Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning (STOMP).

Cell-laden hydrogel constructs suspended between pillars are powerful tools for modeling tissue structure and physiology, though current fabrication techniques often limit them to uniform compositions. In contrast, tissues are complex in nature with spatial arrangements of cell types and extracellular matrices. Thus, we present Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning (STOMP), which utilizes a removable, open microfluidic patterning channel to pattern multiple spatial regions across a single suspended tissue.

Engineered 3D Periodontal Ligament Model with Magnetic Tensile Loading.

In vitro models are invaluable tools for deconstructing the biological complexity of the periodontal ligament (PDL). Model systems that closely reproduce the 3-dimensional (3D) configuration of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in native tissue can deliver physiologically relevant insights. However, 3D models of the PDL that incorporate mechanical loading are currently lacking.

Identification of a prevalent founder mutation in an Israeli Muslim Arab village confirms the role of PRCD in the aetiology of retinitis pigmentosa in humans.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common form of hereditary retinal degeneration. At least 32 genes and loci have been implicated in non-syndromic autosomal recessive RP. Progressive rod-cone degeneration is a canine form of autosomal recessive retinal degeneration, which serves as an animal model for human RP, and is caused by a missense mutation of the PRCD gene.