Publications by authors named "Christina Workman"
Attachment of a nitric oxide (NO) donor to an electrospun polymer has the potential to improve its proliferative and antimicrobial capabilities. This study presents the novel, covalent attachment of -nitroso--acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) to polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. By attaching the NO donor to the polymer, rather than blending it, leaching is reduced to maintain a NO flux within the physiologically relevant range for a longer duration, while limiting any cytotoxic effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Patients living with biliary tract cancer (BTC) experience a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the patient experience of BTC-related signs/symptoms and the impacts of these on daily functioning and HRQoL.
Methods: Patients with BTC participated in qualitative semi-structured concept elicitation interviews.
Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the patient experience of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to guide patient-centered outcome measurement in drug development.
Methods: Patients with HCC participated in qualitative interviews to elicit disease-related signs/symptoms and impacts, using discussion guides developed from literature searches and discussions with oncologists. Interview participants rated the disturbance of their experiences (0-10 scale).
Article Synopsis
- The project focuses on enhancing infection-resistant materials by using a nitric oxide-releasing polymer with a zinc oxide nanoparticle topcoat to improve the release of nitric oxide (NO) for antimicrobial properties.
- The SNAP-ZnO material showed sustained NO release over 14 days and demonstrated high killing efficacy against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, outperforming samples that only contained the nitric oxide donor.
- Notably, the composite material did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells, indicating its potential for safe use in medical device applications.
Surface fouling is one of the leading causes of infection associated with implants, stents, catheters, and other medical devices. The surface chemistry of medical device coatings is important in controlling and/or preventing fouling. In this study, we have shown that a combination of nitric oxide releasing hydrophobic polymer with a hydrophilic polymer topcoat can significantly reduce protein attachment and subsequently reduce bacterial adhesion as a result of the synergistic effect.
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