Principal Investigator

Dr. Luis M. Negrón is an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. His research focuses on the design of supramolecular systems for biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery and modular nanoparticle platforms.

His laboratory develops modular dendron particles (MDPs) capable of encapsulating hydrophobic therapeutic agents and studying their biological activity in cell-based systems, with applications in cancer research and drug formulation.

Research Interests

  • Supramolecular chemistry
  • Drug delivery systems
  • Modular dendron nanoparticles (MDPs)
  • Self-assembly and nanostructured materials
  • Biomedical applications and cancer therapeutics

Education

  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
  • B.S. in Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico
  • College of Chemists from Puerto Rico Licensure, #6048

Academic Appointments

  • 2023–Present: Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), UPR Cayey
  • 2021–2022: Assistant Professor, UPR Río Piedras
  • 2017–2021: Assistant Professor, UPR Cayey

Selected Honors & Awards

  • NIH-RISE Fellowship
  • Alfred Sloan Award
  • Lilly del Caribe QC Award

Mentorship & Teaching

Dr. Negrón has extensive experience mentoring undergraduate researchers in interdisciplinary projects at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a strong commitment to student development and research training.

Selected Publications

  • Negrón, Luis M.; Camacho-Mercado, C.; Morales-Borges, C.; López-Colón, A.; De Jesús-Hernández, A.; Santiago-Figueroa, A.; Rodríguez-Rivera, J.; Ferrer-Acosta, Y.; Madera-Soto, B.; Self-Assembly of Modular Bis-MPA Dendrons into Colloidal Particles with Tunable Morphology and Selective Cytotoxicity. Nanomaterials. 2026, 16 (7), 406. DOI: 10.3390/nano16070406.
  • Negrón, Luis M.; Vázquez-Rosa, Edwin.; Belfleur, Luxene.; Díaz, Tanya L.; Madera-Soto, Bismark.; Vega, Irving E.; Rivera, José M.; Guanosine-Based Supramolecular Particles for Enhanced Drug and Gene Delivery in Cell Culture. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2025, 8 (7), 5625–5633. DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.5c00201.
  • Negrón, Luis M.; Diaz Tanya L.; Ortiz, Edwin O.; Dieppa, Diómedes.; Madera, Bismark.; Rivera, José M.; Organic nanoflowers from a Wide Variety of Molecules Templated by a Hierarchical Supramolecular. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03946.
    Scaffold. Langmuir. 2016, 32 (10), 2283-2990. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03946.
  • Negrón, Luis M.; Meléndez-Contés, Yazmary.; Rivera, José M.; Patchy Supramolecules as Versatile Tools To Probe Hydrophobicity in Nanoglobular Systems. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013,135 (10), 3815-3817. DOI: 10.1021/ja401373h. 

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-negron-283121127/

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4945-6290