About

Charles M. Roth is a Professor and the Charles M. Roth Chair in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University. His research involves the application of molecular and nanobioengineering approaches to biomedical problems such as cancer and infection. Much of his work centers on developing technology for the efficient delivery of oligonucleotides, including antisense and short interfering RNA, for gene silencing, as well as antimicrobial drugs for infection control. His current projects include aerosolized nanomedicine for lung infections, nanomaterials for antimicrobial drug delivery to wounds, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of nanomedicines. Dr. Roth has a background in chemical engineering, having earned his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware and completed postdoctoral training in bioengineering at Harvard Medical School. His professional affiliations include departments and programs related to chemical and biochemical engineering, biochemistry, cell and developmental biology, and biomaterials. He has received numerous honors, including the 2015 Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award at Rutgers, fellowship in the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and several awards for teaching, research, and service. His research and academic contributions focus on advancing molecular bioengineering techniques to address critical biomedical challenges.

Research topics

• Ophthalmology
• Medicine
• Surgery
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Facial Edema After Nuclear Stress Test

  Cureus · 2025-01-02

  articleOpen access

  Angioedema involves fluid accumulation into the interstitial spaces of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and mucosal surfaces. While usually benign and self-limited, angioedema can lead to laryngeal edema, a life-threatening condition. The most common causes are histamine-mediated allergic reactions. However, angioedema can also be mediated by bradykinin. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema can occur in the setting of hereditary deficiency of C1q esterase and after exposure to several medications. Drug-induced angioedema is most commonly a secondary complication of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or sulfa drug use. All providers must be aware of the potential side effects of the medications they use or prescribe. We present a case of angioedema resulting from the use of technetium-99m sestamibi tracer injection during an adenosine nuclear stress test.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Automated genome mining predicts structural diversity and taxonomic distribution of peptide metallophores across bacteria

  eLife · 2025-10-30 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Microbial competition for trace metals shapes their communities and interactions with humans and plants. Many bacteria scavenge trace metals with metallophores, small molecules that chelate environmental metal ions. Metallophore production may be predicted by genome mining, where genomes are scanned for homologs of known biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, accurately detecting non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) metallophore biosynthesis requires expert manual inspection, stymieing large-scale investigations. Here, we introduce automated identification of NRP metallophore BGCs through a comprehensive algorithm, implemented in antiSMASH, that detects chelator biosynthesis genes with 97% precision and 78% recall against manual curation. We showcase the utility of the detection algorithm by experimentally characterizing metallophores from several taxa. High-throughput NRP metallophore BGC detection enabled metallophore detection across 69,929 genomes spanning the bacterial kingdom. We predict that 25% of all bacterial non-ribosomal peptide synthetases encode metallophore production and that significant chemical diversity remains undiscovered. A reconstructed evolutionary history of NRP metallophores supports that some chelating groups may predate the Great Oxygenation Event. The inclusion of NRP metallophore detection in antiSMASH will aid non-expert researchers and continue to facilitate large-scale investigations into metallophore biology.

  PublisherDOI

• Automated genome mining predicts structural diversity and taxonomic distribution of peptide metallophores across bacteria

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-08-01 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Microbial competition for trace metals shapes their communities and interactions with humans and plants. Many bacteria scavenge trace metals with metallophores, small molecules that chelate environmental metal ions. Metallophore production may be predicted by genome mining, where genomes are scanned for homologs of known biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, accurately detecting non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) metallophore biosynthesis requires expert manual inspection, stymieing large-scale investigations. Here, we introduce automated identification of NRP metallophore BGCs through a comprehensive algorithm, implemented in antiSMASH, that detects chelator biosynthesis genes with 97% precision and 78% recall against manual curation. We showcase the utility of the detection algorithm by experimentally characterizing metallophores from several taxa. High-throughput NRP metallophore BGC detection enabled metallophore detection across 69,929 genomes spanning the bacterial kingdom. We predict that 25% of all bacterial non-ribosomal peptide synthetases encode metallophore production and that significant chemical diversity remains undiscovered. A reconstructed evolutionary history of NRP metallophores supports that some chelating groups may predate the Great Oxygenation Event. The inclusion of NRP metallophore detection in antiSMASH will aid non-expert researchers and continue to facilitate large-scale investigations into metallophore biology.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Periplasmic Binding Protein YiuA Enables <i>Yersinia pestis</i> to Scavenge Fe(III)-Catechol Siderophores

  ACS Infectious Diseases · 2025-08-14

  articleOpen access

  Yersinia pestis, the pathogen causing plague, requires iron to grow. Y. pestis employs several uptake pathways for iron, including the siderophore yersiniabactin, as well as hemin and inorganic iron. The Y. pestis iron assimilation repertoire further harbors the uncharacterized YiuRABC pathway, presumed to transport an unidentified Fe(III)-siderophore(s). Through intrinsic fluorescence quenching of the periplasmic binding protein YiuA, we discovered that YiuA displays high affinity toward Fe(III) complexes of the hydrolysis products of enterobactin, Fe(III)-[di(DHB-LSer)] and Fe(III)-[DHB-LSer]2, with Kd values of 27.6 ± 4.2 nM and 28.2 ± 6.9 nM, respectively, as well as the bis-catechol siderophore butanochelin, with Kd 0.76 ± 0.17 nM. By comparison, YiuA has a much weaker affinity for intact Fe(III)-enterobactin, Kd 444.7 ± 20.6 nM. Electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals YiuA has a strong preference for binding Λ configured Fe(III)-siderophores, which can be achieved with the Fe(III) bis-catechol complexes but not Fe(III)-enterobactin.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Automated genome mining predicts structural diversity and taxonomic distribution of peptide metallophores across bacteria

  eLife · 2025-10-30

  articleOpen access

  Microbial competition for trace metals shapes their communities and interactions with humans and plants. Many bacteria scavenge trace metals with metallophores, small molecules that chelate environmental metal ions. Metallophore production may be predicted by genome mining, where genomes are scanned for homologs of known biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, accurately detecting non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) metallophore biosynthesis requires expert manual inspection, stymieing large-scale investigations. Here, we introduce automated identification of NRP metallophore BGCs through a comprehensive algorithm, implemented in antiSMASH, that detects chelator biosynthesis genes with 97% precision and 78% recall against manual curation. We showcase the utility of the detection algorithm by experimentally characterizing metallophores from several taxa. High-throughput NRP metallophore BGC detection enabled metallophore detection across 69,929 genomes spanning the bacterial kingdom. We predict that 25% of all bacterial non-ribosomal peptide synthetases encode metallophore production and that significant chemical diversity remains undiscovered. A reconstructed evolutionary history of NRP metallophores supports that some chelating groups may predate the Great Oxygenation Event. The inclusion of NRP metallophore detection in antiSMASH will aid non-expert researchers and continue to facilitate large-scale investigations into metallophore biology.

  PublisherDOI

• Retentive Behavior of Locator versus Ball Attachments on Parallel versus Non-Parallel Implants

  Applied Sciences · 2024-01-21 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Several factors determine the retention force in removable implant-retained overdentures using prefabricated ball- or locator-type attachment systems. In this context, it was the goal of this in vitro study to examine the effect of implant angulation and female part alignment. Two model situations with two parallel or 12° tilted implants were fabricated onto which locator or ball attachments could be mounted. Simulated prostheses (n = 5) were made as antagonist parts and the assemblies were positioned in a universal testing machine for repeatedly (three times per female attachment) quantifying retention force. Statistical analysis was based on Shapiro–Wilk tests, Levene tests, ANOVAs, Tukey’s HSD tests and Welch t-tests, with the level of significance set at p &lt; 0.05. With tilted implants, the retention force of locators was significantly diminished (p &lt; 0.004) by at least 21%, while with ball attachments, a maximum reduction of 8% was noted, with only yellow inserts showing a significant difference (p = 0.040) compared with the parallel situation. Not aligning female retentive components on tilted implants for achieving a common path of insertion in ball anchors had only a minor effect on retentive force (6.5% increase as compared with aligned female parts), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.100). Not being able to establish a common path of insertion in locator attachments affects retention force. Ball anchors allow for aligning female retentive components, but due to the spherical structure of the male component this seems not even to be necessary.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ocular, Visual, and Anatomical Outcomes in Eyes Requiring Incisional Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Surgery Following the 0.19-mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant

  Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging retina · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Background and Objective: To assess ocular, visual, and anatomical outcomes following the 0.19-mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN®) and incisional intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering surgery in diabetic macular edema. Patients and Methods: From a 36-month, phase 4, open-label, observational study ( N = 202 eyes, 159 patients), 8 eyes (7 patients) required IOP-lowering surgery post-FAc; eyes were segregated by FAc-induced ( n = 5, 2.47%) versus neovascular glaucoma (NVG)-related ( n = 3, 1.49%) IOP elevations and assessed for IOP, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), and cup-to-disc ratio (c/d). Results: Changes at 36 months were +5.4 letters BCVA ( P &gt; 0.05) and +0.09 c/d ( P = 0.0217); IOP and CST were unchanged. FAc-induced-group eyes required fewer IOP-lowering medications than NVG-group eyes (2.0 versus 4.0; P &lt; 0.01) but for longer duration (15.2 versus 2.6 months; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Post-FAc IOP-lowering surgery, regardless of cause, largely did not affect the outcomes measured; these procedures, then, may not meaningfully threaten positive outcomes. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:22–29.]

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Corrigendum to “The 0.19-mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant Reduces Treatment Burden in Diabetic Macular Edema” [Am J Ophthalmol 2023;248;16-23]

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2023-05-22

  erratumOpen access

  The authors regret that in the April 2023 issue, recently discovered information affects the data points in one table and one associated sentence in the text. The changes do not alter the conclusions or impact of the publication. Discussion section, paragraph 5, line 11 should read as follows: Of the 8 cases requiring incisional IOP-lowering surgery, 3 cases were due to neovascular glaucoma: 1 case was among those who had no supplemental treatments after FAc, and 2 cases were among those who received supplemental treatments after FAc. Table 2 should read as follows with changes applied to column 2 row 7, column 3 rows 6 and 7, and column 4 row 7:Table 2Intraocular Pressure-Related Events After FAc Implant Administration, All eyes (n = 202).No Supplemental Treatments (n = 77) (Mean Follow-up of 21.6 mo)Received Supplemental TreatmentsaAnti-VEGF (76.5%); corticosteroid (8.4%); laser (7.8%) (n = 125) (Mean Follow-up of 31.2 mo)Received Supplemental Steroid Treatments (n = 42) (Mean Follow-up of 32.2 mo)IOP-Related EventPost-FAc Administration, % (n)Post-FAc Administration, % (n)Post-FAc Administration, % (n)IOP elevation to >25 mm Hg18.2 (14)27.2 (34)35.7 (15)IOP elevation to >30 mm Hg6.5 (6)13.6 (17)21.4 (9)Trabeculoplasty1.3 (1)2.4 (3)2.4 (1)Incisional IOP-lowering surgery2.6 (2)bOne case due to neovascular glaucoma.4.8 (6)cTwo cases due to neovascular glaucoma.0.0 (0)Any IOP-lowering medication19.5 (15)36.8 (46)40.5 (17)FAc = fluocinolone acetonide, IOP = intraocular pressure.a Anti-VEGF (76.5%); corticosteroid (8.4%); laser (7.8%)b One case due to neovascular glaucoma.c Two cases due to neovascular glaucoma. Open table in a new tab FAc = fluocinolone acetonide, IOP = intraocular pressure. The 0.19-mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant Reduces Treatment Burden in Diabetic Macular EdemaAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 248PreviewTo assess treatment burden in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) after the 0.19-mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN). Full-Text PDF Open Access

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The 0.19-mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant for Diabetic Macular Edema

  Ophthalmology Retina · 2023-08-14 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: To evaluate effects of the 0.19-mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a 36-month, phase IV, nonrandomized, open-label, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 202 eyes from 159 patients who received the 0.19-mg FAc implant after a successful prior steroid challenge per the United States label indication. METHODS: Study eyes were assessed for IOP values, incidence of IOP elevations, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for up to 36 months post-FAc implant. RESULTS: Mean IOP was stable over 36 months post-FAc; IOP change from baseline peaked at 2.12 mmHg at 9 months, then declined to baseline levels. At 36 months, eyes had a 32.5% cumulative probability of an IOP event > 25 mmHg and a 15.6% probability of an IOP event > 30 mmHg (Kaplan-Meier). The probability of requiring IOP-lowering medication at any time by month 36 was 38.3%. A total of 78% of eyes did not have IOP elevations > 25 mmHg if similar values were seen with the previous steroid challenge. Although 7.4% of eyes had an IOP > 30 mmHg during a scheduled study visit, most exceeded this threshold only once (60%). Regardless of IOP status, mean BCVA remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Over 36 months, the 0.19-mg FAc implant was associated with relatively stable IOPs in patients with DME, and there was no significant impact of IOP elevations identified regarding their effects on long-term visual outcomes. The probability that a prior corticosteroid challenge will not predict an IOP elevation > 25 mmHg over 36 months post-FAc is 22%; therefore, routine IOP monitoring should be scheduled. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

  PublisherDOI

• Pegcetacoplan for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration (OAKS and DERBY): two multicentre, randomised, double-masked, sham-controlled, phase 3 trials

  The Lancet · 2023 · 423 citations

  • Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Surgery
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Howard F. Fine

  90 shared

• Jonathan L. Prenner

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  83 shared

• H. Matthew Wheatley

  53 shared

• Sumit P. Shah

  52 shared

• William J. Feuer

  26 shared

• David L. Yarian

  25 shared

• Jennifer I. Lim

  University of Illinois Chicago

  23 shared

• Maureen G. Maguire

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  22 shared

Awards & honors

• 2015 Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award, Rutgers Universi…
• 2013 Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological En…
• 2011-2017 Member, NIH Gene and Drug Delivery Study Section
• 2008 Warren I. Susman Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2005 Rutgers, FASIP Award for Teaching, Research and Service…