Optical study of chemotherapy efficiency in cancer treatment via intracellular structural disorder analysis using partial wave spectroscopy.

As cancer progresses, macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA or lipids, inside cells undergo spatial structural rearrangements and alterations. Mesoscopic light transport-based optical partial wave spectroscopy (PWS) was recently introduced to quantify changes in the nanoscale structural disorder in biological cells. The PWS measurement is performed using a parameter termed as "disorder strength" (L ), which represents the degree of nanoscale structural disorder inside the cells.

Novel naturally crosslinked electrospun nanofibrous chitosan mats for guided bone regeneration membranes: material characterization and cytocompatibility.

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) barrier membranes are used to prevent soft tissue infiltration into the graft space during dental procedures that involve bone grafting. Chitosan materials have shown promise as GBR barrier membranes, due to their biocompatibility and predictable biodegradability, but degradation rates may still be too high for clinical applications. In this study, chitosan GBR membranes were electrospun using chitosan (70% deacetylated, 312 kDa, 5.

Quantitative trait loci for tibial bone strength in C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ inbred strains of mice.

Three-point bending technology has been widely used in the measurement of bone strength. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for bone strength have been identified using mouse femurs. In this study, we investigate the use of mouse tibiae in identification of QTLs that regulate bone strength.

Computation of transient flow rates in passive pumping micro-fluidic systems.

Motion in micro-channels of passive flow micro-fluidic systems can be controlled by proper design and estimated by careful modeling. We report on methods to describe the flow rate as function of time in a passive pump driven micro-fluidic system. The model considers the surface energy present in small droplets, which prompts their shrinkage and induces flow.

Localized elasticity measured in epithelial cells migrating at a wound edge using atomic force microscopy.

Restoration of lung homeostasis following injury requires efficient wound healing by the epithelium. The mechanisms of lung epithelial wound healing include cell spreading and migration into the wounded area and later cell proliferation. We hypothesized that mechanical properties of cells vary near the wound edge, and this may provide cues to direct cell migration.

Quantitative trait loci that determine mouse tibial nanoindentation properties in an F2 population derived from C57BL/6J x C3H/HeJ.

Use of nanoindentation technology to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate bone properties represents a novel approach to improving our understanding of molecular mechanisms that control bone matrix properties. Tibiae for QTL mapping were from an F2 population derived from C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ. A nanoindenter (Triboindenter; Hysitron, Minneapolis, MN) was used to conduct indentation tests on transverse sections.

Mechanical properties of OI type III bone tissue measured by nanoindentation.

Nanoindentation was used to characterize the intrinsic mechanical properties of bone tissue from eight (8) children with type III Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). The bone samples were harvested from the cortex portion at the site of bowing (the mid 2/3 of the shaft of the tibia/femur). Unlike normal bone tissue, OI type III cortical bone exhibited more isotropic material properties.

Matrix remodeling expression in anulus cells subjected to increased compressive load.

Study Design: Mechanobiology study of gene expression changes as a result of compressive overload of anular fibrochondrocytes.

Objective: To test hypotheses regarding phenotype shift in genes coding for representative extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and matrix modulators.

Summary Of The Background Data: In degenerative disc disease, the transfer of compressive load through the disc shifts largely from the nucleus onto the anulus.