A5049365455- Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- MRI in cancer diagnosis
- Immune cells in cancer
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Mathematical Biology Tumor Growth
- Lymphatic System and Diseases
- Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Radiomics and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
- Chemokine receptors and signaling
Biomedical Research Institute
2019-2025
Virginia Tech
2016-2025
Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences
2019-2025
Carilion Clinic
2023
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
2023
University of Virginia
2014-2022
Wake Forest University
2022
University of Maine
2018
Charlottesville Medical Research
2017
The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
2012-2013
The tumor microbiome is increasingly implicated in cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), high intratumoral loads of Fusobacterium nucleatum correlate with shorter survival patients. Here, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying this association. We found that F. infection induced both normal epithelial cells PDAC secrete increased amounts cytokines GM-CSF, CXCL1, IL-8, MIP-3α. These proliferation, migration, invasive cell...
Abstract Brain tumor invasion leads to recurrence and resistance treatment. Glioma cells invade in distinct patterns, possibly determined by microenvironmental cues including chemokines, structural heterogeneity, fluid flow. We hypothesized that flow originating from pressure differentials between the brain is active glioma invasion. Using vitro models, we show interstitial promotes cell multiple lines. Flow effects were CXCR4-dependent, because they abrogated CXCR4 inhibition. Furthermore,...
Focused ultrasound is leveraged to markedly augment the delivery of tissue-penetrating gene nanocarriers brain tumors.
The first microfluidic device for co-culture of two tissue slices under continuous recirculating flow was used to model tumor-induced immunosuppression.
Abstract High-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) is a minimally invasive local ablation therapy known to activate the adaptive immune system and reprogram tumor microenvironment. Its predecessor, (IRE), transiently increases microvascular density cell infiltration within surviving non-ablated non-necrotic region, also as viable region. However, impact of pulse electric field therapies on lymphatic vessels, crucial for T-cell fate maturation, remains unclear. This study...
A novel compound, Imipramine Blue, enhances efficacy of chemotherapy in a single treatment against rodent astrocytoma model vivo by inhibiting cell invasion.
Glioblastoma (GBM) prognosis remains dismal due in part to the invasiveness of GBM cells. Interstitial fluid flow (IFF) has been shown increase invasion glioma cells vitro through CXCR4 receptor interacting with autologous, pericellular gradients CXCL12 (autologous chemotaxis) or CD44 interactions extracellular matrix (hyaluronan-mediated mechanotransduction). These mechanisms have not examined together and thus we hypothesized that both contribute populations cancer Therefore,...
Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive form of brain tumor, is disease marked by extensive invasion into the surrounding brain. Interstitial fluid flow (IFF), or movement within spaces between cells, has been linked to increased GBM cells. Better characterization IFF could elucidate underlying mechanisms driving this in vivo. Here, we develop technique non-invasively measure interstitial velocities glioma microenvironment mice using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging...
Bioengineers have built models of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in which to study cell-cell interactions, mechanisms cancer growth and metastasis, test new therapies. These allow researchers culture cells conditions that include features vivo TME implicated regulating progression, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, integrin binding ECM, immune stromal cells, factor cytokine depots, a three-dimensional geometry more representative than tissue polystyrene (TCPS). biomaterials...
Abstract Mammalian pregnancy requires gradual yet extreme remodeling of the reproductive organs to support growth embryos and their birth. After delivery, return non-pregnant state. As has traditionally been understudied, there are many unknowns pertaining mechanisms behind this remarkable repair process which, when not successful, can lead pregnancy-related complications such as maternal trauma, pre-term birth, pelvic floor disorders. This study presents first longitudinal imaging data that...
Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant form of brain cancer. Its invasive nature limits treatment efficacy promotes inevitable recurrence. Previous in vitro studies showed that interstitial fluid flow, a factor characteristically increased cancer, increases glioma cell invasion through CXCR4-CXCL12 signaling. It currently unknown if these effects translate vivo. We used therapeutic technique convection enhanced delivery (CED) to test convective flow alters syngeneic GL261 mouse model...
Infiltration into lymphatic vessels is a critical step in breast cancer metastasis. Lymphatics undergo changes that facilitate metastasis as result of activation the cells lining vessels, endothelial (LECs). Inhibition by targeting VEGFR3 can reduce invasion toward lymphatics. To best benefit patients, this approach should be coupled with standard care slows tumor growth, such chemotherapy. Little known about how chemotherapies, like docetaxel, may influence lymphatics and conversely, alter...
Abstract Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer characterized by diffuse infiltration. Infiltrated glioma cells persist in the post-resection where they interact with glial and experience interstitial fluid flow. We use patient-derived stem human (i.e., astrocytes microglia) to create a four-component 3D model of this environment informed resected patient tumors. examine metrics for invasion, proliferation, putative stemness context cells, forces, chemotherapies. While responses are...
On-chip 3D culture systems that incorporate immune cells such as lymphocytes and stromal are needed to model organs in engineered organs-on-chip. Photocrosslinking is a useful tool for creating immune-competent hydrogel cultures with spatial cell organization. However, loss of viability motility photocrosslinked gels can limit its utility, especially when working fragile primary cells. We hypothesized optimizing photoexposure-induced ROS production, porosity or combination both factors was...
Abstract Cell motility is a critical aspect of several processes, such as wound healing and immunity; however, it dysregulated in cancer. Current limitations imaging tools make difficult to study cell migration vivo . To overcome this, identify drivers from the microenvironment that regulate migration, bioengineers have developed 2D (two‐dimensional) 3D (three‐dimensional) tissue model systems which vitro , with aim mimicking elements environments cells move However, there has been no...
Glioblastoma (GBM), characterized by high infiltrative capacity, is the most common and deadly type of primary brain tumor in adults. GBM cells, including therapy-resistant glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs), invade healthy parenchyma to form secondary tumors even after patients undergo surgical resection chemoradiotherapy. New techniques are therefore urgently needed eradicate these residual cells. A thiol-Michael addition injectable hydrogel for compatibility with therapy previously...