Potential value of animal microphysiological systems.

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are designed to recapitulate aspects of tissue/organ physiology in vivo, thereby providing potential value in safety and efficacy assessments of FDA-regulated products and regulatory decision-making. While there have been significant advances in the development, use, and proposals of qualification criteria for human organ MPS, there remains a gap in the development using animal tissues. Animal MPS may be of value in many areas including the study of zoonotic diseases, assessment of the safety and efficacy of animal therapeutics, and possibly reduction of the use of animals in regulatory submissions for animal therapeutics.

Influence of titanium nanoscale surface roughness on fibrinogen and albumin protein adsorption kinetics and platelet responses.

Biomaterials with nanoscale topography have been increasingly investigated for medical device applications to improve tissue-material interactions. This study assessed the impact of nanoengineered titanium surface domain sizes on early biological responses that can significantly affect tissue interactions. Nanostructured titanium coatings with distinct nanoscale surface roughness were deposited on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) sensors by physical vapor deposition.

Parent-child relationship outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of housing first for indigenous and non-Indigenous parents experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children.

Objective: To examine the impacts of Housing First (HF) on parent-child relationships for Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents experiencing homelessness and mental illness.

Method: Data on parent-child relationships were obtained through baseline and 18-month narrative interviews with parents ( = 43). Participants were randomly assigned to HF ( = 27) or treatment as usual (TAU; = 16).

Effect of simulated body fluid formulation on orthopedic device apatite-forming ability assessment.

Integration of native bone into orthopedic devices is a key factor in long-term implant success. The material-tissue interface is generally accepted to consist of a hydroxyapatite layer so bioactive materials that can spontaneously generate this hydroxyapatite layer after implantation may improve patient outcomes. Per the ISO 22317:2014 standard, "Implants for surgery - In vitro evaluation for apatite-forming ability of implant materials," bioactivity performance statements can be assessed by soaking the material in simulated body fluid (SBF) and evaluating the surface for the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer; however, variations in test methods may alter hydroxyapatite formation and result in false-positive assessments.

Impact of Surface Chemistry of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Protein Corona Formation and Endothelial Cell Uptake, Toxicity, and Barrier Function.

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIONs) have been investigated for biomedical applications, including novel contrast agents, magnetic tracers for tumor imaging, targeted drug delivery vehicles, and magneto-mechanical actuators for hyperthermia and thrombolysis. Despite significant progress, recent clinical reports have raised concerns regarding USPION safety related to endothelial cell dysfunction; however, there is limited information on factors contributing to these clinical responses. The influence of USPION surface chemistry on nanoparticle interactions with proteins may impact endothelial cell function leading to adverse responses.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents separated from their children and experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Canada.

The purpose of this study is to examine the parent-child experiences of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers and fathers experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children. A qualitative thematic analysis of baseline and 18-month follow-up narrative interviews was used to compare 12 mothers (n = 8 Indigenous and n = 4 nonindigenous) with 24 fathers (n = 13 Indigenous and n = 11 non-Indigenous). First, it was found that children are more central in the lives of mothers than fathers.

Cost-Effectiveness of Housing First With Assertive Community Treatment: Results From the Canadian At Home/Chez Soi Trial.

Objective: The At Home/Chez Soi trial for homeless individuals with mental illness showed scattered-site Housing First with Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) to be more effective than treatment as usual. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of Housing First with ACT and treatment as usual.

Methods: Between October 2009 and June 2011, a total of 950 homeless individuals with serious mental illness were recruited in five Canadian cities: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton.

Matrix-Assisted Pulsed laser Evaporation-deposited Rapamycin Thin Films Maintain Antiproliferative Activity.

Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) has many benefits over conventional methods (e.g., dip-coating, spin coating, and Langmuir-Blodgett dip-coating) for manufacturing coatings containing pharmacologic agents on medical devices.

Argon and oxygen plasma treatment increases hydrophilicity and reduces adhesion of silicon-incorporated diamond-like coatings.

In this study, the structure, adhesion, and cell viability characteristics of silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) coatings on fused silica substrates were investigated. The effects of argon and oxygen postprocessing plasma treatments on the Si-DLC coatings were also studied. The contact angle results showed that the Si-DLC coatings were more hydrophilic than the uncoated surfaces, and postprocessing plasma treatment increased the hydrophilicity of the Si-DLC coatings.

The Photoinitiator Lithium Phenyl (2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyl) Phosphinate with Exposure to 405 nm Light Is Cytotoxic to Mammalian Cells but Not Mutagenic in Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assays.

Lithium phenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphinate (LAP) is a free radical photo-initiator used to initiate free radical chain polymerization upon light exposure, and is combined with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to produce a photopolymer used in bioprinting. The free radicals produced under bioprinting conditions are potentially cytotoxic and mutagenic. Since these photo-generated free radicals are highly-reactive but short-lived, toxicity assessments should be conducted with light exposure.

Cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and apoptotic responses in human coronary artery endothelial cells exposed to ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION) possess reactive surfaces, are metabolized and exhibit unique magnetic properties. These properties are desirable for designing novel theranostic biomedical products; however, toxicity mechanisms of USPION are not completely elucidated. The goal of this study was to investigate cell interactions (uptake and cytotoxicity) of USPION using human coronary artery endothelial cells as a vascular cell model.

A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of Housing First in a small Canadian City.

Background: The paper presents two-year findings from a study investigating the effectiveness of Housing First (HF) with assertive community treatment (ACT) in helping individuals with serious mental illness, who are homeless or precariously housed and living in a small city, to become stably housed.

Methods: The research design was a parallel group non-blinded RCT with participants randomly assigned after the baseline interview to receive HF with ACT (N = 100) or treatment as usual (TAU; N = 101). Participants were interviewed every 3 months over 21/24 months to investigate changes on a range of housing and psychosocial outcomes.

Toxicity and photosensitizing assessment of gelatin methacryloyl-based hydrogels photoinitiated with lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate in human primary renal proximal tubule epithelial cells.

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) photoinitiator are commonly used in combination to produce a photosensitive polymer but there are concerns that must be addressed: the presence of unreacted monomer is well known to be cytotoxic, and lithium salts are known to cause acute kidney injury. In this study, acellular 10% GelMA hydrogels cross-linked with different LAP concentrations and cross-linking illumination times were evaluated for their cytotoxicity, photosensitizing potential, and elastic moduli. Alamar Blue and CyQuant Direct Cell viability assays were performed on human primary renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (hRPTECs) exposed to extracts of each formulation.

Knowledge translation and implementation of housing first in Canada: A qualitative assessment of capacity building needs for an evidence-based program.

We examined communities' expressed needs for capacity building in the implementation of Housing First (HF) for persons experiencing homelessness. The findings are based on thematic analyses of qualitative data obtained from participants (n = 77) in 11 focus groups conducted in seven Canadian cities. We identified capacity building needs in the areas of training (e.

Correction to 'Ultrananocrystalline diamond-coated nanoporous membranes support SK-N-SH neuroblastoma endothelial cell attachment'.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2017.

Systems change in the context of an initiative to scale up Housing First in Canada.

In this study, we examine changes in the homeless-serving system in the context of a training and technical assistance initiative to scale up Housing First (HF) in 6 Canadian communities. Based on qualitative data from focus groups and individual interviews with key stakeholders (k = 7, n = 35) and field notes gathered over a 3-year period (n = 146), we found 2 main system changes: (a) changes in the capacity of the service delivery system at multiple levels of analysis (from individual to policy) to implement HF, and (b) changes in the coordination of parts of the service delivery system and collaboration among local stakeholders to enhance HF implementation. These changes were facilitated or constrained by the larger context of evidence, climate, policy, and funding.

Navigating Complex Implementation Contexts: Overcoming Barriers and Achieving Outcomes in a National Initiative to Scale Out Housing First in Canada.

The scaling out of Housing First (HF) programs was examined in six Canadian communities, in which a multi-component HF training and technical assistance (TTA) was provided. Three research questions were addressed: (a) What were the outcomes of the TTA in terms of the development of new, sustained, or enhanced programs, and fidelity to the HF model? (b) How did the TTA contribute to implementation and fidelity? and (c) What contextual factors facilitated or challenged implementation and fidelity? A total of 14 new HF programs were created, and nine HF programs were sustained or enhanced. Fidelity assessments for 10 HF programs revealed an average score of 3.

Ultrananocrystalline diamond-coated nanoporous membranes support SK-N-SH neuroblastoma epithelial [corrected] cell attachment.

Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) has been demonstrated to have attractive features for biomedical applications and can be combined with nanoporous membranes for applications in drug delivery systems, biosensing, immunoisolation and single molecule analysis. In this study, free-standing nanoporous UNCD membranes with pore sizes of 100 or 400 nm were fabricated by directly depositing ultrathin UNCD films on nanoporous silicon nitride membranes and then etching away silicon nitride using reactive ion etching. Successful deposition of UNCD on the substrate with a novel process was confirmed with Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy.

Understanding Systems Change in Early Implementation of Housing First in Canadian Communities: An Examination of Facilitators/Barriers, Training/Technical Assistance, and Points of Leverage.

We present interim findings of a cross-site case study of an initiative to expand Housing First (HF) in Canada through training and technical assistance (TTA). HF is an evidence-based practice designed to end chronic homelessness for consumers of mental health services. We draw upon concepts from implementation science and systems change theory to examine how early implementation occurs within a system.

Investigating the susceptibility of mice to a bacterial challenge after intravenous exposure to durable nanoparticles.

Aim: The goal of this study was to determine whether bacterial clearance in a rodent model would be impaired upon exposure to gold, silver or silica nanoparticles (NPs).

Materials & Methods: Mice received weekly injections of NPs followed by a challenge of Listeria monocytogenes (LM). On days 3 and 10 after LM injections, the animals were sacrificed and their tissues were collected for elemental analysis, electron microscopy and LM count determination.

Nanosilver-PMMA composite coating optimized to provide robust antibacterial efficacy while minimizing human bone marrow stromal cell toxicity.

Porous PMMA is a versatile biomaterial with good biocompatibility but high susceptibility to bacterial colonization, which we mitigated by utilizing immobilized antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A uniform porous thin film was deposited onto silicon wafers by simultaneously ablating PMMA and silver (Ag) using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) optimized for minimal human cell toxicity and antibacterial efficacy. PMMA without Ag became heavily colonized by E.

Costs of services for homeless people with mental illness in 5 Canadian cities: a large prospective follow-up study.

Background: Limited evidence on the costs of homelessness in Canada is available. We estimated the average annual costs, in total and by cost category, that homeless people with mental illness engender from the perspective of society. We also identified individual characteristics associated with higher costs.