Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Pratima Labroo, Scott Ho, Himanshu Sant, Jill E. Shea, Jayant Agarwal, Bruce Gale
Summary: By developing a mathematical model and conducting experimental validation, the diffusion of drugs in a hole-based drug delivery nerve conduit was successfully studied, with results indicating the reliability and functionality of the model. It was observed that drug release in the conduit can be tuned by changing device parameters, with the model error being less than 10%.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Han Zhang, Huan Wang, Yuanjin Zhao, Renjie Chai
Summary: A novel silk fibroin-derived nerve guidance conduit (NGC) with internal-facing inverse opal structures is developed for local neurotrophic factor delivery and effective nerve regeneration. The NGC demonstrates excellent biocompatibility, suitable biodegradability, and spatial control over the distribution of loading factors, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kevin J. Zuo, Golsa Shafa, Katelyn Chan, Jennifer Zhang, Cynthia Hawkins, Kasra Tajdaran, Tessa Gordon, Gregory H. Borschel
Summary: The study showed that local FK506 DDS can eliminate the toxicity of systemic immunosuppressant FK506 by enhancing motor and sensory nerve regeneration through nerve allografts. This treatment may have potential clinical applications in peripheral nerve reconstruction or vascularized composite allotransplantation.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ohan S. Manoukian, Swetha Rudraiah, Michael R. Arul, Jenna M. Bartley, Jiana T. Baker, Xiaojun Yu, Sangamesh G. Kumbar
Summary: The study investigates novel nerve guidance conduits with aligned microchannel porosity delivering sustained-release of neurogenic 4-aminopyridine for peripheral nerve regeneration. Results show equivalency with autograft controls in terms of functional recovery, myelin development, and histological assessments. The aligned microchannel architecture of the conduit guides axons and the sustained release of 4-AP increases nerve conduction.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yi-jun Liu, Xiao-feng Chen, Li-ping Zhou, Feng Rao, Dian-ying Zhang, Yan-hua Wang
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the effect and mechanism of Wnt5a-loaded fibrin hydrogel on a 10-mm rat sciatic nerve defect. Results showed that Wnt5a could promote Schwann cell proliferation and the expression of various neurotrophic factors, and the Wnt5a/Fn group outperformed the control groups in terms of nerve regeneration and functional recovery 12 weeks after the operation. The Wnt5a/Fn nerve conduit may promote peripheral nerve defect regeneration by facilitating multiple neurotrophin secretion, combining vascularization and neurotrophic growth cues.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yizhou Xu, Jianing Liu, Peng Zhang, Xiang Ao, Yunlun Li, Ye Tian, Xiaozhong Qiu, Jiasong Guo, Xiaofang Hu
Summary: In this study, a zwitterionic hydrogel was developed to mimic the continuous ion-based signal transmission in biological systems for efficient peripheral nerve regeneration. The hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical stability, suitable electrical conductivity, and good cytocompatibility, which promoted cell proliferation and neurite growth.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sara Saffari, Tiam M. Saffari, Katelyn Chan, Gregory H. Borschel, Alexander Y. Shin
Summary: The study investigated the combined effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and local delivery of tacrolimus (FK506) on nerve regeneration in nerve autografts and decellularized allografts. Results showed that either MSC or FK506 treatment alone improved neurite outgrowth, and their combination further enhanced neurite extension in both types of grafts.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Stocco, Silvia Barbon, Aron Emmi, Cesare Tiengo, Veronica Macchi, Raffaele De Caro, Andrea Porzionato
Summary: In peripheral nerve injuries with substance loss, graft positioning is required. The available options include autografts, allografts, and hollow nerve conduits. However, none of the current alternatives fully satisfy the anatomical and functional nerve regeneration requirements, and future research should focus on wall and/or inner lumen organization/functionalization. This review aims to describe common alternatives for severe peripheral nerve injury recovery, highlighting future conduits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Enxing Yu, Zhiwu Chen, Yuye Huang, Yibing Wu, Zonghuan Wang, Fangfang Wang, Miaoben Wu, Kailei Xu, Wei Peng
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common and severe clinical disease with poor prognosis. Autologous nerve grafting is limited in availability and size, leading to the development of artificial nerve conduits. In this study, a novel composite neural conduit containing decellularized tissues and a grooved PLGA conduit was found to significantly promote nerve regeneration. This artificial nerve conduit could potentially be used in clinical practice.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tiam M. Saffari, Katelyn Chan, Sara Saffari, Kevin J. Zuo, Renee M. McGovern, Joel M. Reid, Gregory H. Borschel, Alexander Y. Shin
Summary: The study explored the potential of using tacrolimus and mesenchymal stem cells combined with a fibrin gel-based drug delivery system to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. The results showed that the combined delivery method did not result in cytotoxic effects and could be beneficial for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jiarui Zhou, Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman
Summary: This study investigates the effect of different drug release systems on growth factor transporting efficiency in nerve guidance conduits (NGCs). A novel "relay" NGC design is proposed to improve nerve regeneration performance. The results show that the double-layer microsphere system achieves the highest growth factor volume fraction, while the bulk hydrogel system performs the worst. The hydrogel film system, with its easy fabrication and even distribution of growth factors, is considered a strong candidate for drug-eluting NGCs.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Jiahui Guo, Yu Wang, Luoran Shang, Renjie Chai, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: In recent years, artificial nerve scaffolds have emerged as a promising alternative for peripheral nerve repair. Natural polymers, with their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, high cell affinity, wide source, and environmental protection, are considered ideal biomaterials for tissue engineering scaffolds. The development of natural polymer-derived nerve scaffolds, combined with the integration of exogenous biomolecules, has shown great potential in enhancing nerve regeneration and functional reconstruction.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qingshan Long, Bingshan Wu, Yu Yang, Shanhong Wang, Yiwen Shen, Qinghua Bao, Feng Xu
Summary: Heparin-crosslinked collagen nerve guidance conduits successfully delivered NGF and promoted nerve regeneration at the site of facial nerve defect in rats. The conduits enhanced axonal growth and Schwann cell proliferation, with similar nerve regeneration and functional recovery outcomes as autologous nerve grafting. The nerve guidance conduit may provide a safer approach for nerve regeneration.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wenbi Wu, Yinchu Dong, Haofan Liu, Xuebing Jiang, Ling Yang, Jing Luo, Yu Hu, Maling Gou
Summary: In this study, an elastic hydrogel conduit encapsulating with drug-releasable nanoassemblies was fabricated using a 3D printing technique, showing potential for promoting nerve regeneration. The conduit sustainedly released the drug and facilitated axon elongation, resulting in axon regeneration, remyelination, and function recovery. These findings suggest that the drug-loaded hydrogel conduit has potentials for the treatment of long-gap peripheral nerve injury.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Ma, Hao Wang, Qiqi Wang, Xiaodong Cao, Huichang Gao
Summary: This study developed a multi-channel nerve guidance conduit (NGC) with dual electrical activity of piezoelectricity and conductivity to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the electroactive NGC promoted cell proliferation, differentiation, axonal regeneration, and functional recovery of peripheral nerves, indicating its great potential in repairing peripheral nerve injuries.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Pratima Labroo, Scott Ho, Himanshu Sant, Jill E. Shea, Jayant Agarwal, Bruce Gale
Summary: By developing a mathematical model and conducting experimental validation, the diffusion of drugs in a hole-based drug delivery nerve conduit was successfully studied, with results indicating the reliability and functionality of the model. It was observed that drug release in the conduit can be tuned by changing device parameters, with the model error being less than 10%.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Soledad A. Camolotto, Veronika K. Belova, Luke Torre-Healy, Jeffery M. Vahrenkamp, Kristofer C. Berrett, Hannah Conway, Jill Shea, Chris Stubben, Richard Moffitt, Jason Gertz, Eric L. Snyder
Summary: The study found that HNF4α regulates the growth and molecular subtype of PDAC by activating the classical gene expression program and repressing SIX4 and SIX1.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Blake E. Zimmerman, Sara Johnson, Henrik Odeen, Jill Shea, Markus D. Foote, Nicole Winkler, Sarang C. Joshi, Allison Payne
Summary: A novel noncontrast multiparametric MR biomarker was introduced for intratreatment assessment, outperforming current contrast-based techniques by accurately predicting MRgFUS treatment outcomes. The study utilized a deep convolutional neural network trained on noncontrast MR images and validated the biomarker using a volume-conserving registration algorithm.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tasmia Tasnim, Michael D. Adkins, Taehwan Lim, Haidong Feng, Jules J. Magda, Jill E. Shea, Jayant Agarwal, Cynthia M. Furse, Huanan Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates a method to control and modulate hydrogel crosslinking using temperature-sensitive liposomes, achieving tunable properties of the hydrogel within a mild temperature range, while ensuring good biocompatibility. This work opens up new opportunities for implementing a thermal energy system to control and modulate hydrogel properties.
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Blake E. Zimmerman, Sara L. Johnson, Henrik A. Odeen, Jill E. Shea, Rachel E. Factor, Sarang C. Joshi, Allison H. Payne
Summary: The study examined the application of MR-guided focused ultrasound technology in cancer treatment and proposed a novel MR to histology registration workflow, which utilizes intermediate imaging and does not rely on anatomical MR features visible in histology to enhance registration accuracy.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Sujee Jeyapalina, Elaine Hillas, James Peter Beck, Jayant Agarwal, Jill Shea
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of FA and FHA scaffolds in conjunction with ADSCs for bone regeneration. The results showed that FA and FHA surfaces could drive ADSCs towards osteogenic differentiation earlier, potentially improving bone regeneration following injury.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Susan Wojtalewicz, Jonathon Vizmeg, Sierra Erickson, Caleb Lade, Jill Shea, Himanshu Sant, Jules Magda, Bruce Gale, Jayant Agarwal, Brett Davis
Summary: This study evaluated the material properties of a novel local anesthetic delivery system for controlled release of bupivacaine for 72 hours. The results showed that hot homogenized particles had a slower and more controlled release, and hyaluronic acid hydrogel was important for lowering injection forces and minimizing clogging events.
JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Farhad Shiri, Haidong Feng, Kevin E. Petersen, Himanshu Sant, Gina T. Bardi, Luke A. Schroeder, Michael L. Merchant, Bruce K. Gale, Joshua L. Hood
Summary: Nanoscale and microscale cell-derived extracellular vesicles types and subtypes have significant importance in biology and medicine. Researchers have developed a miniaturized device that uses elasto-inertial effect to separate different types of extracellular vesicles, which can be applied in microfluidic applications. The device has successfully re-isolated and recovered extracellular vesicles in the experiment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Haidong Feng, Alexander R. Jafek, Bonan Wang, Hayden Brady, Jules J. Magda, Bruce K. Gale
Summary: This paper studies particle focusing in viscoelastic flow and predicts the focusing position by analyzing the force balance. The research finds that particle separation resolution can be improved in viscoelastic flows.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Dhruv Patel, Harikrishnan Jayamohan, Ugochukwu Nze, Christopher Lambert, Haidong Feng, Tawsif Mahmood, Bruce Gale, Himanshu Sant
Summary: Pathogen detection in food is crucial for community health and economic impact. Current detection systems face challenges in pathogen extraction and release from food matrices. This study introduces a method combining stomaching with cavitation to enhance pathogen extraction from ground beef and improve downstream detection of E. coli O157:H7.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haidong Feng, Dhruv Patel, Jules J. Magda, Sage Geher, Paul A. Sigala, Bruce K. Gale
Summary: This paper observes the transition from single-stream focusing to multiple-stream focusing in high viscoelastic flow and investigates the influence of cell physical properties on the formation of multiple-streams focusing. Particle separation based on different criteria is achieved, and it demonstrates the feasibility of separating red and white blood cells as well as malaria-infected red blood cells using this method.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiqiang Tan, Weichen Zhao, Yongguang Yin, Ming Xu, Wenxiao Pan, Yanwanjing Liu, Qinghua Zhang, Bruce K. Gale, Yukui Rui, Jingfu Liu
Summary: This study evaluated the separation ability of biased cyclical electrical field-flow fractionation (BCyElFFF) for polyvinyl pyrrolidone-coated and poly(ethylene glycol)-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different electrophoretic mobilities, and elucidated the mechanism behind the formation of NOM corona on these AgNP surfaces. Furthermore, it was observed that the survival rates of E. coli exposed to AgNPs with or without NOM corona collected during repeated BCyElFFF runs increased with increasing NOM concentration, indicating the negative effect of NOM coronas on the bioavailability of AgNPs. These findings highlight the powerful capability of BCyElFFF in studying the fate and transformation of nanoparticles in aqueous environments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christopher J. Lambert, Harikrishnan Jayamohan, Bruce K. Gale, Lars B. Laurentius, Dhruv Patel, Madison Hansen, Tawsif Mahmood, Himanshu Jayant Sant
Summary: This study presents an electrochemical immunoassay-based method for the precise, simple, quick, and cost-effective detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. By immunomagnetic capture of the protein in nasal samples, followed by electrochemical detection using gold nanoparticle labels on a screen-printed carbon electrode, the researchers determined optimal conditions to maximize the electrochemical signal and successfully detected the nucleocapsid protein in SARS-CoV-2-positive samples with a low viral load.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Matt D. Nelson, Brady L. Goenner, Bruce K. Gale
Summary: ChatGPT is a generative AI model that has attracted significant attention due to its advanced reasoning and analysis capabilities. It can solve various problems by creating and debugging code. In this study, GPT-4 was utilized to design functional microfluidic components using the open-source CAD software OpenSCAD through iterative dialogue. This concept has the potential to advance CAD usage for both technical and non-technical users and can be extended to other fields.