A5041777619- Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Tendon Structure and Treatment
- Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy
- Medical Imaging and Analysis
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
- Spinal Hematomas and Complications
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research
- Connective tissue disorders research
- Shoulder Injury and Treatment
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Trinity College Dublin
2022-2024
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
2024
Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research
2024
Washington University in St. Louis
2019-2022
AO Foundation
2022
University of Pennsylvania
2022
Tokai University
2022
University of Missouri
2015-2019
Abstract Background In vitro studies using nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are commonly used to investigate disc cell biology and pathogenesis, or aid in the development of new therapies. However, lab‐to‐lab variability jeopardizes much‐needed progress field. Here, an international group spine scientists collaborated standardize extraction expansion techniques for NP reduce variability, improve comparability between labs utilization funding resources. Methods The most applied methods extraction,...
Cells of the adult nucleus pulposus (NP) are critically important in maintaining overall disc health and function. NP cells reside a soft, gelatinous matrix that dehydrates becomes increasingly fibrotic with age. Such changes result physical cues stiffness may be potent regulators cell phenotype contribute to transition toward senescent fibroblastic limited capacity for repair. Here, we investigate mechanosignaling generated from directing identify mechanisms can potentially preserve...
A significant hurdle for potential cell-based therapies is the subsequent survival and regenerative capacity of implanted cells. While many exciting developments have demonstrated promise preclinically, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration fail to translate equivalent clinical efficacy.This work aims ascertain relevance both a small large animal model by experimentally investigating comparing these models human from perspective anatomical scale their cellular metabolic potential.First,...
Back pain is a global epidemiological and socioeconomic problem affecting up to 80% of people at some stage during their life often due degeneration the intervertebral disc (IVD). Therapies aimed restoring intradiscal space have predominantly focused on delivery biomaterials, cells, or growth factors, among others, with variable degrees success. While viral gene strategies emerged as promising therapeutic options in recent years, these approaches off‐target effects are associated...
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is associated with significant biochemical and morphological changes that include a loss height, decreased water content cellularity. Cell delivery has been widely explored as strategy to supplement nucleus pulposus (NP) region degenerated IVD in both pre-clinical clinical trials, using progenitor or primary cell sources. We previously demonstrated an ability for polymer-peptide hydrogel, serving culture substrate, promote adult NP cells undergo...
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is characterized by a loss of cellularity, and changes in cell-mediated activity that drives anatomic to IVD structure. In this study, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis degenerating tissues the rat following lumbar puncture. Two control, uninjured IVDs (L2-3, L3-4) two degenerated, injured (L4-5, L5-6) from each animal were examined either at two- or eight-week post-operative time points. The cells these extracted transcriptionally profiled...
ABSTRACT Resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and the capability provide targeted bioactive signals are essential qualities for implantable biomaterials. The development of materials that combine these multifunctional characteristics tunable mechanical properties has been a target in tissue engineering field over last decade. This study is first demonstrate polyampholyte hydrogels prepared with equimolar quantities positively charged negatively monomer subunits from multiple...
Controlled delivery of bioactive signaling molecules and drugs is essential for the development next generation tissue regeneration scaffolds. However, these must be delivered from a nonfouling platform, so that therapeutic role not masked by naturally occurring foreign body response. Therefore, purpose this study to characterize release profiles three pseudodrug polyampholyte hydrogel gain insight into potential platform serve as scaffold. Hydrogels composed equimolar concentrations...
With aging and pathology, cells of the nucleus pulposus (NP) de-differentiate towards a fibroblast-like phenotype, change that contributes to degeneration intervertebral disc (IVD). Laminin isoforms are component NP extracellular matrix during development but largely disappear in adult tissue. Exposing human hydrogels made from PEGylated-laminin-111 (PEGLM) has been shown regulate cell behaviors promote assume biosynthetically active state with gene/protein expression morphology consistent...
Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is predominantly caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and central nucleus pulposus (NP) region. Conservative treatments fail to restore function, motivating exploration nucleic acid therapies, such as use microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs have potential modulate expression discogenic factors, while silencing catabolic cascade associated with degeneration. To deliver these miRNAs, nonviral cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are gaining favor...
The nucleus pulposus (NP) of the intervertebral disc plays a critical role in distributing mechanical loads to axial skeleton. Alterations NP cells and, consequently, matrix are some earliest changes development degeneration. Previous studies demonstrated for laminin-presenting biomaterials promoting healthy phenotype human from degenerated tissue. Here we investigate use laminin-mimetic peptides presented individually or combination on poly(ethylene) glycol hydrogel as platform modulate...
ABSTRACT Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is characterized by a loss of cellularity, and changes in cell-mediated activity that drives anatomic to IVD structure. In this study, we use single cell RNA-sequencing analysis cells extracted from the degenerating tissues rat following lumbar puncture. Two control, uninjured IVDs (L2-3, L3-4) two degenerated, injured (L4-5, L5-6) each animal were examined either at two- eight-week post-operative time points. The these transcriptionally...
Abstract Degeneration and aging of the nucleus pulposus (NP) intervertebral disc (IVD) is accompanied by alterations in NP cell phenotype marked a shift towards fibroblast-like, catabolic state. We have recently demonstrated an ability to manipulate human adult degenerative cells through 2D culture upon poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based hydrogels dually functionalized with integrin- syndecan-binding laminin-mimetic peptides (LMPs). In present study, we sought understand transcriptomic...