Bentley, William E.
Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Professor
Director, Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
Director, Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
Director, Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
Director, Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Brain and Behavior Institute
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Brain and Behavior Institute
5102A A. James Clark Hall
EDUCATION
Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder, 1989
BACKGROUND
William E. Bentley is the Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Professor of Engineering and was founding Chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering. He is currently Inaugural Director of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices and director of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech). He is also appointed to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park and the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research. At Maryland since 1989, Dr. Bentley has focused his research on the development of molecular tools that facilitate the expression of biologically active proteins, having authored over 350 related archival publications. Recent interests are on deciphering and manipulating signal transduction pathways, including those of bacterial communication networks, for altering cell phenotype. To enable discovery, his lab develops new strategies for opening ‘communication’ between devices and biological systems by the creation and facile assembly of biologically functional interfaces. These concepts are emerging within the fields of ‘biofabrication’ that exploits biological components and processes for assembly and 'bioelectronics" that interface electronics with biology. He has served on advisory committees for the NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, FDA, USDA, and several state agencies. He has mentored more than 40 PhDs and 15 postdocs, many now in leadership roles within industry, federal agencies, and academia. He co-founded a protein manufacturing company, Chesapeake PERL, based on insect larvae as mini bioreactors. Dr. Bentley was recipient of the SIM’s Schering-Plough Young Investigator Award, the Charles Thom Award of the SIMB, the Marvin Johnson Award of the BIOT Division in the ACS, and the AIChE’s FPB Division Award. He is also a Fellow of the ACS, AAAS, and AIMBE and is an elected member of the American Academy of Microbiology.
HONORS AND AWARDS
For the complete list, please visit Professor Bentley's website.
- Distinguished University Professor (2016)
- Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Chair of Engineering (2016)
- Charles Thom Award, Society of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (2013)
- Elected Fellow, American Chemical Society (ACS) (2013)
- Elected Member, Electorate Nominating Committee, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2013)
- Meeting Keynote, Upstream Processing, BIOT Division of American Chemical Society’s 245th National Meeting, New Orleans (2013)
- AIChE Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Division Award in Chemical Engineering (2012)
- University System of Maryland (USM) Regents’ Faculty Award for Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity (2011)
- Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Professor (former)
- Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor (former)
- Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) (2007)
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2001)
- Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2001)
- Maryland's Outstanding Young Engineer, Maryland Science Center (1998)
- Washington Academy of Sciences Allen C. Davis Medal (1998)
- Schering-Plough Young Investigator Award (1996)
- Dow Outstanding New Faculty Award from the American Society for Engineering Education (1995)
- Society of Industrial Microbiology Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Sciences Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- American Academy of Microbiology
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering Society
A RECENT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY: https://youtu.be/bDnAElgYrOA?t=1
Biomolecular and metabolic engineering; cell-cell communication; heterologous protein expression; device/bio interfaces.
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering - Quorum Sensing and in vivo Genetic Manipulation
- Biofabrication Engineering of Biological Signaling (bBIOS)
- Bridging the communication gap between biology and electronics through the use of redox molecules
- Characterization of AI-2 uptake in E. coli quorum sensing circuitry
- Development of a generic strategy for the covalent assembly of proteins onto patterned surfaces, including sensor surfaces
For more information, please visit Professor Bentley's web site.
- For a complete list of publications, please visit Professor Bentley's web site
- Stephens, K., Pozo, M., Tsao, C.-Y., Hauk, P., and W.E. Bentley (2019) Bacterial co-culture with cell signaling translator and growth controller modules for autonomously regulated culture composition, Nature Communications, 10, 4129, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12027-6.
- McKay, R., Ghodasra, M., Schardt, J., Quan, D.N., Pottash, A.E., Shang, W., Jay, S.M., Payne, G.F., Chang, M.W., March, J.C., and W.E. Bentley (2018) A Platform of Genetically Engineered Bacteria as Vehicles for Localized Delivery of Therapeutics: Toward Applications for Crohn's Disease, Bioengineering and Translational Medicine, 3(3): 209-221, DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10113.
- Tschirhart, T., Kim, E., McKay, R., Ueda, H., Wu, H.C., Pottash, A.E., Zargar, A., Negrete, A., Shiloach, J., Payne, G.F., and W.E. Bentley (2017) Electronic Control of Gene Expression and Cell Behaviour in Escherichia coli Through Redox Signaling, Nature Communications, 8:14030, DOI:10.1038/ncomms14030.
- Hwang, I.Y., Koh, E., Wong, A., March, J.C., Bentley, W.E., Lee, Y.S., and M.W. Chang (2017) Engineered Probiotic Escherichia coli Can Eliminate and Prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gut Infection in Animal Models, Nature Communications, 8, 15028, DOI:10:1038/ncomms15028.
- Terrell J.L., Wu H.C., Tsao C.Y., Barber N.B., Servinsky M.D., Payne G.F., and Bentley W.E. (2015) Nano-guided cell networks as conveyors of molecular communication, Nature Communications, doi: 10.1038/ncomms9500.
- Payne, G.F., Kim, E., Cheng, Y., Wu, H-C., Ghodssi, R., Rubloff, G.W., Raghavan, S.R., Culver, J.N, and W.E. Bentley (2013) Accessing Biology’s Toolbox for the Mesoscale Biofabrication of Soft Matter, Soft Matter, doi:10.1039/c3sm50527h.
- Kim, E., Gordonov, T., Liu, Y., Bentley, W. E., and G. F. Payne (2013) Reverse engineering to suggest biologically relevant redox activities of phenolic materials, ACS Chemical Biology 8, 716-724.
- Liba, B. D., Kim, E., Martin, A. N., Liu, Y., Bentley, W. E., and G.F. Payne (2013) Biofabricated film with enzymatic and redox-capacitor functionalities to harvest and store electrons, Biofabrication 5, 015008.
- Wu, H. C., Tsao, C. Y., Quan, D. N., Cheng, Y., Servinsky, M. D., Carter, K. K., Jee, K. J., Terrell, J. L., Zargar, A., Rubloff, G. W., Payne, G. F., Valdes, J. J., and W.E. Bentley (2013) Autonomous bacterial localization and gene expression based on nearby cell receptor density, Molecular Systems Biology 9, 636.
- Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2013) Nature’s Other Self-Assemblers, Science, 341(6142): 136-137.
- Carter, K.K., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2012) Pathway Engineering via Quorum Sensing and sRNA Riboregulators – Interconnected Networks and Controllers, Metabolic Engineering, 14(3): 281-288.
- Terrell, J.L., Gordonov, T., Cheng, Y., Wu, H.C., Sampey, D., Luo, X., Tsao, C.Y., Ghodssi, R., Rubloff, G.W., Payne, G.F., and W.E. Bentley (2012) Integrated Biofabrication for Electro-Addressed In-Film Bioprocessing, Biotechnology Journal, 7(3):428-439.
- Cheng, Y., Tsao, C.-Y., Wu, H.-C., Luo, X.L., Terrell, J.L., Betz, J., Payne, G.F., Bentley, W.E., and G.W. Rubloff (2012) Electroaddressing Functionalized Polysaccharides as Model Biofilms for Interrogating Cell Signaling, Advanced Functional Materials, 22(3):519-528.
- Liu, Y., Terrell, J.L., Tsao, C.-Y., Wu, H.C., Jawaji, V., Kim, E., Cheng, Y., Wang, Y.F., Ulijn, R.V., Raghavan, S.R., Rubloff, G.W., Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2012) Biofabricating Multifunctional Soft Matter with Enzymes and Stimuli-Responsive Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, 22(14):3004-3012.
- Luo, X.L., Wu, H.C., Tsao, C.-Y., Cheng, Y., Betz, J., Payne, G.F., Rubloff, G.W., and W.E. Bentley (2012) Biofabrication of Stratified Biofilm Mimics for Observation and Control of Bacterial Signaling, Biomaterials, 33(20): 5136-5143.
- Gamby, S., Roy, V., Guo, M., Smith, J.A.I., Wang, J.X., Stewart, J.E., Wang, X., Bentley, W.E., and H.O. Sintim (2012) Altering the Communication Networks of Multispecies Microbial Systems Using a Diverse Toolbox of AI-2 Analogues, ACS Chemical Biology, 7(6):1023-1030.
- Kim, E., Liu, Y., Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2012) Redox Capacitor to Establish Bio-Device Redox-Connectivity, Advanced Functional Materials, 22(7):1409-1416.
- Gray, K. M., B. D. Liba, Y. Wang, Y. Cheng, G. W. Rubloff, W. E. Bentley, A. Montembault, I. Royaud, L. David, G. F. Payne (2012) Electrodeposition of a Biopolymeric Hydrogel: Potential for One-step Protein Electroaddressing. Biomacromolecules, 13(4), 1181-1189.
- Quan, D., W.E. Bentley (2012) Gene Network Homology in Prokaryotes Using a Similarity Search Approach: Queries of Quorum Sensing Signal Transduction. PLoS Computational Biology. E1002637.
- Tsao, C.-Y., Quan, D.Q. and W.E. Bentley (2012) Development of the Quorum Sensing Biotechnological Toolbox. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2012.09.008.
- Liu, Y., J. L. Terrell, C.-Y. Tsao, H.-C. Wu, V. Javvaji, E. Kim, Y. Cheng, Y. Wang, R. V. Ulijn, S. R. Raghavan, G. W. Rubloff, W. E. Bentley, G. F. Payne. (2012) Biofabricating Multi-functional Soft Matter with Enzymes and Stimuli-Responsive Materials. Advanced Functional Materials, doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002637.
- Tsao, C.Y., Hooshangi, S., Wu, H.C., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2010) Autonomous Induction of Recombinant Proteins by Minimally Rewiring Native Quorum Sensing Regulon of E. coli, Metabolic Engineering, 12(3):291-297.
- Carter, K.K., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2011) Pathway Engineering via Quorum Sensing and sRNA Riboregulators – Interconnected Networks and Controllers, Metabolic Engineering, (Epub, PMID22155614).
- Luo, X.L., Buckhout-White, S., Bentley, W.E., and G.W. Rubloff (2011) Biofabrication of Chitosan-Silver Composite SERS Substrates Enabling Quantification of Adenine by a Spectroscopic Shift, Biofabrication, 3(3):034108.
- Cheng, Y., Luo, X., Tsao, C.-Y., Wu, H.C., Betz, J., Payne, G.F., Bentley, W.E., and G.W. Rubloff (2011) Biocompatible multi-address 3D Cell Assembly in Microfluidic Devices Using Spatially Programmable Gel Formation, Lab on a Chip, 11(14):2316-2318.
- Kamaraju, K., Smith, J., Wang, J., Roy, V., Sintim, H.O., Bentley, W.E., and S. Sukharev (2011) Effects on Membrane Lateral Pressure Suggest Permeation Mechanisms for Bacterial Quorum Sensing Molecules, Biochemistry, 50(32):6983-93.
- Wang, Y., Liu, Y., Cheng, Y., Kim, E., Rubloff, G.W., Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2011) Coupling Electrodeposition with Layer-by-Layer Assembly to Address Proteins within Microfluidic Channels, Advanced Materials, 23(8):5817-5821
- Fernandes, R., Roy, V., Wu, H.C., and W.E. Bentley (2010) Engineered biological nanofactories trigger quorum sensing response in targeted bacteria, Nature Nanotechnology, 5(3)213-217.
- Fernandes R., Luo, X., Tsao, C.-Y., Payne, G.F., Ghodssi, R., Rubloff, G.W., and W.E. Bentley (2010) Biological Nanofactories Facilitate Spatially Selective Capture and Manipulation of Quorum-Sensing Bacteria in a BioMEMS Device, Lab on a Chip, 10(9):1128-1134.
- Roy, V., Fernandes, R., Tsao, C.Y., and W.E. Bentley (2010) Cross Species Quorum Quenching Using A Native AI-2 Processing Enzyme, ACS Chemical Biology, 5(2):223-232.
- Yang, X.H., Kim, E., Liu, T., Shi, X.W., Rubloff, G.W., Ghodssi, R., Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2010) In-film Bioprocessing and Immunoanalysis with Electroaddressable Stimuli-Responsive Polysaccharides, Advanced Functional Materials, 20(10):1645-1652.
- Liu, Y., Kim, E., Ghodssi, R., Rubloff, G.W., Culver, J.N., Bentley, W.E., and G.F. Payne (2010) Biofabrication to Build the Biology-Device Interface, Biofabrication, 2(2):220.
- Li, J., Attila, C., Wang, L., Wood, T.K., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2007) Quorum Sensing in E. coli is Signaled by AI-2/LsrR: Effects on sRNA and Biofilm Architecture, Journal of Bacteriology, 73:4100-4109.
- Fernandes, R., Tsao, C.Y., Hashimoto, Y., Wang, L., Wood, T.K., Payne, G.F., and W.E. Bentley (2007) Magnetic Nanofactories: Localized Synthesis and Delivery of Quorum-Sensing Signaling Molecule Autoinducer-2 to Bacterial Cell Surfaces, Metabolic Engineering, 9:228-239.
- Kim, E.J., Kramer, S.F., Hebert, C.G., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2007) Metabolic Engineering of the Baculovirus-Expression System via Inverse "Shotgun" Genomic Analysis & RNA Interference (dsRNA) Increases Product Yield and Cell Longevity, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 98:645-654.
- March, J.C., and W.E. Bentley (2007) RNAi-based Tuning of Cell Cycling in Drosophila S2 cells- effects on Recombinant Protein Yield, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 73: 1128-1135.
- Lewandowski, A.T., Small, D.A., Chen, T., Payne, G.F., and W.E. Bentley (2006) Tyrosine-based "activatable pro-tag": enzyme-catalyzed protein capture and release, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 93:1207-1215.
- Chang, W., Small, D.A., Toghrol, F., and W.E. Bentley (2006) Global Transcriptome Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Response to Hydrogen Peroxide, Journal of Bacteriology, 188:1648-1659.
- Gonzalez Barrios, A.F., Zuo R., Hashimoto, Y., Yang, L., Bentley W.E., and T.K. Wood (2006) Autoinducer 2 Controls Biofilm Formation in Escherichia coli Through a Novel Motility Quorum-sensing Regulator (MqsR, B3022), Journal of Bacteriology, 188:205-316.
- Li, J., Wang, L., Hashimoto, Y., Tsao, C-Y., Wood, T.K., Valdes, J.J., Zafiriou, E., and W.E. Bentley (2006) Stochastic Model of E. coli AI-2 Quorum Signal Circuit Reveals Alternative Synthesis Pathways, Nature Molecular Systems Biology.
- Wang, L., Hashimoto, Y., Tsao, C.-Y., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2005) cAMP and cAMP Receptor Protein (CRP) Influence Both Synthesis and Uptake of Extracellular Autoinducer-2 in Escherichia coli, Journal of Bacteriology, 187:2066-76.
- Yi, H., Wu, L.Q., Rubloff, G.W., Ghodssi, R., Payne, G.F., and Bentley, W.E., (2005) Signal-Directed Sequential Assembly of Biomolecules on Patterned Surfaces. Langmuir, 2:2104-2107.
- Bleckwenn, N. A., Golding, H., Bentley, W. E., Shiloach, J., (2005) Production of Recombinant Proteins by Vaccinia Virus in a Microcarrier Based Mammalian Cell Perfusion Bioreactor, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 90:663-674.
- Chang, W., Small, D.A. Toghrol, F., and W.E. Bentley (2005) Microarray Analysis of Toxicogenomic Effects of Peracetic Acid on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Environmental Science & Technology, 39:5893-5899.
- Chang, W., Small, D.A., Toghrol, F., and W.E. Bentley (2005) Microarray Analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Reveals Induction of Pyocin Genes in Response to Hydrogen Peroxide, BMC Genomics, 6.115-129.
- Wang, L., Li, J., March, J.C., Valdes, J.J., and W.E. Bentley (2005), luxS-Dependent Gene Regulation in Escherichia coli K-12 Revealed by Genomic Expression Profiling, Journal of Bacteriology, 187:8350-8360.
- Yi, H., Wu, L.Q., Bentley, W.E., Ghodssi, R., Rubloff, G.W., Culver, J.N., Payne, G.F., (2005) Biofabrication with Chitosan, Biomacromolecules, 6:2881-2894.
Fischell Institute Advances Surgical Innovation for LMICs
The KeyScope is a low-cost, durable, and reusable laparoscopic system designed for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices invests $200K in the future of biomedical devices, cultivating up-and-coming investigators and immersing them in successful multidisciplinary teams
Designed to bolster young, postdoctoral researchers by pairing them with existing, proven research teams, the fellowship aims to propel the careers of awardees, enabling them to apply for additional grants or faculty positions in the future.Applications Open for Professor and Chair of UMD's Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Applicants are encouraged to respond before September 1, 2024 for best consideration.Bill Bentley Awarded AIMBE's Professional Impact Award in Mentoring
Bentley was nominated for this award by AIMBE Fellow and Fischell Department of Bioengineering Chair (BIOE) John FisherCreating the “Internet of Life”
UMD researchers publish new findings in their research to connect biological and electronic systems.Fischell Institute's Black History Month Spotlight: Briahnah Streeter
Briahnah Streeter is a second-year bioengineering Ph.D. student in Fischell Institute Director Bill Bentley's Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory. She earned her bachelor's degree in engineering science with a minor in engineering management from Vanderbilt University in 2022.24 Teams Present at BIOE Capstone Competition Including First BCE Students
On May 8, 2023, 24 teams presented novel designs at the BIOE Capstone Design Competition.Maryland Engineers Awarded Grants to Address Humanity's Grand Challenges
Twelve projects led by or involving Maryland Engineering faculty have been awarded funding through the Grand Challenges Grants Program, the largest and most comprehensive program of its kind ever introduced at the University of Maryland.A New Antimicrobial Cotton Textile with Cu ions in Nanofibers
New Research Published in NatureThe Future of Biohybrid Devices
Fischell Institute researchers awarded $1.5M NSF grant to bridge gap between electronics, biologyUMD Bioengineers Awarded $1M Moore Foundation Grant to Advance Bioelectronic Technology
Researchers use redox to drive two-way communication between electronics and biological systems.
Bioengineering Ph.D. Student Named to Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties
Caitlyn Singam among 20 STEM graduate students worldwide honored for contributions to the aerospace industry.NCC-PDI Now Accepting Pediatric Medical Device Pitches
Annual “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition to award up to $150,000 in FDA-sponsored grants.Fischell Institute Featured in Baltimore Sun Cover Story
The Baltimore Sun highlighted ongoing efforts to perfect mask design, research.Fischell Institute to Test Face Coverings for Children
Fischell Institute testing aims to advance understanding of fit, efficacy of face coverings for children.Bentley Granted SBE Award for Excellence in Biochemical Engineering
Fischell Institute director and BIOE professor William E. Bentley to be honored by AIChE.BIOE Alum's Company Releases Bleeding Management Tech Nationwide
BIOE alum, advisory Board member Matt Dowling is the founder of Medcura, Inc., which commercialized Rapid-SealAlum develops bioelectric effect toothbrush
Young Wook Kim's TROMATZ toothbrush improves mouth and gum health.Scarcelli Named Fischell Institute Young Investigator Fellow
The new program aims to foster collaboration between faculty on UMD's Baltimore and College Park campuses.Student Researchers Recognized with Wylie Dissertation Fellowships
Fourteen Clark School students pursuing their Ph.D.s in engineering have been awarded Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowships by the University of Maryland Graduate School.The Internet of Bio-Nano Things
Researchers aim to bridge the gap between microelectronics and biological systems to create next-generation wearables.Now Accepting Medical Device Pitches for NCC-PDI Competition
The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation is accepting applications through April 19.M-CERSI Accepting Applications for Workshops, Research Scientists
Application deadline is January 22, 2021.Symptoms all in your head—or in your gut? Maybe a little of both.
UMD researchers are building an ingestible capsule that can monitor and model gut microbiome serotonin activity and help demystify the “gut-brain axis.”Researchers Aim to Sterilize N95 Masks for Reuse
Researchers working around the clock to ease the impact of supply shortages on hospitals, care facilities2020 Dean's Doctoral Student Research Awards
The competition recognizes distinguished graduate student researchers in order to help propel their careers and demonstrate the value of high-quality engineering research.Rapidly evolving ‘smart marble’ sensors hold promise for monitoring pharmaceutical industry bioreactors and beyond
Size of the neutrally buoyant bPods has dropped from ‘baseball’ to ‘golf ball’ to ‘cherry’ in just three years.Call for Pediatric Medical Device Pitches Focused on COVID-19
FDA grant and gift from entrepreneur provide $250K in awardsIngestible device research advances, enters new phase
New NSF funding, Lab on a Chip paper for Ghodssi group developing minimally invasive medical devices.BIOE Capstone Class Virtually Presents 24 Novel Projects
BIOE seniors present Capstone projects and celebrate winners virtually.UMD Researchers Tap CRISPR Technology to Connect Biology, Electronics
Potential application for complex electronics highlighted in Nature CommunicationsSpurring research group creativity in the time of COVID-19
Student-faculty teams that write review articles for journals reap multiple benefits.Researchers Develop Rapid Deployment Mask
Fischell Institute designs DIY-style mask with better filtration than cloth masks.Researchers Work to Develop Custom Conformal N95 Respirators
Researchers are working to address the critical supply of N95 respirators resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.In Race With Virus, Researchers Speed Development of Medical Equipment
Bioengineers, Terrapin Works producing new respirator and ventilator designs.NCC-PDI, MedTech Innovator Accepting Pitches for 2020 Competition
Applications are open now for the March 23 first round pitch event.Institute Hosts AMBIC December Conference, Unveils New Research
AMBIC Industry Board members and other researchers convened to discuss new and ongoing projects.Brain and Behavior Initiative Hosts 3rd Annual Seed Grant Symposium
Researchers from across UMD convene to discuss the latest projects funded by BBI