Serafina Lopez, PhD

ASERT/IRACDA Fellow

University of New Mexico

Department of Mechanical Engineering

seralopez@unm.edu

Education:

• ASERT Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico, 2025-Present
• PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, 2025
• BS, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, 2019

Research:

Investigating polymer solutions for bone tissue engineering, and assessing the effects of local antibiotics on cartilage structure and function.

Research Mentor:

• Christina Salas, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Department of Orthopaedics

Publications:

1. Yoon, D., Vishwanath, K., Dankert, J., Butler, J.J., Azam, M.T., Gianakos, A.L., Colville, M.J., Lopez, S. G., Paszek, M.J., Reesink, H.L., Kennedy, J.G., Bonassar, L.J., Irwin, R.M. “Delayed Lubricin Injection Improves Cartilage Repair Tissue Quality in an In Vivo Rabbit Osteochondral Defect Model”. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2025.
2. Lopez, S. G., Dankert, J., Butler, J.J., Kennedy, J.G., Bonassar, L.J., Irwin, R.M. “Medial Osteochondral Defect Drives Matrix and Cell Pathology in Compartment-Matched Meniscus.” Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2025.
3. Lopez, S. G., Moura, H.R, Chow, E., Chin Hun Kuo J., Paszek, M.J., Bonassar, L. J. “Recombinant Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans Modulate Fiber Structure and Mechanical Properties of Collagen Gels”. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2025.
4. Lopez, S. G., Estroff, L. A., Bonassar, L. J. “siRNA Treatment Enhances Collagen Fiber Formation in Tissue Engineered Meniscus via Transient Inhibition of Aggrecan Production.” Bioengineering, 2024.
5. Lopez, S. G., Kim, J., Estroff, L. A., Bonassar, L. J. “Removal of GAGs Regulates Mechanical Properties, Collagen Fiber Formation, and Alignment in Tissue Engineered Meniscus”. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2023.
6. Lopez, S. G., Bonassar, L. J. “The Role of SLRPs and Large Aggregating Proteoglycans in Collagen Fibrillogenesis, Extracellular Matrix Assembly, and Mechanical Function of Fibrocartilage.” Connective Tissue Research, 2021.