Publications by authors named "Miles M Menyhert"
Blood and lymphatic vessels in the body are central to molecular and cellular transport, tissue repair, and pathophysiology. Several approaches have been employed for engineering microfabricated blood and lymphatic vessels , yet traditionally these approaches require specialized equipment, facilities, and research training beyond the capabilities of many biomedical laboratories. Here we present xurography as an inexpensive, accessible, and versatile rapid prototyping technique for engineering cylindrical and lumenized microvessels.
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- Fibrillar collagens and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are crucial components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and this study investigates how specific GAGs—chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and hyaluronic acid (HA)—affect the mechanical and microstructural properties of collagen hydrogels.
- The research reveals that while HA enhances the ECM's stiffness, all GAGs tested do not impact hydraulic permeability, indicating distinct roles in regulating matrix structure and organization.
- The findings emphasize the importance of utilizing various experimental techniques, like mechanical testing and imaging, to better understand the dynamics of collagen self-assembly and how GAGs influence ECM properties at different
Article Synopsis
- Fibrillar collagens and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), influencing its structure and mechanical properties.
- This study investigates how different GAGs (chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid) affect ECM properties at a cellular scale, including stiffness, transport efficiency, and microstructure of collagen-based hydrogels.
- The findings reveal that GAGs alter collagen self-assembly kinetics and suggest new methods to study ECM characteristics through techniques like stiffness measurements and turbidity assays.
Article Synopsis
- Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is crucial for maintaining the barrier function of endothelial cells, especially under different flow conditions in blood vessels.
- Researchers used a microfluidic system to simulate the flow dynamics at vessel bifurcations, finding that specific hemodynamic forces improve the stability of endothelial barriers when combined with S1P.
- The study highlights that the protective effects of these fluid forces on endothelial cells depend on S1P receptor signaling and emphasizes the importance of understanding how blood flow interacts with vascular health.
Cancer is a complex and dynamic disease that is aberrant both biologically and physically. There is growing appreciation that physical abnormalities with both cancer cells and their microenvironment that span multiple length scales are important drivers for cancer growth and metastasis. The scope of this review is to highlight the key advancements in micro- and nano-scale tools for delineating the cause and consequences of the aberrant physical properties of tumors.
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