A5084357492- Reproductive tract infections research
- Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Uterine Myomas and Treatments
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Wound Healing and Treatments
- Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications
- Pregnancy-related medical research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Harvard University
2021-2025
Harvard University Press
2024-2025
Gates Foundation
2024
Boston University
2023
Inspire
2023
University Hospital Münster
2020-2021
Imperial College London
2016-2019
Trinity College Dublin
2017
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
2017
Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research
2017
Abstract Modulation of the cervix by steroid hormones and commensal microbiome play a central role in health female reproductive tract. Here we describe organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) models that recreate human cervical epithelial-stromal interface with functional epithelial barrier production mucus biochemical hormone-responsive properties similar to living cervix. When Cervix Chips are populated optimal healthy versus dysbiotic microbial communities (dominated Lactobacillus crispatus...
Abstract Biomaterial scaffolds that are designed to incorporate dynamic, spatiotemporal information have the potential interface with cells and tissues direct behavior. Here, a bioinspired, programmable nanotechnology‐based platform is described harnesses cellular traction forces activate growth factors, eliminating need for exogenous triggers (e.g., light), spatially diffuse enzymes, pH changes), or passive activation hydrolysis). Flexible aptamer technology used create modular, synthetic...
Abstract Endometriosis is a painful gynecological condition characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial cells. Little known about its pathogenesis, which partially due to lack suitable experimental models. Here, we use stromal (St-T1b), primary endometriotic stromal, epithelial (12Z) and co-culture (1:1 St-T1b:12Z) spheroids mimic the architecture endometrium, either collagen I or Matrigel model locations. Stromal spheroids, but not single cells, assumed coordinated directional migration...
Clinically available hollow nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) have had limited success in treating large peripheral injuries. This study aims to develop a biphasic NGC combining physicochemically optimized collagen outer conduit bridge the transected nerve, and neuroconductive hyaluronic acid-based luminal filler support regeneration. The is mechanically by manipulating crosslinking density, allowing engineering of high wall permeability mitigate risk neuroma formation, while also maintaining...
<title>Abstract</title> Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients exhibit compromised intestinal barrier function and decreased mucus accumulation, as well increased inflammation, fibrosis, cancer risk, with symptoms often being exacerbated in women during pregnancy. Here, we show that these IBD hallmarks can be replicated using human Organ Chips lined by patient-derived colon epithelial cells interfaced matched fibroblasts cultured under flow. Use of heterotypic tissue recombinants revealed...
This study explores the protective role of cervicovaginal mucus in maintaining vaginal health, particularly relation to bacterial vaginosis (BV), using organ chip technology. By integrating human Cervix and Vagina Chips, we demonstrated that cervical significantly reduces inflammation epithelial damage caused by a dysbiotic microbiome commonly associated with BV. Proteomic analysis Chip, following exposure from revealed differentially abundant proteins, suggesting potential biomarkers...
What are the effects of plant-derived antioxidant compounds urolithin A (UA) and B (UB) on growth pathogenetic properties an in vitro endometriosis model?Both urolithins showed inhibitory cell behavior related to development by differentially affecting growth, adhesion, motility, invasion endometriotic cells vitro.Endometriosis is one most common benign gynecological diseases women reproductive age defined presence endometrial tissue outside uterine cavity. As current pharmacological...
Downregulated microRNA-142-3p signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, an invasive disease where lining uterus grows at ectopic locations, by yet incompletely understood mechanisms. Using bioinformatics and in vitro assays, this study identifies cytoskeletal regulation integrin as two relevant categories miR-142-3p targets. qPCR revealed that upregulation St-T1b cells downregulates Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), cofilin (CFL2), Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin...
ABSTRACT Modulation of mucus production by the human endo– and ecto-cervical epithelium steroid hormones associated interactions with commensal microbiome play a central role in physiology pathophysiology female reproductive tract. However, most our knowledge about these is based on results from animal studies or vitro models that fail to faithfully mimic mucosal environment cervix. Here we describe microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) cervical mucosa recreate epithelial-stromal...
Downregulated microRNA-142-3p signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis [1] [2], an invasive disease where lining uterus grows at ectopic locations, by yet incompletely understood mechanisms. Using bioinformatics and in vitro assays, this study identifies cytoskeletal regulation integrin as two relevant categories miR-142-3p targets. qPCR revealed that upregulation St-T1b cells downregulates ROCK2, CFL2, RAC1, WASL ITGAV. Western-blotting showed effect on ITGAV was...
ABSTRACT Background The cervicovaginal mucus that coats the upper surface of vaginal epithelium is thought to serve as a selective barrier helps clear pathogens, however, its role in modulating physiology and pathophysiology human vagina poorly understood. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), common disease female reproductive tract increases susceptibility sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm birth, both maternal neonatal infections characterized by...
Abstract Background The cervicovaginal mucus which coats the upper surface of vaginal epithelium is thought to serve as a selective barrier that helps clear pathogens, however, its role in modulating physiology and pathophysiology human vagina poorly understood. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), common disease female reproductive tract increases susceptibility sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm birth, both maternal neonatal infections characterized by...
Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients exhibit compromised intestinal barrier function and decreased mucus accumulation, as well increased inflammation, fibrosis, cancer risk, with symptoms often being exacerbated in women during pregnancy. Here, we show that these IBD hallmarks can be replicated using human Organ Chips lined by patient-derived colon epithelial cells interfaced matched fibroblasts cultured under flow. Use of heterotypic tissue recombinants revealed are the...
In article number 1806380, Benjamin D. Almquist and co-workers describe a bioinspired nanotechnology platform that uses the cellular traction force as trigger for controlling release of growth factors. This method is straightforward to integrate with diverse biomaterial scaffolds, substrates, fabrication methods, enables novel capabilities like selective activation factors by different cell types.
Abstract Study question What is the underlying cause of infertility associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV)? Summary answer We provide first evidence to suggest that BV-associated could be result sperm dysfunction induced by exposure poor cervical microbiome. known already Infertility a global health concern, impacting 186 million individuals worldwide. In 25% infertile couples remains unexplained. The complex interactions between host mucosal epithelium, microbiome, and other...
Abstract Endometriosis is a painful gynaecological condition characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial cells outside the uterus. Little known about mechanisms which fragments invade tissues. This partially due to lack suitable experimental models. In this study, we show that spheroid 3D model, but not single mimic collective fragment-like invasion through extracellular matrix. model reveals collagen I, main constituent surgical scars, significantly increases rate lesion formation...