Pegylated insulin-like growth factor-1 biotherapeutic delivery promotes rotator cuff regeneration in a rat model.

Tears in the rotator cuff are challenging to repair because of the complex, hypocellular, hypovascular, and movement-active nature of the tendon and its enthesis. Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is a promising therapeutic for this repair. However, its unstable nature, short half-life, and ability to disrupt homeostasis has limited its clinical translation.

Kinetic degradation and biocompatibility evaluation of polycaprolactone-based biologics delivery matrices for regenerative engineering of the rotator cuff.

Whereas synthetic biodegradable polymers have been successfully applied for the delivery of biologics in other tissues, the anatomical complexity, poor blood supply, and reduced clearance of degradation byproducts in the rotator cuff create unique design challenges for implantable biomaterials. Here, we investigated lower molecular weight poly-lactic acid co-epsilon-caprolactone (PLA-CL) formulations with varying molecular weight and film casting concentrations as potential matrices for the therapeutic delivery of biologics in the rotator cuff. Matrices were fabricated with target footprint dimensions to facilitate controlled and protected release of model biologic (Bovine Serum Albumin), and anatomically-unhindered implantation under the acromion in a rodent model of acute rotator cuff repair.

The Treatment of Muscle Atrophy after Rotator Cuff Tears Using Electroconductive Nanofibrous Matrices.

Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a common cause of disability and pain in the adult population. Despite the successful repair of the torn tendon, the delay between the time of injury and time of repair can cause muscle atrophy. The goal of the study was to engineer an electroconductive nanofibrous matrix with an aligned orientation to enhance muscle regeneration after rotator cuff (RC) repair.

Growth factor delivery strategies for rotator cuff repair and regeneration.

The high incidence of degenerative tears and prevalence of retears (20-95%) after surgical repair makes rotator cuff injuries a significant health problem. This high retear rate is attributed to the failure of the repaired tissue to regenerate the native tendon-to-bone insertion (enthesis). Biological augmentation of surgical repair such as autografts, allografts, and xenografts are confounded by donor site morbidity, immunogenicity, and disease transmission, respectively.

Cellulose Derived Graphenic Fibers for Capacitive Desalination of Brackish Water.

We describe a simple and inexpensive cellulose-derived and layer-by-layer stacked carbon fiber network electrode for capacitive deionization (CDI) of brackish water. The microstructure and chemical composition were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques; electrochemical/electrical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and 4-probe electrical conductivity and surface area by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, respectively. The desalination performance was investigated using a laboratory batch model CDI unit, under fixed applied voltage and varying salt concentrations.

Nanotextured stainless steel for improved corrosion resistance and biological response in coronary stenting.

Nanosurface engineering of metallic substrates for improved cellular response is a persistent theme in biomaterials research. The need to improve the long term prognosis of commercially available stents has led us to adopt a 'polymer-free' approach which is cost effective and industrially scalable. In this study, 316L stainless steel substrates were surface modified by hydrothermal treatment in alkaline pH, with and without the addition of a chromium precursor, to generate a well adherent uniform nanotopography.

Using ambient ion beams to write nanostructured patterns for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Electrolytic spray deposition was used to pattern surfaces with 2D metallic nanostructures. Spots that contain silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were created by landing solvated silver ions at desired locations using electrically floated masks to focus the metal ions to an area as little as 20 μm in diameter. The AgNPs formed are unprotected and their aggregates can be used for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).