Area deprivation index impact on type 2 diabetes outcomes in a regional health plan.

Background: Rates of attainment of high-quality diabetes care have been shown to be lower for those living in more disadvantaged and rural areas. Diabetes management relies on access to care and is impacted by physical, social, and economic factors. Area deprivation index (ADI) is one way to quantify geographic disparities in aggregate.

Harnessing micrometer-scale tPA beads for high plasmin generation and accelerated fibrinolysis.

Rapid restoration of blood flow is critical in treating acute ischemic stroke. Current fibrinolytic therapies using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are limited by low recanalization rates and risks of off-target bleeding. Here, we present a strategy using tPA immobilized on micrometer-scale beads to enhance local plasmin generation.

Coupling magnetic torque and force for colloidal microbot assembly and manipulation.

For targeted transport in the body, biomedical microbots (μbots) must move effectively in three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments. Swimming μbots translate via asymmetric or screw-like motions while rolling ones use friction with available surfaces to generate propulsive forces. We have previously shown that planar rotating magnetic fields assemble μm-scale superparamagnetic beads into circular μbots that roll along surfaces.

Magnetically powered microwheel thrombolysis of occlusive thrombi in zebrafish.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA-approved treatment for ischemic stroke but carries significant risks, including major hemorrhage. Additional options are needed, especially in small vessel thrombi which account for ~25% of ischemic strokes. We have previously shown that tPA-functionalized colloidal microparticles can be assembled into microwheels (µwheels) and manipulated under the control of applied magnetic fields to enable rapid thrombolysis of fibrin gels in microfluidic models of thrombosis.