Novel Conductive Carbon Black and Polydimethlysiloxane ECG Electrode: A Comparison with Commercial Electrodes in Fresh, Chlorinated, and Salt Water.

In this study, we evaluated the performance of two novel conductive carbon black (CB) and polydimethlysiloxane (PDMS) bio-potential electrodes, with and without an integrated flexible copper mesh, against commercially available electrodes (Polar(®) textile, Silver-coated textile, and carbon rubber). The electrodes were tested in three types of water (fresh/unfiltered, chlorinated, and salt water). Our testing revealed that our CB/PDMS electrode with integrated copper mesh provided a high-fidelity ECG signal morphologies without any amplitude degradation in all of the types of water tested (N = 10).

Novel electrodes for underwater ECG monitoring.

We have developed hydrophobic electrodes that provide all morphological waveforms without distortion of an ECG signal for both dry and water-immersed conditions. Our electrode is comprised of a mixture of carbon black powder (CB) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). For feasibility testing of the CB/PDMS electrodes, various tests were performed.

Micropatterned dermal-epidermal regeneration matrices create functional niches that enhance epidermal morphogenesis.

Although tissue engineered skin substitutes have demonstrated some clinical success for the treatment of chronic wounds such as diabetic and venous ulcers, persistent graft take and stability remain concerns. Current bilayered skin substitutes lack the characteristic microtopography of the dermal-epidermal junction that gives skin enhanced mechanical stability and creates cellular microniches that differentially promote keratinocyte function to form skin appendages and enhance wound healing. We developed a novel micropatterned dermal-epidermal regeneration matrix (μDERM) which incorporates this complex topography and substantially enhances epidermal morphology.

Fibrin microthreads support mesenchymal stem cell growth while maintaining differentiation potential.

We developed a method to produce discrete fibrin microthreads, which can be seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and used as a suture to enhance the efficiency and localization of cell delivery. To assess the efficacy of fibrin microthreads to support hMSC attachment, proliferation, and survival, microthreads (100 μm diameter per microthread) were bundled together, seeded with 50,000 hMSCs for 2 h, and cultured for 5 days. Cell density on microthread bundles increased over time in culture to a maximum average density of 731 ± 101 cells/mm(2) after 5 days.