Effect of Side-Specific Valvular Shear Stress on the Content of Extracellular Matrix in Aortic Valves.

Responses of valve endothelial cells (VECs) to shear stresses are important for the regulation of valve durability. However, the effect of flow patterns subjected to VECs on the opposite surfaces of the valves on the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) has not yet been investigated. This study aims to investigate the response of side-specific flow patterns, in terms of ECM synthesis and/or degradation in porcine aortic valves.

Valve Endothelial Cells - Not Just Any Old Endothelial Cells.

Heart valves are sophisticated cellularised structures that perform a complex series of dynamic functions during each cardiac cycle. The endothelial cells (ECs) that cover both surfaces of the valve, play an important role in ensuring that the valve functions are in an optimal manner. They are also postulated to protect the valve against calcific disease.

Side-specific mechanical properties of valve endothelial cells.

Aortic valve endothelial cells (ECs) function in vastly different levels of shear stress. The biomechanical characteristics of cells on each side of valve have not been investigated. We assessed the morphology and mechanical properties of cultured or native valve ECs on intact porcine aortic valve cusps using a scanning ion conductance microscope (SICM).

The differentiation and engraftment potential of mouse hematopoietic stem cells is maintained after bio-electrospray.

The bio-electrospray technique has been recently pioneered to manipulate living, immortalised and primary cells, including a wide range of stem cells. Studies have demonstrated that the creation of viable, fully functional in vitro microenvironments is possible using this technique. By modifying the bio-electrospray procedure (referred to as cell electrospinning), a variety of microenvironment morphologies have been fabricated.

Bio-electrospraying the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: studying whole-genome transcriptional responses and key life cycle parameters.

Bio-electrospray, the direct jet-based cell handling approach, is able to handle a wide range of cells (spanning immortalized, primary to stem cells). Studies at the genomic, genetic and the physiological levels have shown that, post-treatment, cellular integrity is unperturbed and a high percentage (more than 70%, compared with control) of cells remain viable. Although, these results are impressive, it may be argued that cell-based systems are oversimplistic.

Bio-electrospraying whole human blood: analysing cellular viability at a molecular level.

Bio-electrosprays, pioneered in 2005, have undergone several developmental studies which have seen this technique evolve as a novel direct in vivo tissue engineering and regenerative medicinal strategy. Those studies have been a hallmark for electrosprays; however, in this communication we report our on-going developmental investigations for exploring bio-electrosprays as a potential medical device and diagnostic protocol. The studies reported here demonstrate the ability to directly jet whole human blood without affecting the genetic make-up, which has been interrogated by way of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in comparison to controls (p = 0.

Bio-electrospraying living Xenopus tropicalis embryos: investigating the structural, functional and biological integrity of a model organism.

Bio-electrosprays, a recently pioneered direct cell engineering approach, have been demonstrated to handle living cells including stem cells for the development of active specialized and unspecialized microenvironments. This electric field driven technique is currently undergoing vigorous development where the technique is racing towards possible clinical utility. Although this direct cell engineering approach has been elucidated to have no significant effects on the processed cells from a molecular level upwards, the technique needs to demonstrate its potential for use with whole organisms (multi-cellular systems).

Direct jetting approaches for handling stem cells.

Cell handling by means of jets has recently been highlighted as having significant implications for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bio-electrosprays and aerodynamically assisted bio-jetting, two recently discovered direct cell jetting methods, have undergone extensive developmental studies which have seen these techniques have many implications for the life sciences. In our previous investigations both these techniques have only been explored for the direct handling of primary living cells, which have demonstrated great promise.

Comparative proteomic profiles and the potential markers between Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia thailandensis.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a bacterial pathogen causing the melioidosis disease, which is predominantly found in tropical areas of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Burkholderia thailandensis is a closely related species to B. pseudomallei but it is non-pathogenic species.