In vitro platform to model the function of ionocytes in the human airway epithelium.

Background: Pulmonary ionocytes have been identified in the airway epithelium as a small population of ion transporting cells expressing high levels of CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), the gene mutated in cystic fibrosis. By providing an infinite source of airway epithelial cells (AECs), the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) could overcome some challenges of studying ionocytes. However, the production of AEC epithelia containing ionocytes from hiPSCs has proven difficult.

Surface Cross-Linking by Macromolecular Tethers Enhances Virus-like Particles' Resilience to Mucosal Stress Factors.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are emerging as nanoscaffolds in a variety of biomedical applications including delivery of vaccine antigens and cargo such as mRNA to mucosal surfaces. These soft, colloidal, and proteinaceous structures (capsids) are nevertheless susceptible to mucosal environmental stress factors. We cross-linked multiple capsid surface amino acid residues using homobifunctional polyethylene glycol tethers to improve the persistence and survival of the capsid to model mucosal stressors.

Measuring Biophysical Properties of Cilia Motility from Mammalian Tissues via Quantitative Video Analysis Methods.

Ciliated epithelia are common in various human organs, indeed across many species, and their physiological functions are vital. A number of diseases, of genetic, degenerative, or infectious nature, compromise motile cilia function and lead to severe downstream consequences. Culture of ciliated tissues is a common research approach.

Assessing motile cilia coverage and beat frequency in mammalian cell culture tissues.

Cilia density, distribution and beating frequency are important properties of airway epithelial tissues. These parameters are critical in diagnosing primary ciliary dyskinesia and examining models, including those derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Video microscopy can be used to characterize these parameters, but most tools available at the moment are limited in the type of information they can provide, usually only describing the ciliary beat frequency of very small areas, while requiring human intervention and training for their use.