USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Thomas O'Shaughnessy

David A Kidwell

Kirth E Simmonds

Amit Bagchi

Ryan McCulloch

Jinny Lin Liu

Wu Ma

Clark Mitchell

A mixed acrylate-siloxane polymer can be used to create three-dimensional (3D) structures of arbitrary shape via nanolithography. Treatment of such structures with amine (such as diamine) makes them permissive for neuronal cell adhesion and growth without need of additional modification such as poly-lysine (D or L) nor laminin.

Methods of preparing structures employing chemistries for biocompatible additive nanolithography

Chemistries for biocompatible additive nanolithography

A modular system is designed to interface cell cultures to a shock tube (simulated blast) and/or drop tower (simulated blunt impact) for testing of helmet and helmet pad materials for mitigating cell injury. It includes a set of layers including helmet material, optionally helmet pad, simulated skin, simulated skull, and simulated bulk brain tissue.

Modular system for evaluating helmet and suspension materials for protection of neural cells from simulated trauma

A system for testing a helmet includes a simulated skull comprising a cranial cavity; a brain surrogate disposed inside the cranial cavity; and a cell pack comprising at least one culture well suitable for three-dimensional growth of live neurons therein, the cell pack comprising a retaining plate having at least one opening exposing a portion of a flexible membrane containing the at least one cell culture well, the exposed membrane portion being substantially flush with an exterior surface of the retaining plate, wherein the brain surrogate is configured to closely surround the cell pack inside the simulated skull. Also disclosed is a method of using the system.

Full head surrogate with live neurons for helmet testing and evaluation

This invention comprises a method for generating functional neural networks using neural progenitor cells on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). The method involves dissociating neural progenitor cells from an embryo, propagating the neural progenitor cells, passaging the neural progenitor cells and seeding the neural progenitor cells on MEAs to produce a functional neural network. The neural progenitor cells may be continuously passaged to propagate an endless supply of neural progenitor cells. The resultant passaged progenitor cell derived neural network MEA may be used to detect and/or quantify various biological or chemical toxins.

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Arlington, VA, United States of America

Thomas O'Shaughnessy