Harvard College

Seoul National University

Joost Johan Vlassak

Zhigang Suo

David J Mooney

Kyu Hwan Oh

Xuanhe Zhao

Jianyu Li

Jeong-Yun Sun

Widusha R K Illeperuma

Jennifer Ann Lewis

Kevin Kit Parker

Travis Alexander Busbee

Johan Ulrik Lind

Jinhye Bae

Widusha Illeperuma

Hongyan Yuan

Ian Perkins

Christophe Chantre

Han Li

A microcalorimeter device capable of measuring cellular bioenergetics and systems that are limited in analytic volume. The microcalorimeter device provides sub-nWatt resolution and even tens of pico-Watt resolution, thus enabling resolution of the metabolic rate of a single cell.

Highly sensitive microcalorimeters for cellular bioenergetics

The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

Interpenetrating networks with covalent and ionic crosslinks

Hydrogel compositions, and corresponding methods of making, are provided. The hydrogels do not freeze, or only partially freeze, over a wide range of temperatures below the freezing temperature of water. Concurrently, these hydrogels also retain their room temperature mechanical properties (e.g., strength, modulus, elasticity) over a wide range of temperatures, including temperatures below the freezing temperature of water. The hydrogels are synthesized by adding a suitable amount of a salt together with previously cross-linked polymer gel. Hydration of the gel with aqueous solutions containing the prescribed salts not only depresses the hydrogel freezing point but protects the structure. For example, the salts do not allow the hydrogel to completely freeze, thus protecting the hydrogel from brittle failure. Whether the hydrogels partially freeze or remain non-frozen when chilled below the freezing temperature of water is determined by concentration of salt within the hydrogel.

Hydrogels with improved mechanical properties below water freezing temperature

Embodiments described herein are directed to devices for supporting growth of anisotropic muscle tissue layers and in vitro readout and quantification of force generated by the tissue layers using one or more strain-sensing elements integrated into the device. Embodiments also include multiplexed apparatuses of multiple independent devices, methods of fabricating the devices and apparatuses, and methods of using the devices and apparatuses.

Anisotropic muscular tissue devices with integrated electrical force readouts

Interpenetrating networks with covalent and Ionic Crosslinks

A method of measuring the elastic modulus and hardness of a thin film on substrate using nanoindentation technique is provided. The method includes calculating a series of experimental corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from a loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Also, the method includes calculating a series of theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with the same one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from the loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Furthermore, the method includes using results obtained from the experimental and theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs to compute the elastic modulus and hardness of the film material.

Method to measure the elastic modulus and hardness of thin film on substrate by nanoindentation

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

Joost Johan Vlassak