Purdue Research Foundation

University of Colorado

Other

Corey Philip Neu

Tyler Novak

Sherry L Voytik-Harbin

Kevin Blum

Babak Ziaie

Teimour Maleki-Jafarabadi

Charilaos Mousoulis

Adrienne K Scott

Robert L Wilson

Garrett Shannon

David Reiter

Xin Xu

Benjamin Seelbinder

Isabel Nelson

Tylor Anthony Novak

The present disclosure provides an engineered collagen composition comprising collagen, wherein the collagen composition is compressed to form a gradient of at least one physical property. Methods of using and of manufacturing the engineered collagen compositions of the present disclosure are also provided.

Collagen compositions and methods of use

A low-cost, magnetically-driven device that enables visualization and quantification of dynamic changes in cell behavior during mechanical stretch. Using this device, it was observed that nuclei of mouse embryonic skin fibroblasts underwent rapid but divergent responses to strain magnitude, showing nuclear area increase and chromatin decompaction during 5% (low) strain, but nuclear area decrease and chromatin condensation during 20% (high) strain. Only responses to low strain were dependent on calcium, while actin inhibition abrogated any nuclear response and increased stretch-induced DNA damage. Stretch-activation revealed a shift in actin filaments away from (low strain) or towards (high strain) the nuclear periphery. The findings suggest that different pathways control strain level-dependent cell behavior and that mechanical confinement of nuclei through actin may be a protective mechanism during high strain loads.

Methods and device for controlled cell stretch and imaging

A process for more sensitive characterization of tissue composition for generating a quantitative MRI (qMRI) map and corresponding delta analysis. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), resulting in the depletion of hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) located in the nucleus pulposus (NP), can lead to debilitating neck and back pain. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a promising means of IVD assessment due to the correlation between GAG content and MRI relaxation values. T1 and T2 relaxation data were obtained from healthy cervical IVDs, and relaxation data was modeled using both conventional and stretched exponential (SE) decays. Normalized histograms of the resultant quantitative MRI (qMRI) maps were fit with stable distributions. SE models fit relaxation behavior with lower error compared to monoexponential models, indicating anomalous relaxation behavior in healthy IVDs. SE model parameters T1 and T1 increased with IVD segment, while conventional monoexponential measures did not vary. The improved model fit and correlation between both SE T1 and T1 with IVD level suggests these parameters are more sensitive biomarkers for detection of GAG content variation.

Soft tissue matrix characterization using stretched exponential relaxation modeling

A method of preparing a biological composite matrix system includes combining tissue microparticles with a curable medium. The tissue microparticles are formed by pulverizing tissue, sorting the pulverized tissue particles, and decellularizing the pulverized tissue particles. The tissue microparticles are then mixed with the curable medium and the resulting composite is cured to form a microparticle-medium composite matrix. The microparticle-medium composite matrix is compressed to increase the strength of the matrix and to increase the density of the microparticles to a predetermined density.

Method of making biological tissue components

Fabrication method for stratified and layered tissue to repair osteochondral defects. In a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises the step of applying a first direction magnetic field to a first quantity of a first collagen solution to align collagen within the first collagen solution in a first direction relative to the first direction magnetic field, forming a first layer of collagen. In a method of generating an aligned collagen layer of the present disclosure, the method comprises applying a first magnetic field at or greater than 0.1 Tesla to a layer of a first collagen solution defining a horizontal plane, within a temperature at or between 2&#xb0; C. and 45&#xb0; C., to generate an aligned collagen layer.

Fabrication method for stratified and layered tissue to repair osteochondral defects

A method of using a AFM/NMR probe, the method comprising the steps of injecting a sample to be analyzed with magnetic particles, introducing a probe into proximity with the sample, the probe capable of both transmitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation; generating a magnetic field via the probe, and adjusting the magnitude of the magnetic field to manipulate the magnetic particles within the sample.

AFM-coupled microscale radiofrequency probe for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

The present disclosure is discloses the development of a new device, system, and method that combines advantages of magnetic resonance and atomic force microscopy technologies, and the utility of the new device, system, and method for a wide range of biomedical and clinical researchers. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device for micro-scale spectroscopy is disclosed. The micro-scale spectroscopy device includes a beam having a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface and a bottom surface, where the beam is attached to an anchor at the proximal end and further includes a tip extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface at or near the distal end, and a coil having at least one turn mounted to the top surface of the beam at or near the distal end opposite the tip, where the coil is capable of both transmitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation.

Growing community of inventors

West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Corey Philip Neu