Ali Salifu

Assistant Professor

Photo of Ali Salifu

Ali Salifu

Ph.D.

Contact

245 Beacon Street, Room 517

Telephone: 617-552-2036

Email: ali.salifu@bc.edu

ORCID 0000-0001-8703-0365

Education

  • B.S., University of Ghana
  • M.S., University of Surrey
  • Ph.D., University of Surrey

Research Interests

Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery, Water Filtration

Profile

Ali Salifu is an Assistant Professor of Engineering driven by the need to tackle global challenges in health and the environment. His current research aims to develop innovative biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Research in drug delivery focuses on synthesizing targeted drugs and micro- and nano-carriers for the controlled delivery of (i) anticancer agents for cancer therapy and (ii) bioactive agents (growth factors, enzymes, antibodies, etc.) to enhance tissue development. His tissue engineering research concentrates on developing advanced 3D scaffolds to regenerate various tissues, with a current focus on sustainable plant-based scaffolds that have reduced environmental impact. 

Ali is passionate about impacting communities through his work developing low-cost ceramic water filters that effectively remove bacteria, viruses, and chemicals to serve as point-of-use household water purification systems in communities with limited access to potable drinking water. He is working with partners to implement these filters in rural areas in West Africa. Additionally, through the Math and Science for Sub-Saharan Africa (MS4SSA) program, he trained high school teachers from over 16 African countries on project-based learning modules in water filtration and 3D printing.

Prior to joining Boston College, Ali was an Assistant Research Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where served as a Resource Person for WPI initiatives at the interface of engineering and society, such as the COVID-19 Response in Africa and Pandemic Engineering programs. Ali obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering and MS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Surrey and BS in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Selected Publications

Eluu SC, Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Yiporo D, Oko AO, Aina T, Oparah JC, Ezeala CC, Etinosa PO, Ugwu CM, Esimone CO, Soboyejo WO. In-vivo studies of targeted and localized cancer drug release from microporous poly-di-methyl-siloxane (PDMS) devices for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Scientific Reports, 2024; 14: 31.

Nwazojie CC, Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Borbor-Sawyer SM, Uzonwanne VO, Onyekanne CE, Akpan UM, Onwudiwe KC, Oparah JC, Odusanya OS, Soboyejo WO. Targeted drug-loaded PLGA-PCL microspheres for specific and localized treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2023; 34: 41.

Onyekanne CE, Salifu AA, Obayemi JD, Ani CJ, Ashouri Choshali H, Nwazojie CC, Onwudiwe KC, Oparah JC, Ezenwafor TC, Ezeala CC, Odusanya OS, Rahbar N, Soboyejo WO. Laser-induced heating of polydimethylsiloxane-magnetite nanocomposites for hyperthermic inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B, 2022; 110: 2727-2743.

Jusu SM, Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Nwazojie CC, Uzonwanne V, Odusanya OS, Soboyejo WO. Drug-encapsulated blend of PLGA-PEG microspheres: In vitro and in vivo study of the effects of localized/targeted drug delivery on the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10: 14188.

Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Eluu SC, Uzonwanne VO, Jusu SM, Nwazojie CC, Onyekanne CE, Ojelabi O, Payne L, Moore CM, King J, Soboyejo WO. LHRH-conjugated drugs as targeted therapeutic agents for the specific targeting and localized treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10: 8212.

Salifu AA, Obayemi JD, Uzonwanne VO, Soboyejo WO. Mechanical stimulation improves osteogenesis and the mechanical properties of osteoblast-laden RGD-functionalized polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite scaffolds. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2020; 108(12): 2421-2434.

Obayemi JD, Jusu SM, Salifu AA, Ghahremani S*, Tadesse M*, Uzonwanne VO, Soboyejo WO. Degradable porous drug-loaded polymer scaffolds for localized cancer drug delivery and breast cell/tissue growth. Materials Science and Engineering C, 2020; 112: 110794. (* = undergraduate students)

Nigay P-M, Salifu AA, Obayemi JD, White C, Nzihou A, Soboyejo WO. Ceramic water filters for the removal of bacterial, chemical, and viral contaminants. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2019; 145(10): 04019066.

Salifu AA, Lekakou C, Labeed F. Electrospun oriented gelatin-hydroxyapatite fiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2017; 105(7): 1911-1926.

Salifu AA, Lekakou C, Labeed F. Multilayer cellular stacks of gelatin-hydroxyapatite fiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2017; 105(3): 779-789.

Patents

  1. Soboyejo WO, Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Uzonwanne VO. LHRH-paclitaxel conjugates and methods of use. US Patent App. 17/085,957 (Pending).
  2. Soboyejo WO, Obayemi JD, Salifu AA, Uzonwanne VO. LHRH-conjugated prodigiosin and uses thereof. US Patent App. 17/085,861 (Pending).
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