the nanoparticle functionality, and biodistribution and toxicity under the conditions of use. She collaborates extensively with others outside her field and hires undergraduate and graduate students of diverse educational backgrounds (biological engineering, food science, chemistry, biology, and biochemical engineering) to pursue these projects.

Dr. Sabliov’s research been published in reputable journals such as ACS Nano, Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, Journal of Food Engineering, Journal of Biomaterial Science-Polymer Edition, Annual Review of Food Science and Technology and Journal of Physical Chemistry. Dr. Sabliov is a recognized national and international leader in food nanotechnology as indicated by her funding record and by her presence at major events sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Sabliov is currently serving on the Institute of Food Techologists (IFT) Food Nanoscience Advisory Panel and as a co-chair for the Gordon Conference on Nanoscience and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems for 2016. She is the chair of the International Society of Food Applications of Nanoscale Sciences (ISFANS) for 2014-2015.

For her significant contribution to research and teaching, Dr. Sabliov has received numerous awards such as the LSU AgCenter Tipton (Nanotechnology) Team Research Award (2013), ASABE New Holland Research Award (2011), LSU Ag Center G. H Seed Research Excellence Award (2010), and the Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award (2007, 2013). Through her research and teaching, Dr. Sabliov is determined to address the multiple challenges and many opportunities at the interface of engineering, food, health and nanotechnology, and to contribute significantly to the safe application of nanotechnology in foods, medicine and agriculture.


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Carlos Astete

Carlos Astete Photo

Education:

    2010 Ph.D. in Engineering Science, Louisiana State University
    2005 M.S. in Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University
    2000 M.B.A., Adolfo Ibanez University, Department of Administration, Viña del Mar, Chile
    1994 B.S. in Biochemical Engineering, Catholic Valparaiso University

Contact Information: CAstet1@tigers.lsu.edu

Dr. Astete studied and worked in Chile before earning his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University in 2010. Currently, he is an Assistant Research in the BAE Department. In addition to teaching an undergraduate process design course in the Biological Engineering curriculum at LSU, he has been involved in several research projects, including the development and study of a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle system for pesticide delivery in soybean plants. A review paper published by Dr. Astete on PLGA Nanoparticles (Astete, C. and C. M. Sabliov^. 2006. Synthesis and characterization of PLGA nanoparticles: A review. 2006. Journal of Biomaterial Science. Polymer Edition 17(3): 247-289.) is one of the cornerstone papers in the area of polymeric nanoparticle synthesis, receiving more that 200 citations.


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Sara Navarro

Sara Navarro Photo

Contact Information: SNavarro@agcenter.lsu.edu

Sara (Marcela) Navarro is originally from Chile, where she studied Biology in the Catholic University of Valparaiso. For her professional carrier, she began working in the Laboratory of Immunology in the School of Medicine in the University of Valparaiso for 6 years, studying Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiency Diseases like AIDS.

She came to the USA in 2004 and started to work for LSU. In 2007, she started to work as a research associate at School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2011, she joined Dr. Sabliov’s laboratory staff, again as a research associate, and worked on the uptake and biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles in animal models (rats) after oral administration for different periods of time. In addition, she was in charge of the collection and processing of tissues to study nanoparticle biodistribution in the treated animals. Her goal is to publish at least three papers by the end of the study; one had been already accepted for publication, and another one is under review. During her free time, Sara is a busy mom of a boy and two girls. As extracurricular activities, she likes to practice Zumba and yoglates for two or three times a week.


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Thanida Chuacharoen

Thanida Photo

Education:

    2006 Master's, Packaging Technology, Kasetsart University
    2004 B.S., Food Technology, Chulalongkong University

Contact Information: TChuac1@tigers.lsu.edu

Thanida Chuacharoen is a Thai Government Scholar and has been working on a Doctoral Degree under supervision of Dr.Cristina Sabliov in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) Department at Louisiana State University. Her research interests are focused on the development of food-grade nanoparticles and testing their physicochemical stabilities and functionalities relevant for the food industry. Thanida received her Bachelor of Science in Food Technology at Chulalongkong University and a Master in Packaging Technology at Kasetsart University in Thailand. After her fifth-year career as a Packaging Specialist at GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Ltd., she decided it was time for a change of her career path and moved to LSU to pursue a PhD in Engineering Science. She plans to complete her degree in May 2016 and then to return to Thailand to share her educational skills and contribute to the development of her country of origin.


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Sumit Libi

Sumit Libi Photo

Education:

    2013 B.Sc., Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University
    MS candidate, Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University

Contact Information: SLibi2@tigers.lsu.edu

Sumit is from Nepal; he came to United States in 2009 and enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University in Fall 2009 and received his B.Sc. Physics degree in 2013. At Southeastern, he worked as a student researcher in the polymer characterization lab under the supervision of Dr. David Norwood. Sumit is interested in experimental work and likes to work in the lab. He is pursuing a Masters in Biological Engineering Degree at Louisiana State University, and his future goal is to work in industry. He is currently working on developing a method to synthesize PLGA nanoparticles in a millifluidic chip rather than by using the traditional methods of emulsion-evaporation and solvent-extraction techniques. Besides research work, he loves travelling, watching movies and playing FIFA.


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Kurt Ristroph

Kurt Ristroph Photo

Education:

    B.S. candidate, Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University

Contact Information: KRistr2@lsu.edu

A native of Baton Rouge, Kurt is currently a junior pursuing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at LSU; he is also heavily involved in the LSU Honors College. His previous research work on campus included programming laboratory equipment to interface with a lab computer for experimental control and data analysis. He also worked with Thanida on the photoreductive aspect of her lutein/zein experiment during the summer of 2014 and helped to develop this website. He has also begun working with Dr. Astete on the soybean pesticide experiment.

After graduation, Kurt hopes to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. and eventually teach at the university level. In his free time, he enjoys translating Latin, going to service events, reading The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, and playing the flute.


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McKenzie Windham

McKenzie Windham Photo

Education:

    B.S. candidate, Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University

Contact Information: mwindh2@lsu.edu

McKenzie is a freshman majoring in Biological Engineering at LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She graduated from St. Michael the Archangel High School in 2014 with honors, and this is her first laboratory job. Although she is not certain of the specific field she’d like to concentrate on, she is fascinated by many aspects of Biology and the applications of science to better lives. She has aspirations of going to graduate school to become a Biotechnical Engineer and then going into research or looking into other options. When she is not in class or in the lab, she has a wide variety of hobbies and interests including recreational study, art, music, writing, photography, and nature. She is involved with the LSU Honors College and hopes to include community service in her schedule as often as possible.


© 2014 Cristina M. Sabliov