Development of a PEGylated Parylene Nanopocket Membrane for the Capture and Release of Lipid Vesicles.

Membranes are commonly used for the separation and purification of a variety of biological species. In this study, we developed a nanopocket membrane that can capture nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles in tangential flow filtration by pulling the species of interest into a nanopocket, while tangential flow washes away particles too large to be captured. We developed the pores using a four-step lithography process.

Synthesis, surface modifications, and biomedical applications of carbon nanofibers: Electrospun vs vapor-grown carbon nanofibers.

Engineered nanostructures are materials with promising properties, enabled by precise design and fabrication, as well as size-dependent effects. Biomedical applications of nanomaterials in disease-specific prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery monitoring require precise, specific, and sophisticated approaches to yield effective and long-lasting favorable outcomes for patients. In this regard, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been indentified due to their interesting properties, such as good mechanical strength, high electrical conductivity, and desirable morphological features.

Mitochondrial transfer from cancer-associated fibroblasts increases migration in aggressive breast cancer.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have distinct roles within the tumor microenvironment, which can impact the mode and efficacy of tumor cell migration. CAFs are known to increase invasion of less-aggressive breast cancer cells through matrix remodeling and leader-follower dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that CAFs communicate with breast cancer cells through the formation of contact-dependent tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), which allow for the exchange of cargo between cell types.

Optimization of Parylene C and Parylene N thin films for use in cellular co-culture and tissue barrier models.

Parylene has been used widely used as a coating on medical devices. It has also been used to fabricate thin films and porous membranes upon which to grow cells. Porous membranes are integral components of in vitro tissue barrier and co-culture models, and their interaction with cells and tissues affects the performance and physiological relevance of these model systems.

Fabrication, characterization and biological properties evaluation of bioactive scaffold based on mineralized carbon nanofibers.

Tissue engineering as an innovative approach aims to combine engineering, biomaterials and biomedicine to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional bone defect treatment. In the current study, we fabricated bioengineered electroactive and bioactive mineralized carbon nanofibers as the scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. The scaffold was fabricated using the sol-gel method and thoroughly characterized by SEM imaging, EDX analysis and a 4-point probe.

Disrupted Surfaces of Porous Membranes Reduce Nuclear YAP Localization and Enhance Adipogenesis through Morphological Changes.

The disrupted surface of porous membranes, commonly used in tissue-chip and cellular coculture systems, is known to weaken cell-substrate interactions. Here, we investigated whether disrupted surfaces of membranes with micron and submicron scale pores affect yes-associated protein (YAP) localization and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. We found that these substrates reduce YAP nuclear localization through decreased cell spreading, consistent with reduced cell-substrate interactions, and in turn enhance adipogenesis while decreasing osteogenesis.

Microengineered 3D Collagen Gels with Independently Tunable Fiber Anisotropy and Directionality.

Cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, and migration, have been linked to the alignment (anisotropy) and orientation (directionality) of collagen fibers in the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Given the critical role that biophysical cell-matrix interactions play in regulating biological functions, several microfluidic-based methods have been used to establish 3D collagen gels with defined fiber properties; these gels have helped to establish quantitative relationships between structural ECM cues and observed cell responses. Although existing microfluidic fabrication methods provide excellent definition over collagen fiber anisotropy, they have not demonstrated the independent control over fiber anisotropy and directionality necessary to replicate collagen architecture.

Robust and Gradient Thickness Porous Membranes for Modeling of Physiological Barriers.

Porous membranes are fundamental elements for tissue-chip barrier and co-culture models. However, the exaggerated thickness of commonly available membranes may represent a stumbling block impeding a more accurate modeling. Existing techniques to fabricate membranes such as solvent cast, spin-coating, sputtering and PE-CVD result in uniform thickness films.

Simple and robust fabrication and characterization of conductive carbonized nanofibers loaded with gold nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering applications.

Bone tissue engineering is a new and applicable emerging approach to repair bone defects. Electrical conductive scaffolds through a physiologically relevant physical signaling, i.e.

Micropatterned Poly(ethylene glycol) Islands Disrupt Endothelial Cell-Substrate Interactions Differently from Microporous Membranes.

Porous membranes are ubiquitous in cell co-culture and tissue-on-a-chip studies. These materials are predominantly chosen for their semi-permeable and size exclusion properties to restrict or permit transmigration and cell-cell communication. However, previous studies have shown pore size, spacing and orientation affect cell behavior including extracellular matrix production and migration.

Naturally occurring biological macromolecules-based hydrogels: Potential biomaterials for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Despite the recent advances in the treatment strategies of peripheral nerve system defects, peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is still one of the most important health issues with increasing incidence worldwide. The most commonly used treatment approaches are allografts, xenografts, and autologous, which have some drawbacks, including complications, limited source of the donor tissue, tubular collapse, and scar tissue formation. In this context, regenerative medicine has been introduced as a powerful approach to improve the healing process and obtain acceptable functional recovery in the injury site using living cells, scaffold, and bioactive (macro-) molecules.

Preparation and characterization of novel functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes/chitosan/β-Glycerophosphate scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

A major limitation in current tissue engineering scaffolds is that some of the most important characteristics of the intended tissue are ignored. As piezoelectricity and high mechanical strength are two of the most important characteristics of the bone tissue, carbon nanotubes are getting a lot of attention as a bone tissue scaffold component in recent years. In the present study, composite scaffolds comprised of functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (f-MWCNT), medium molecular weight chitosan and β-Glycerophosphate were fabricated and characterized.