Mary K Cowman
Associate Provost for Programs, Planning and Development and Professor of Biochemistry and Bioengineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Phone: (718) 260-3054
- Email: mcowman@poly.edu
- Location: RH 805
Education
Case Western Reserve University
Ph.D., Chemistry
Brandeis University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biochemistry
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Ophthalmology Research
Research Interests
Determination of structure, function, and medical properties of biological macromolecules, with special expertise in hyaluronan polysaccharide. Biophysical and bioanalytical chemistry of macromolecules in solution, on surfaces, and in confined environments. Development of theoretical approaches to understand and control macromolecular crowding in polymer solutions and biological environments. Discovery and development of new biomaterials with medical applications.
Awards + Distinctions
- Distinguished Scientist Award, Westchester Chemical Society, 2007
- Distinguished Teacher Award, Polytechnic University, 2006
Affiliations
- Founding Member, former Treasurer, current Secretary: International Society for Hyaluronan Sciences, 2004-present
- Director, Westchester subsection, American Chemical Society, 2006-2010
- Director-at Large, New York Section, American Chemical Society, 2007-2008
- Member of American Chemical Society, Biophysical Society, Society for Glycobiology, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, New York Academy of Sciences, Sigma Xi.
- Scientific Program and Planning Committees: "Hyaluronan 2000", "MMC-9" (Macromolecule-Metal Complexes 2001), "Hyaluronan 2003", “Hyaluronan 2007”, "Hyaluronan 2013"
Patents
Nanocomposite Hyaluronic Acid-Clay Based Hydrogels., (US Patent 8,367,117. Issued February 5, 2013. )
Biocompatible materials containing stable complexes of TSG-6 and , (US Patent No. 8,093,365. Issued January 10, 2012. )
Biocompatible materials containing stable complexes of TSG-6 and , ((divisional) application 13/299,999. filed Nov. 18, 2011. allowed)
Journal Articles
- Nanocomposite Hyaluronic Acid-Clay Based Hydrogels. US Patent 8, 367,117. Issued February 5, 2013.
- Biocompatible materials containing stable complexes of TSG-6 and hyaluronan and method of using same. US Patent No. 8,093,365. Issued January 10, 2012.
- Biocompatible materials containing stable complexes of TSG-6 and hyaluronan and method of using same. (divisional) application 13/299,999. filed Nov. 18, 2011. allowed Dec. 21, 2012.
- Hill, D.R., Kessler, S.P., Rho, H.K., Cowman, M.K., and de la Motte, C.A. (2012) “Specific-sized Hyaluronan Fragments Promote Expression of Human β-Defensin 2 in Intestinal Epithelium” J. Biol. Chem. 287, 30610-31624. PMID22761444
- Tolg, C., Zalinska, E., Hamilton, S., McCulloch, L., Akentieva, N., Winnik, F., Savani, R., Bagli, D.J., Luyt, L.G., Amin, R., Cowman, M.K., McCarthy, J.B., and Turley, E.A. (2012) “A RHAMM mimetic peptide blocks hyaluronan fragment signaling and promotes skin excisional wound repair by reducing inflammation” Am. J. Pathology 181, 1250-1270. PMID22889846
- Cowman, M.K., Hernandez, M., Kim, J.R., Yuan, H., and Hu, Y. (2012) "Macromolecular Crowding in the Biomatrix", in Structure and Function of Biomatrix: Control of Cell Behavior and Gene Expression, E.A. Balazs, ed., Matrix Biology Institute, Edgewater, NJ, pp. 45-66.
- Kwiecinski, J.J., Dorosz, S.G., Hill, T.E., Abubacker, S., Cowman, M.K., and Schmidt, T.A. (2011) "The Effect of Molecular Weight on Hyaluronan's Cartilage Boundary Lubricating Ability – Alone and in Combination with Proteoglycan 4" Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 19, 1356-1362. PMID21683677
- Bhilocha, S., Amin, R., Pandya, M., Yuan, H., Tank, M., LoBello, J., Shytuhina, A., Wang, W., Wisniewski, H-G., de la Motte, C.A., and Cowman, M.K. (2011) "Agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis methods for molecular weight analysis of 5-500 kDa HA" Anal. Biochem., 417, 41-49. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.05.026 PMID21684248
- Cowman, M.K., Chen, C.C., Pandya, M., Yuan, H., Ramkishun, D., LoBello, J., Bhilocha, S., Russell-Puleri, S., Skendaj, E., Mijovic, J., and Jing, W. (2011) "Improved Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Method and Molecular Weight Calculation for High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan" Anal. Biochem., 417, 50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.05.023 PMID21683677
- Colon, E., Shytuhina, A., Cowman, M.K., Band, P.A., Sanggaard, K., Enghild, J.J., and Wisniewski, H-G. (2009) "Transfer of Inter-α-Inhibitor Heavy Chains to Hyaluronan by Surface-linked Hyaluronan – TSG-6 Complexes" J. Biol. Chem. 284, 2320-31. PMID19033448
- Funami, T., Zhang, G., Hiroe, M., Noda, S., Nakauma, M., Asai, I., Cowman, M.K., Al-Assaf, S., Phillips, G.O. (2007) "Effects of the proteinaceous moiety on the emulsifying properties of sugar beet pectin", Food Hydrocolloids, 21, 1319-1329.
- Tarasenko, O., Nourbakhsh, S., Kuo, S.P., Bakhtina, A., Alustra, P., Kudasheva, D., Cowman, M., and Levon, K. (2006) "Scanning Electron and Atomic Force Microscopy to Study Plasma Torch Effects on B. Cereus Spores" IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 34, 1281-1289.
- Cowman, M.K., Funami, T., Al-Assaf, S., Kudasheva, D.S., Mohan, D., and Phillips, G.O. (2006) "Use of Atomic Force Microscopy to Investigate the Structure of Arabinogalactan Proteins" Food Food Ingred. J. Japan. 211, 207-212.
- Cowman, M.K., Spagnoli, C., Kudasheva, D.S., Matsuoka, S., and Balazs, E.A. (2005) “Influence of Environment on Hyaluronan Shape” in Hyaluronan: Its Structure, Metabolism, Biological Activities, and Therapeutic Applications", E.A. Balazs and V.C. Hascall, eds., Matrix Biology Institute, Edgewater, NJ, pp. 79-87.
- Spagnoli, C., Korniakov, A., Ulman, A., Balazs, E.A., Lyubchenko, Y., and Cowman, M.K. (2005) “Hyaluronan Conformations on Surfaces: Effect of Surface Charge and Hydrophobicity” Carb. Res. 340, 929-941. PMID15780258
- Cowman, M.K. and Matsuoka, S. (2005) "Experimental Approaches to Hyaluronan Structure" Carb. Res. 340, 791-809. PMID15780246
- Cowman, M.K., Spagnoli, C., Kudasheva, D., Li, M., Dyal, A., Kanai, S., and Balazs, E.A. (2005) “Extended, Relaxed, and Condensed Conformations of Hyaluronan” Biophys. J. 88, 590-602. PMID15489305
- Kudasheva, D.S., Lai, J., Ulman, A., and Cowman, M.K. (2004) “Structure of Carbohydrate-Bound Polynuclear Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles in Parenteral Formulations” J. Inorg. Biochem. 98, 1757-1769. PMID15522403
- Gupta, P., Loos, K., Korniakov, A., Spagnoli, C., Cowman, M., Ulman, A. (2004) “Facile Route to Ultraflat SAM-Protected Gold Surfaces by ‘Amphiphile Splitting’” Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. 43, 520-523. PMID14735551
- Kazakov, S., Kaholek, M., Kudasheva, D., Teraoka, I., Cowman, M.K., and Levon, K. (2003) “Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-1-vinylimidazole) Hydrogel Nanoparticles Prepared and Hydrophobically Modified in Liposome Reactors: Atomic Force Microscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering” Langmuir 19, 8086-8093.
- Spagnoli, C., Loos, K., Ulman, A., and Cowman, M.K. (2003) “Imaging Structured Water and Bound Polysaccharide on Mica Surface at Ambient Temperature” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 7124-7128. PMID12783566
- Paradossi, G., Cavalieri, F., Chiessi, E., Spagnoli, C., and Cowman, M.K. (2003) “Poly(vinyl alcohol) as versatile biomaterial for potential biomedical applications” J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Med. 14, 687-691. PMID15348409
- Dyal, A., Loos, K., Noto, M., Chang, S.W., Spagnoli, C., Shafi, K.V.P.M., Ulman, A., Cowman, M., and Gross, R.A. (2003) “Activity of Candida Rugosa Lipase Immobilized on γ-Fe2O3 Magnetic Nanoparticles” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 1684-5. PMID12580578
- Hoefling, J.M., Cowman, M.K., Matsuoka, S., and Balazs, E.A. (2002) "Temperature Effect on the Dynamic Rheological Characteristics of Hyaluronan, Hylan A, and Synvisc®", in Hyaluronan, J.F. Kennedy, G.O. Phillips, P.A. Williams, eds., Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, pp. 103-108.
- Matsuoka, S. and Cowman, M.K. (2002) "Viscosity of Polymer Solutions Revisited", in Hyaluronan, J.F. Kennedy, G.O. Phillips, P.A. Williams, eds., Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, pp. 79-88.
- Cowman, M.K. and Matsuoka, S. (2002) "The Intrinsic Viscosity of Hyaluronan", in Hyaluronan, J.F. Kennedy, G.O. Phillips, P.A. Williams, eds., Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, pp. 75-78.
- Cowman, M.K., Li, M., Dyal, A., and Kanai, S. (2002) "Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy of Hyaluronan and Hylan A", in Hyaluronan, J.F. Kennedy, G.O. Phillips, P.A. Williams, eds., Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, pp.109-116.
- Matsuoka, S. and Cowman, M.K. (2002) “Equation of State for Polymer Solution” Polymer 43, 3447-3453.
- Cowman, M.K., Feder-Davis, J., and Hittner, D.M. (2001) "13C-NMR Studies of Hyaluronan. 2. Dependence of Conformational Dynamics on Chain Length and Solvent." Macromolecules 34, 110-115.
- Stenger, J., Cowman, M., Eggers, F., Eyring, E.M., Kaatze, U., and Petrucci, S. (2000) "Molecular Dynamics and Kinetics of Monosaccharides in Solution. A Broadband Ultrasonic Relaxation Study." J. Phys. Chem. B 104, 4782-4790.
- Kwei, T.K., Nakazawa, M., Matsuoka, S., Cowman, M.K., and Okamoto, Y. (2000) "The Concentration Dependence of Solution Viscosities of Rigid Polymers." Macromolecules 33, 235-236.
- Cowman, M.K., Li, M., Dyal, A., and Balazs, E.A. (2000) "Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy of the Hyaluronan Derivative, Hylan A." Carbohydr. Polym. 41, 229-235.
- Liu, J. and Cowman, M.K. (2000) "Thermal Analysis of Semi-Dilute Hyaluronan Solutions." J. Therm. Anal. Calorim. 59, 547-557.
- Cowman, M., Eggers, F., Eyring, E.M., Horoszewski, D., Kaatze, U., Kreitner, R., Petrucci, S., Klöppel-Riech, M., and Stenger, J. (1999) "Microsecond to Subnanosecond Molecular Relaxation Dynamics of the Interaction of Ca+2 with some Carbohydrates in Aqueous Solution." J. Phys. Chem. 103, 239-242.
- Cowman, M.K., Li, M., and Balazs, E.A. (1998). "Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy of Hyaluronan: Extended and Intramolecularly Interacting Chains." Biophys. J. 75, 2030-2037. PMID9746545
- Cowman, M.K., Liu, J., Li, M., Hittner, D.M., and Kim, J.S. (1998). "Hyaluronan Interactions: Self, Water, Ions.", in The Chemistry, Biology and Medical Applications of Hyaluronan and its Derivatives, T.C. Laurent, ed., Wenner-Gren International Series No. 72, Portland Press, London, pp. 17-24.
- Vilar, R.E., Ghael, D., Li, M., Bhagat, D.D., Arrigo, L.M., Cowman, M.K., Dweck, H.S., and Rosenfeld, L. (1997). "Nitric Oxide Degradation of Heparin and Heparan Sulfate." Biochem. J. 324, 473-479.
- Li, M., Rosenfeld, L., Vilar, R.E., and Cowman, M.K. (1997). "Degradation of Hyaluronan by Peroxynitrite." Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 341, 245-250. PMID9169011
- Behrends, R., Cowman, M.K., Eggers, F., Eyring, E.M., Kaatze, U., Majewski, J., Petrucci, S., Richmann, K-H., and Reich, M. (1997). "Ultrasonic Relaxation and Fast Chemical Kinetics of Some Carbohydrate Aqueous Solutions." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119, 2182-2186.
- McKee, C.M., Penno, M.B., Cowman, M., Bao, C., and Noble, P.W. (1996). "Hyaluronan (HA) Fragments Induce Chemokine Gene Expression in Murine Alveolar Macrophages. The Role of HA Size and CD44." J. Clin. Invest. 98, 2403-2413. PMID8941660
- Noble, P.W., McKee, C.M., Cowman, M., and Shin, H.S. (1996). "Hyaluronan Fragments Activate an NF-κB/I-κBα Autoregulatory Loop in Murine Macrophages." J. Exp. Med. 183, 2373-2378. PMID8642348
- Cowman, M.K., Hittner, D.M., and Feder-Davis, J., (1996). "13C-NMR Studies of Hyaluronan: Conformational Sensitivity to Varied Environments." Macromolecules 29, 2894-2902.
- Lee, H.G. and Cowman, M.K. (1994). "An Agarose Gel Electrophoretic Method for Analysis of Hyaluronan Molecular Weight Distribution." Anal. Biochem. 219, 278-287. PMID8080084
- Feder-Davis, J., Hittner, D.M., and Cowman, M.K. (1991). "Comparison of Solution and Solid State Structures of Sodium Hyaluronan by 13C-NMR Spectroscopy.", in Water-Soluble Polymers: Synthesis, Solution Properties, and Applications, S.W. Shalaby, C.L. McCormick, and G.B. Butler, eds., ACS Symposium Series 467, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., pp. 493-501.
- Turner, R.E., Lin, P., and Cowman, M.K. (1988). "Self-Association of Hyaluronate Segments in Aqueous NaCl Solution." Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 265, 484-495. PMID3421721
- Hittner, D.M. and Cowman, M.K. (1987). "High Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography of Glycosaminoglycans: Column Calibration by Gel Electrophoresis." J. Chromatogr. 402, 149-158. PMID3654861
- Min, H. and Cowman, M.K. (1986). "Combined Alcian Blue and Silver Staining of Glycosaminoglycans in Polyacrylamide Gels: Application to Electrophoretic Analysis of Molecular Weight Distribution." Anal. Biochem. 155, 275-285. PMID2425661
- Cowman, M.K. (1985). "Preparation and Characterization of Enzymatically Derived Oligosaccharides and Segments from Glycosaminoglycans." in New Developments in Industrial Polysaccharides, V. Crescenzi, I. Dea, and S. Stivala, eds., Gordon and Breach, New York, pp. 233-253.
- Turner, R.E. and Cowman, M.K. (1985). "Cationic Dye Binding by Hyaluronate Fragments: Dependence on Hyaluronate Chain Length." Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 237, 253-260. PMID2578768
- Cowman, M.K., Slahetka, M.F., Hittner, D.M., Kim, J., Forino, M., and Gadelrab, G. (1984). "Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and Alcian Blue Staining of Sulphated Glycosaminoglycan Oligosaccharides." Biochem. J. 221, 707-716. PMID6433889
- Cowman, M.K., Cozart, D., Nakanishi, K., and Balazs, E.A. (1984). " 1H-nmr of Glycosaminoglycans and Hyaluronic Acid Oligosaccharides in Aqueous Solution: The Amide Proton Environment." Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 230, 203-212. PMID6324681
- Cowman, M.K. (1983). "Conference Report - Society for Complex Carbohydrates Annual Meeting." Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 5, 125-126.
- Cowman, M.K., Bush, C.A., and Balazs, E.A. (1983). "Vacuum Ultraviolet Circular Dichroism of Sodium Hyaluronate Oligosaccharides and Polymer Segments." Biopolymers 22, 1319-1334. PMID6871378
- Balazs, E.A., Cowman, M.K., Briller, S.O., and Cleland, R.L. (1983). "On the Limiting Viscosity Number of Hyaluronate in Potassium Phosphate Buffers between pH 6.5 and 8." Biopolymers 22, 589-591.
- Cowman, M.K., Balazs, E.A., Bergmann, C.W., and Meyer, K. (1981). "Preparation and Circular Dichroism Analysis of Sodium Hyaluronate Oligosaccharides and Chondroitin." Biochemistry 20, 1379-1385. PMID7225335
- Cowman, M.K. and Fasman, G.D. (1980). "Dependence of Mononucleosome Deoxyribonucleic Acid Conformation on the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Length and H1/H5 Content. Circular Dichroism and Thermal Denaturation Studies." Biochemistry 19, 532-541. PMID7356945
- Parthasarathy, N., Schmitz, K.S., and Cowman, M.K. (1980). "Quasielastic Light Scattering by Biopolymers. IV. Tertiary Collapse of Calf Thymus DNA in 5.5 M LiCl." Biopolymers 19, 1137-1151. PMID7189682
- Cowman, M.K. and Fasman, G.D. (1978). "Circular Dichroism Analysis of Mononucleosome DNA Conformation." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75, 4759-4763. PMID283389
- Cowman) Salter, M.K., Abrahamson, E.W., and Rippon, W.B. (1976). "Spectroscopic Properties of Complexes of Acridine Orange with Glycosaminoglycans. II. Aggregated Complexes. Evidence for Long Range Order." Biopolymers 15, 1251-1265. PMID132973
- (Cowman) Salter, M.K., Rippon, W.B., and Abrahamson, E.W. (1976). "Spectroscopic Properties of Complexes of Acridine Orange with Glycosaminoglycans. I. Soluble Complexes." Biopolymers 15, 1213-1227. PMID131589
- (Cowman) Salter, M., Gentilcore, P., Fager, R.S., Kuntz, G.P.P., Abrahamson, E.W., Menter, J.M., and West, S.S. (1974). "The Behavior of Dye - Mucopolysaccharide Complexes. I. Spectroscopic Studies of the System Chondroitin Sulfate A - Acridine Orange." Photochem. Photobiol. 20, 59-63.
Authored + Edited Books
Books Edited:
- Garg, H.G., Cowman, M.K., and Hales, C.A., eds. (2008) "Carbohydrate Chemistry, Biology, and Medical Applications", Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Book Chapters:
- Fasman, G.D. and Cowman, M.K. (1978). "Interpretation of Chromatin Structure by Circular Dichroism Analysis." in The Cell Nucleus, Vol. 5, H. Busch, ed., Academic Press, New York, pp.55-97.
- Cowman, M.K. and Mendichi, R. (2004) “Methods for Determination of Hyaluronan Molecular Weight” in Chemistry and Biology of Hyaluronan, H.G. Garg and C.A. Hales, eds., Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, pp. 41-69.
Favorite Books + Authors
Research Interests
Determination of structure, function, and medical properties of biological macromolecules, with special expertise in hyaluronan polysaccharide. Biophysical and bioanalytical chemistry of macromolecules in solution, on surfaces, and in confined environments. Development of theoretical approaches to understand and control macromolecular crowding in polymer solutions and biological environments. Discovery and development of new biomaterials with medical applications.