The Promoting Equity in Stem Cell Genomics Survey.

This study aimed to determine knowledge and attitudes toward induced pluripotent stem cell technology and biobanking. A survey instrument was developed to determine individuals' knowledge of and attitudes toward these technologies. Results from 276 ethnically diverse participants who took the online survey demonstrated significant associations (p ≤ 0.

Ethnically diverse pluripotent stem cells for drug development.

Genetic variation is an identified factor underlying drug efficacy and toxicity, and adverse drug reactions, such as liver toxicity, are the primary reasons for post-marketing drug failure. Genetic predisposition to toxicity might be detected early in the drug development pipeline by introducing cell-based assays that reflect the genetic and ethnic variation of the expected treatment population. One challenge for this approach is obtaining a collection of suitable cell lines derived from ethnically diverse populations.

iPSCs for personalized medicine: what will it take for Africa?

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are cutting edge biotechnology that may revolutionize medicine, and creating iPSCs from ethnically diverse individuals would generate valuable therapeutic and drug development tools. However, challenges must be overcome in creating the infrastructure and scientific capacity needed to pursue innovative, leapfrogging strategies to make iPSCs available in Africa.

Low-temperature co-fired ceramic microchannels with individually addressable screen-printed gold electrodes on four walls for self-contained electrochemical immunoassays.

Microchannel devices were constructed from low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) materials with screen-printed gold (SPG) electrodes in three dimensions--on all four walls--for self-contained enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays with electrochemical detection. The microchannel confines the solution to a small volume, allowing concentration of electroactive enzymatically generated product and nearby electrodes provide high-speed and high-sensitivity detection: it also facilitates future integration with microfluidics. LTCC materials allow easy construction of three-dimensional structures compared with more traditional materials such as glass and polymer materials.

Evaluation of screen-printed gold on low-temperature co-fired ceramic as a substrate for the immobilization of electrochemical immunoassays.

Screen-printed gold (SPG, Dupont gold conductor 5734) on low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) materials (Dupont dielectric tape 951, mostly composed of alumina and silica) has been demonstrated to be a substrate for electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays. The effect of two different cleaning treatments and the extent of nonspecific adsorption on the SPG/LTCC and plain LTCC surfaces were also evaluated. LTCC materials hold promise for constructing a new generation of devices for microelectrochemical sensing and assays.