A5050561253- Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques
- Tendon Structure and Treatment
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Management of metastatic bone disease
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- Bone health and treatments
- Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
- Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Applications
- Spinal Fractures and Fixation Techniques
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment
McGill University
2015-2024
McGill University Health Centre
2015-2024
Montreal General Hospital
2018-2022
Orthopaedic Research
2015
University of Miami
2004-2008
Painful degeneration of soft tissues accounts for high socioeconomic costs. Tissue engineering aims to provide biomimetics recapitulating native tissues. Biocompatible thermoplastics 3D printing can generate high-resolution structures resembling tissue extracellular matrix. Large-pore 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were compared cell ingrowth, viability, generation. Primary articular chondrocytes nucleus pulposus (NP) cells cultured on...
Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged over the past four decades as a cost-effective, on-demand modality for fabrication of geometrically complex objects. The ability to design and print virtually any object shape using diverse array materials, such metals, polymers, ceramics bioinks, allowed adoption this technology biomedical applications in both research clinical settings. Current advancements tissue engineering regeneration, therapeutic delivery, medical device operative management...
Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have emerged as excellent nanotransducers for converting longer wavelength near-infrared (NIR) light to shorter wavelengths spanning the ultraviolet (UV) visible (Vis) regions of spectrum via a multiphoton absorption process, known upconversion. Here, we report development NIR UV–Vis–NIR UCNPs consisting LiYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@SiO2 individually coated with 10 ± 2 nm layer chitosan (CH) hydrogel cross-linked photocleavable cross-linker (PhL). We...
Abstract Introduction Excessive mechanical loading of intervertebral discs (IVDs) is thought to alter matrix properties and influence disc cell metabolism, contributing degenerative disease development discogenic pain. However, little known about how strain induces these changes. This study investigated the cellular molecular changes as well which inflammatory receptors cytokines were upregulated in human cells exposed high (HMS) at low frequency. The impact metabolic on neuronal...
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) can result in chronic low back pain, a common cause of morbidity and disability. Inflammation has been associated with IVD degeneration, however the relationship between inflammatory factors pain remains unclear. Furthermore, increased levels nerve growth factor (NGF) brain derived neurotrophic (BDNF) are both inflammation but whether degenerating discs release sufficient concentrations that induce nociceptor plasticity Degenerating IVDs from patients...
Large bone defects represent a significant challenge for clinicians and surgeons. Tissue engineering regeneration represents an innovative solution this dilemma may yield attractive alternate substitutes. Three-dimensional (3D) printing with inexpensive desktop printers shows promise in generating high-resolution structures mimicking native tissues using biocompatible, biodegradable, cost-effective thermoplastics, which are already FDA-approved food use, drug delivery, many medical devices....
Tissues achieve their complex spatial organization through an interplay between gene regulatory networks, cell-cell communication, and physical interactions mediated by mechanical forces. Current strategies to generate in-vitro tissues have largely failed implement such active, dynamically coordinated manipulations, relying instead on extracellular matrices which respond to, rather than impose Here, we develop devices that enable the actuation of organoids. We show active forces increase...
LiYF<sub>4</sub>:Yb<sup>3+</sup>/Tm<sup>3+</sup> upconverting nanoparticles are used for real-time tracking of degradation chitosan-hyaluronic acid gels in live intervertebral discs using photoluminescence spectroscopy and NIR imaging.
The spine is the most common site of bone metastasis, often originating from prostate, lung, and breast cancers. High systemic doses chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin (DOX), cisplatin, or paclitaxel have severe side effects. Surgical removal metastases also leaves large defects which cannot spontaneously heal require grafting. To circumvent these issues, we designed an approach for local chemotherapeutic delivery within 3D-printed scaffolds could potentially serve a substitute. Direct...
Nerve growth factor (NGF) contributes to the development of chronic pain associated with degenerative connective tissue pathologies, such as intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis. However, surprisingly little is known about regulation NGF in these conditions. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition classically innate immunity but more recently were found be activated by endogenous alarmins fragmented extracellular matrix proteins degenerating discs or cartilage. In...
Toll-like receptors (TLR) are activated by endogenous alarmins such as fragmented extracellular matrix compounds found in the degenerating disc. TLRs regulate cytokine, neurotrophin, and protease expression human disc cells vitro, thus control key factors degeneration. However, whether TLR activation leads to degenerative changes intact discs is unclear. Nucleus pulposus (NP) isolated from non-degenerating increase IL-1β nerve growth factor gene following treatment with Pam2CSK4 (TLR2/6...
Activation of rod photoreceptors by light induces a massive redistribution the heterotrimeric G-protein transducin. In darkness, transducin is sequestered within membrane-enriched outer segments cell. light, it disperses throughout entire neuron. We show here that requires activation, but does not require ATP. This observation rules out participation molecular motors in process. contrast to light-stimulated rods, cone cones redistribute during activation. Remarkably, when expressed undergo...
Expansion of autologous chondrocytes in vitro is used to generate adequate populations for cell-based therapies. However, standard (SD) culture methods cause loss chondrocyte phenotype and dedifferentiation fibroblast-like cells. Here, we use a novel surface expansion system an effort inhibit dedifferentiation. A highly elastic silicone rubber was continuously stretched over 13-day period 600% its initial area. This maintained cells at high density while limiting contact inhibition reducing...
Critical-size bone defects are those that will not heal without intervention and can arise secondary to trauma, infection, surgical resection of tumors. Treatment options currently limited filling the defect with autologous bone, which there is always an abundant supply, or ceramic pastes only allow for osteo-inductive -conductive capacity. In this study we investigate repair using a 3D printed LayFomm scaffold. polymer blend polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polyurethane (PU). It be most common...
The current gold standard technique for treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is reconstruction with autograft. These treatments have a relatively high failure and re-tear rate. To overcome this, tissue engineering additive manufacturing are being used to explore the potential 3D scaffolds as autograft substitutes. However, mechanically optimal polymers this yet be identified. Here, we use printing technology various materials aim fabricating constructs better matching...
Spheroids are recognized for resembling the important characteristics of natural tumors in cancer research. However, lack controllability spheroid size, form, and density conventional culture methods reduces reproducibility precision bioassay results assessment drug-dose responses spheroids. Nonetheless, accurate prediction cellular to drug compounds is crucial developing new efficient therapeutic agents optimizing existing strategies personalized medicine. We developed a surface-optimized...
This work highlights the importance of surface modification on quality and quantity spheroid formation microfluidic-based biochips.
Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue with poor regenerative capacity following injury, a contributing factor to joint degenerative disease. Cell-based therapies for regeneration have rapidly advanced; however, expansion of autologous chondrocytes in vitro using standard methods causes 'dedifferentiation' into fibroblastic cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling crucial chondrocyte metabolism and matrix production, changes MAPK signals can affect the phenotype cultured...
Injectable hydrogels are extensively used in drug delivery and tissue engineering to administer drugs, genes, growth factors live cells. We report a method produce tough, in-situ thermogelling, non-toxic, injectable made of chitosan hyaluronic acid co-crosslinked with β-glycerophophate genipin. The gels highly homogeneous form within 32 min, i.e., faster than crosslinked either genipin or β-glycerophophate. shear strength is 3.5 kPa, higher any chitosan-based gel reported. Chondrocytes...