Enhanced Detection of Charged -Glycans in the Brain by Infrared Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometric Imaging.

-linked glycosylation represents a structurally diverse, complex, co- and posttranslational protein modification that bridges metabolism and cellular signaling. Consequently, aberrant protein glycosylation is a hallmark of most pathological scenarios. Due to their complex nature and non-template-driven synthesis, the analysis of glycans is faced with several challenges, underlining the need for new and improved analytical technologies.

Lipidomic Analysis of Mouse Brain to Evaluate the Efficacy and Preservation of Different Tissue Preparatory Techniques by IR-MALDESI-MSI.

Numerous preparatory methods have been developed to preserve the cellular and structural integrity of various biological tissues for different -omics studies. Herein, two preparatory methods for mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) were evaluated, fresh-frozen and sucrose-embedded, paraformaldehyde (PFA) fixed, in terms of ion abundance, putative lipid identifications, and preservation of analyte spatial distributions. Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI)-MSI was utilized to compare the preparatory methods of interest with and without the use of the conventional ice matrix.

Injectable biomaterial shuttles for cell therapy in stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the leading cause of disability and contributes to a significant socio-economic cost in the western world. Brain repair strategies investigated in the pre-clinical models include the delivery of drug or cell-based therapeutics; which is hindered by the complex anatomy and functional organization of the brain. Biomaterials can be instrumental in alleviating some of these challenges by providing a structural support, localization, immunomodulation and/or modulating cellular cross-talk in the brain.

Local intracerebral inhibition of IRE1 by MKC8866 sensitizes glioblastoma to irradiation/chemotherapy in vivo.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most severe primary brain cancer. Despite an aggressive treatment comprising surgical resection and radio/chemotherapy, patient's survival post diagnosis remains short. A limitation for success in finding novel improved therapeutic options for such dismal disease partly lies in the lack of a relevant animal model that accurately recapitulates patient disease and standard of care.

Region-Specific Characterization of -Glycans in the Striatum and Substantia Nigra of an Adult Rodent Brain.

-glycan alterations in the nervous system can result in different neuropathological symptoms such as mental retardation, seizures, and epilepsy. Studies have reported the characterization of -glycans in rodent brains, but there is a lack of spatial resolution as either the tissue samples were homogenized or specific proteins were selected for analysis of glycosylation. We hypothesize that region-specific resolution of -glycans isolated from the striatum and substantia nigra (SN) can give an insight into the establishment and pathophysiological degeneration of neural circuitry in Parkinson's disease.

A window into the brain: Tools to assess pre-clinical efficacy of biomaterials-based therapies on central nervous system disorders.

Therapeutic conveyance into the brain is a cardinal requirement for treatment of diverse central nervous system (CNS) disorders and associated pathophysiology. Effectual shielding of the brain by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) sieves out major proportion of therapeutics with the exception of small lipophilic molecules. Various nano-delivery systems (NDS) provide an effective solution around this obstacle owing to their small size and targeting properties.

Co-Culture of Human Endothelial Cells and Foreskin Fibroblasts on 3D Silk-Fibrin Scaffolds Supports Vascularization.

A successful strategy to enhance the in vivo survival of engineered tissues would be to prevascularize them. In this study, fabricated silk fibroin scaffolds from mulberry and non-mulberry silkworms are investigated and compared for supporting the co-culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human foreskin fibroblasts. Scaffolds are cytocompatible and when combined with fibrin gel support capillary-like structure formation.

Glucosamine loaded injectable silk-in-silk integrated system modulate mechanical properties in bovine ex-vivo degenerated intervertebral disc model.

Injectable hydrogels offer a tremendous potential for treatment of degenerated intervertebral disc due to their ability to withstand complex loading, conforming precisely to the defect spaces and eliminating the need for invasive surgical procedures. We have developed an injectable hydrogel platform of N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) loaded silk hollow spheres embedded in silk hydrogel for in situ therapeutic release and enhanced mechanical strength. The assembled silk hydrogel provided adequate structural support to the ex vivo degenerated disc model in a cyclic compression test at par with the native tissue.

Fibrin-based microsphere reservoirs for delivery of neurotrophic factors to the brain.

Aim: The in vivo therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors to modify neuronal dysfunctions is limited by their short half-life. A biomaterials-based intervention, which protects these factors and allows a controlled release, is required.

Materials & Methods: Hollow fibrin microspheres were fabricated by charge manipulation using polystyrene templates and were loaded with NGF.

Dose dependence specific and non-specific immune responses of Indian major carp (L. rohita Ham) to intraperitoneal injection of formalin killed Aeromonas hydrophila whole cell vaccine.

Specific and non-specific immune response to different doses of formalin killed whole cell vaccine of Aeromonas hydrophila to Indian major carp (Labeo rohita) was evaluated in laboratory condition. Three different doses (10(5) CFU/ml, 10(7) CFU/ml, 10(10) CFU/ml) were administered (0.2 ml/fish) intraperitoneally for 1 month.