Urara Hasegawa | Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering

About

Urara Hasegawa received her B.S. and M.Eng. in Applied Chemistry from Waseda University, Japan. She earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan, and then, worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Professor Jeffrey Hubbell at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. She joined Department of Applied Chemistry at Osaka University, Japan, as an assistant professor in 2011, and then moved to Department of Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University in 2017. In 2020, she joined Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State.

This faculty member is associated with the Penn State Intercollege Graduate Degree Program (IGDP) in Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) where a multitude of perspectives and cross-disciplinary collaboration within research is highly valued. Graduate students in the IGDP in MatSE may work with faculty members from across Penn State.

Research Projects

Hasegawa’s research focuses on the development of polymeric nanomaterials for controlled delivery of drug and bioactive signaling molecules. Her particular interest is on endogenous generation of reactive oxygen species and gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide and their biological activities. Currently, her group is developing polymeric nanomaterials that can generate, scavenge or respond to these molecules. Her work includes design and synthesis of polymeric nanomaterials using various polymerization techniques, such as reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and aqueous dispersion polymerization, as well as biological evaluation of these nanomaterials in cell culture and biological systems. These polymeric nano-platforms are useful not only for therapeutic applications but also for unveiling the physiological/pathological roles of these tiny bioactive molecules in the human body.

Publications

Research Articles (* Corresponding author(s))

J. J. Y. Chen, A. J. van der Vlies, U. Hasegawa*, Hydrogen sulfide-releasing micelles for promoting angiogenesis. Polymer Chemistry, 11 (2020) 4454-4463.
A. J. van der Vlies, M. Morisaki, H. I. Neng, E. M. Hansen, U. Hasegawa*, Framboidal Nanoparticles Containing A Curcumin-Phenylboronic Acid Complex with Antiangiogenic and Anticancer Activities. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30 (3) (2019) 861–870. Selected as a cover image.
F. Taba, A. Onoda*, U. Hasegawa, T. Enoki, Y. Ooyama, J. Ohshita, T. Hayashi*, Mitochondrial-targeting Polyamine−Protoporphyrin Conjugates for Photodynamic Therapy. ChemMedChem, 13 (2018) 15-19. Selected as a cover image.
T. Takatani-Nakase,* M. Katayama, C. Matsui, K. Hanaoka, A. J. van der Vlies, K. Takahashi, I. Nakase*, U. Hasegawa*, Hydrogen sulfide donor micelles protect cardiomyocytes from ischemic cell death. Molecular BioSystems, 13 (2017) 1705-1708. Selected as a cover image.
A. J. van der Vlies, R. Inubushi, H. Uyama, U. Hasegawa*, Polymeric Framboidal Nanoparticles Loaded with a Carbon Monoxide Donor via Phenylboronic Acid-Catechol Complexation. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 27 (6) (2016) 1500-1508. Selected as a cover image.
U. Hasegawa*, T. Wang, J. J. Y. Chen, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, Furoxan-Bearing Micelles for Nitric Oxide Delivery. Macromolecular Bioscience, 16 (2016) 1009-1018. Selected as a cover image.
U. Hasegawa*, T. Wang, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, Copper Removal from Polymers by Diethyldithiocarbamate Complexation. Chemistry Letters, 45(4) (2016) 400-402.
Y. Xin, J. Sakamoto, U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, H. Uyama*, Data in support of preparation and functionalization of a clickable polycarbonate monolith. Data in Brief, 7 (2016) 183-187.
U. Hasegawa*, R. Inubushi, H. Uyama, T. Uematsu, S. Kuwabata, A. J. van der Vlies, Mannose-Displaying Fluorescent Framboidal Nanoparticles Containing Phenylboronic Acid Groups as a Potential Drug Carrier for Macrophage Targeting. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 36 (2015) 1174-1181.
T. Wang, A. J. van der Vlies, H. Uyama, U. Hasegawa*, Nitric Oxide-Releasing Polymeric Furoxan Conjugates. Polymer Chemistry, 6 (2015) 7737 - 7748.
U. Hasegawa*, T. Nishida, A. J. van der Vlies, Dual Stimuli-Responsive Phenylboronic Acid-Containing Framboidal Nanoparticles by One-Step Aqueous Dispersion Polymerization. Macromolecules, 48(13) (2015) 4388-4393.
U. Hasegawa*, N. Tateishi, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, Hydrolysis-Sensitive Dithiolethione Prodrug Micelles. Macromolecular Bioscience, 15(11) (2015) 1512-1522. Selected as a cover image. Featured by Materials Views, “An Old Drug in a New Form: Dithiolethione Prodrug Micelles”.
U. Hasegawa*, M. Moriyama, S. Metzger, A. J. van der Vlies, H. Uyama, M. Ehrbar, Catechol-Bearing Polymeric Nanoparticles for Antioxidant Therapy. MRS Proceedings, 1797 (2015) mrss15-2132870, doi:10.1557/opl.2015.506.
U. Hasegawa*, M. Moriyama, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, Catechol-Bearing Block Copolymer Micelles: Structural Characterization and Antioxidant Activity. Polymer, 66 (2015) 1-7.
U. Hasegawa*, M. Moriyama, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, NMR Spectra and Electrochemical Behavior of Catechol-Bearing Block Copolymer Micelles. Data in Brief, 4 (2015) 1-6.
Y. Xin, J. Sakamoto, U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, Hiroshi Uyama*, Phase Separation Approach to a Reactive Polycarbonate Monolith for "Click" Modifications. Polymer, 66 (2015) 52-57.
U. Hasegawa*, M. Moriyama, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, Antioxidant Micelles for Bortezomib Delivery. Colloid and Polymer Science, 293(7) (2015) 1887-1892.
M. Moriyama, H. Uyama, A. J. van der Vlies, U. Hasegawa*, Crosslinked Catechol-Bearing Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid) Self-Aggregates with Antioxidant Activity. Colloid and Polymer Science, 293(4) (2015) 1245-1251.
U. Hasegawa*, A. J. van der Vlies, Polymeric Micelles for Hydrogen Sulfide Delivery. Medicinal Chemistry Communications, 6 (2015) 273-276. Selected as one of the most-read articles published in 2015.
M. Moriyama, S. Metzger, A.J. van der Vlies, H. Uyama, M. Ehrbar, and U. Hasegawa*, Inhibition of Angiogenesis by Antioxidant Micelles. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 4(4) (2015) 569-575. Selected as a cover image.
W. Han, M. Yamauchi, U. Hasegawa, M. Noda, K. Fukui, A. J. van der Vlies, S. Uchiyama, H. Uyama*, Pepsin immobilization on an aldehyde-modified polymethacrylate monolith and its application for protein analysis, Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 119(5) (2015) 505-510.
S.-B. Park, U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, M.-H. Sung, H. Uyama*, Preparation of Poly(gamma-glutamic acid)/Hydroxyapatite Monolith via Biomineralization for Bone Tissue Engineering. Journal of Biomaterials Science: Polymer Edition, 25(17) (2014) 1875-90.
U. Hasegawa*, A. J. van der Vlies, Design and Synthesis of Polymeric Hydrogen Sulfide Donors. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 25 (2014) 1290-1300. Featured by Global Medical Discovery.
W. Han, Y. Xin, U. Hasegawa, H. Uyama*, Enzyme immobilization on polymethacrylate-based monolith fabricated via thermally induced phase separation. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 109 (2014) 362-366.
S. Yoneda, W. Han, U. Hasegawa, H. Uyama*, Facile fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) monolith via thermally induced phase separation by utilizing unique cosolvency. Polymer, 55(15) (2014) 3212-3216.
A.J. van der Vlies, W. Han, H. Uyama, U. Hasegawa*, Dextran acetate-based sponge as cell scaffold for tissue engineering. Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, 4 (2014) 28-36.
U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, C. Wandrey, J. A. Hubbell*, Preparation of Well-Defined Ibuprofen Prodrug Micelles by RAFT Polymerization. Biomacromolecules, 14 (2013) 3314-3320.
A. J. van der Vlies, U. Hasegawa*, Polymeric micelles for controlled delivery of hydrogen sulfide. Nitric Oxide, 31(2) (2013) S58.
A. J. van der Vlies, U. Hasegawa, J. A. Hubbell*, Reduction-sensitive tioguanine prodrug micelles. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 9(10) (2012) 2812-2818.
C. Wandrey, U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, C. O'Neil, N. Angelova, J. A. Hubbell*, Analytical ultracentrifugation to support the development of biomaterials and biomedical devices, Methods, 54(1) (2011) 92-100.
U. Hasegawa, A. J. van der Vlies, E. Simeoni, C. Wandrey, J. A. Hubbell*, Carbon monoxide-releasing micelles for immunotherapy. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(51) (2010) 18273–18280.
A. J. van der Vlies, C.P. O'Neil, U. Hasegawa, N. Hammond, J. A. Hubbell*, Synthesis of pyridyl disulfide-functionalized nanoparticles for conjugating thiol-containing small molecules, peptides, and proteins. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 21(4) (2010) 653-662.
N. Inomoto, N. Osaka, T. Suzuki, U. Hasegawa, Y. Ozawa, H. Endo, K. Akiyoshi, M. Shibayama*, Interaction of nanogel with cyclodextrin or protein: Study by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. Polymer, 50(2) (2009) 541-546.
K. Miyai, M. Yoneda, U. Hasegawa, S. Toita, Y. Izu, H. Hemmi, T. Hayata, Y. Ezura, S. Mizutani, K. Miyazono, K. Akiyoshi, T. Yamamoto, M. Noda*, ANA Deficiency Enhances Bone Morphogenetic Protein-induced Ectopic Bone Formation via Transcriptional Events. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284(16) (2009) 10593-10600.
C. Hayashi, U. Hasegawa, Y. Saita, H. Hemmi, T. Hayata, K. Nakashima, Y. Ezura, T. Amagasa, K. Akiyoshi, M. Noda*, Osteoblastic Bone Formation Is Induced by Using Nanogel-Crosslinking Hydrogel as Novel Scaffold for Bone Growth Factor. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 220(1) (2009) 1-7.
U. Hasegawa, S. Sawada, T. Shimizu, T. Kishida, E. Otsuji, O. Mazda, K. Akiyoshi*, Raspberry-like assembly of cross-linked nanogels for protein delivery. Journal of Controlled Release, 140(3) (2009) 312-317.
T. Shimizu, T. Kishida, U. Hasegawa, Y. Ueda, J. Imanishi, H. Yamagishi, K. Akiyoshi, E. Otsuji, O. Mazda*, Nanogel DDS enables sustained release of IL-12 for tumor immunotherapy. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 367 (2008) 330-335.
S. Toita, U. Hasegawa, H. Koga, I. Sekiya, T. Muneta, K. Akiyoshi*, Protein-conjugated quantum dots effectively delivered into living cells by a cationic nanogel. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 8(5) (2008) 2279-2285.
N. Alles, N.S. Soysa, A. Mian, N. Tomamatsu, N. Morimoto, U. Hasegawa, S. Sawada, Y. Tada, K. Akiyoshi, K. Ohya, K. Aoki*, Nanogel Cross-linking Hydrogel as a Drug Delivery System for Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Antagonist. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 23 (2008) S403-S403.
N. Kato†, U. Hasegawa†, N. Morimoto, Y. Saita, K. Nakashima, Y. Ezura, H. Kurosawa, K. Akiyosh*, M. Noda*, Nanogel-based delivery system enhances PGE(2) effects on bone formation. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 101(5) (2007) 1063-1070. † Both authors contributed equally.
T. Fukui, H. Kobayashi, U. Hasegawa, T. Nagasawa, K. Akiyoshi, I. Ishikawa*, Intracellular delivery of nanogel-quantum dot hybrid nanoparticles into human periodontal ligament cells. Drug Metabolism Letters, 1(2) (2007) 131-135.
C.N.R. Alles, N. Morimoto, U. Hasegawa, A. Mian, N.S. Soysa, H. Saito, K. Aoki, R. Baron, K. Akiyoshi, K. Ohya*, Subcutaneous injection of W9 peptide and CHP nanogel complex inhibits the decrease of BMD induced by a low Ca feeding in mice. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 21 (2006) S396-S396.
K. Nagase, U. Hasegawa, F. Kohori, K. Sakai*, H. Nishide, The photoresponse of a molybdenum porphyrin makes an artificial gill feasible. Journal of Membrane Science, 249(1-2) (2005) 235-243.
U. Hasegawa, S.I.M. Nomura, S.C. Kaul, T. Hirano, K. Akiyoshi*, Nanogel-quantum dot hybrid nanoparticles for live cell imaging. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 331(4) (2005) 917-921.
S. Aoyagi, M. Hayama, U. Hasegawa, K. Sakai, M. Tozu, T. Hoshi, M. Kudo*, Estimation of protein adsorption on dialysis membrane by means of TOF-SIMS imaging. Journal of Membrane Science, 236(1) (2004) 91-99.
S. Aoyagi, M. Hayama, U. Hasegawa, K. Sakai, T. Hoshi, M. Kudo*, TOF-SIMS imaging of protein adsorption on dialysis membrane. Applied Surface Science, 231-2 (2004) 411-415.
S. Aoyagi, M. Hayama. U. Hasegawa, K. Sakai, M. Tozu, T. Hoshi and M. Kudo*, TOF-SIMS Imaging of Protein Adsorption on Dialysis Membrane by means of Information Entropy, e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology, 1 (2003) 67-71.

Reviews

U. Hasegawa, K. Akiyoshi, Drug delivery systems by nanogel engineering. Saibo Kogaku 26(6) (2007) 679-685.
U. Hasegawa, K. Akiyoshi, Nanogel carriers, Soft-Nanotechnology: The Biomaterial Revolution, CMC Publishing, Tokyo, Japan, 2005, pp. 236-244.
N. Morimoto, U. Hasegawa, A. Sugawara, S. Yamane, K. Akiyoshi, in: H. Yuasa (Ed.), Nanotechnology in Carbohydrate Chemistry, Transworld Research Network, Trivandrum, India, 2006, pp. 67-85.

Patent

K. Akiyoshi, T. Hirano, U. Hasegawa, Quantum dot-nanogel composites with improved colloidal stability, their preparation, control of quantum dot dissociation from them, and control of uptake rate of them into animal cells. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho (2006), JP 2006143808 A 20060608.

Awards

NSF CAREER award (2020)
Kansas State University Warren and Gisela Keystone Research Scholar (2019)
Osaka University Presidential Award for Encouragement (2015)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellow (2006-2008)