David W Grainger

Personal life David William Grainger III was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1979 as valedictorian.

Education Grainger graduated with a B.A. degree in engineering and minor in chemistry in 1983. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to work with Prof. Helmut Ringsdorf at the University of Mainz, Germany.

Career and research Grainger's early research focused on the failure of medical implants in the human body and the problems associated with blood coagulation and infection. Grainger began his academic career as an assistant professor at the Oregon Graduate Institute. He moved to become associate professor in the department of chemistry at Colorado State University and was promoted to full professor there in 1999. and nanotoxicology; however, his research portfolio is quite diverse.

His work in nanotoxicology (the study of the toxicity of nanomaterials) ranges from testing drug toxicity in vitro, to investigation of infections caused by materials implanted in the body. The issue of nanotoxicity in transportation of drug particles is also an area of his expertise. Much of his work in this area focuses on finding the surface interactions at the drug-tissue, drug-material interface.

His research in drug device integration began with his work in pharmacology and nanomedicine. This moved into work in localized drug delivery devices to treat conditions like prophylaxis and insights into infection caused by implanted materials.

Additional research includes: Extensive work to characterize the functions and applications of growth factor-β, specifically its implications in conditions including Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis, diagnosis of coronary heart disease and proliferation of human muscular tissue.

Biomaterials

Some of Grainger's work with biomaterials is focused on surface modification, patterning and analytical methods, and ultrathin protein and polymer films. In a study of functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-based bioassays, he helped discover a new surface chemistry which inhibits nonspecific biomolecular interactions and provides the capacity for specific immobilization of desired biomolecules.