Publications by authors named "Paul Pasic"

The role of frequently touched surfaces in the transmission of infectious diseases is well-documented, and the urgent need for effective surface technologies with antipathogen activity has been highlighted by the recent global pandemic and rise in antimicrobial resistance. Here, we have explored combinations of up to 3 different classes of compounds within a polymeric matrix to enable the fabrication of coatings with broad-spectrum activity. Compounds were either based on metals or metal oxides, namely, copper, silver, and copper oxide, essential oils, namely, cinnamaldehyde, tea tree oil, and carvacrol oil, or cationic polymers, namely, poly(ε-lysine) and poly(hexamethylene biguanide).

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Surface coating technology is broadly demanded across various fields, including marine and biomedical materials; therefore, a facile and versatile approach is desired. This study proposed an attractive surface coating strategy using photo-crosslinkable benzophenone (BP) moiety for biomaterials application. BP-containing "bioglue" polymer can effectively crosslink with all kinds of surfaces and biomolecules.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Lumi-Solve photo-angioplasty drug eluting balloon catheter (DEBc) aims to improve safety over existing DEBc by exploring alternatives to fibre-optic delivery through the guidewire port, which may hinder effectiveness.
  • The study analyzed the impact of guidewire shadowing on light transmission and tested new designs for intra-balloon fibre-optic ports using modified balloons and translucent tubing.
  • Results showed that standard configurations reduced light intensity and drug activation, while new spiral designs significantly improved UV light transmission, suggesting that a separate port may be necessary for better results.
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Purpose: Paclitaxel (PTX)-coated drug eluting balloon catheters (DEBc) used in the management of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) have been associated with safety concerns. Alternative coating agents and targeted delivery systems may improve safety and DEBc efficacy. Utilizing a multi-platform approach we designed, developed and evaluated Lumi-Solve, a novel DEBc, coated with ultraviolet (UV) 365 nm-activated caged metacept-3 (c-MCT-3), an epigenetic agent from the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) class.

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Here, we have developed and evaluated a microfluidic-based human blood-brain-barrier (μBBB) platform that models and predicts brain tissue uptake of small molecule drugs and nanoparticles (NPs) targeting the central nervous system. By using a photocrosslinkable copolymer that was prepared from monomers containing benzophenone and -hydroxysuccinimide ester functional groups, we were able to evenly coat and functionalize μBBB chip channels , providing a covalently attached homogenous layer of extracellular matrix proteins. This novel approach allowed the coculture of human endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes and resulted in the formation of a mimic of cerebral endothelium expressing tight junction markers and efflux proteins, resembling the native BBB.

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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a highly common hospital-acquired infection affecting people that require mechanical ventilation. The endotracheal tube (ETT) used during the ventilation process provides a surface that can allow bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which can lead to VAP. Although various approaches, including ETT design and material selection, as well as antimicrobial coatings have been employed to minimize adverse events, VAP remains a significant unresolved clinical issue.

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Article Synopsis
  • Thermal scanning probe lithography (t-SPL) is a nanofabrication method that vaporizes a special resist using a heated microscope tip, making it easier and faster than traditional methods like soft lithography.
  • Researchers demonstrated that polyphthalaldehyde (PPA), used as a coating for cell culture surfaces, is biocompatible and allows for the effective growth of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), similar to glass surfaces.
  • The study showcased that t-SPL can create detailed nanotopographies that mimic natural tissues, enhancing MSC growth and interactions, which could improve research on cell-matrix dynamics.
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A new and facile approach to selectively functionalize the internal and external surfaces of porous silicon (pSi) for drug delivery applications is reported. To provide a surface that is suitable for sustained drug release of the hydrophobic cancer chemotherapy drug camptothecin (CPT), the internal surfaces of pSi films were first modified with 1-dodecene. To further modify the external surface of the pSi samples, an interlayer was applied by silanization with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) following air plasma treatment.

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Effective control over biointerfacial interactions is essential for a broad range of biomedical applications. At this point in time, only a relatively small range of radically polymerizable monomers have been described that are able to generate low fouling polymer materials and surfaces. The most important examples that have been successfully used in the context of the reduction of nonspecific protein adsorption and subsequent cell attachment include PEG-based monomers such as poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA), zwitterionic monomers such as 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine and noncharged monomers such as acrylamide and N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMAm).

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The effective control over biointerfacial interactions is essential for a broad range of biomedical applications in vitro and in vivo such as biosensors, cell culture tools and implantable devices. Here, our aim was to develop a coating strategy that is transferable between different substrate materials and can effectively suppress nonspecific protein adsorption and hence reduce cell attachment while also presenting bioactive signals to enable specific cell-material interactions. In a first step an allylamine plasma polymer coating was applied, followed by the covalent immobilization of a macroinitiator carrying iniferter functionalities in the side chains.

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We demonstrate the distribution of the important extracellular matrix protein laminin in a novel biomaterial consisting of a hydrogel underpinned by nanofibrillar networks. These are formed by the immobilised enzyme mediated self-assembly of fmoc-L(3) (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-tri-leucine). The peptide assembly yields nanofibrils formed of β-sheets that are locked together via π-stacking interactions.

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Cell microarrays can serve as high-throughput platforms for the screening of a diverse range of biologically active factors and biomaterials that can induce desired cellular responses such as attachment, proliferation, or differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that surface-engineered microarrays can be used for the screening and identification of factors that allow the enrichment and isolation of rare cells from tissue-derived heterogeneous cell populations. In particular, we have focused on the enrichment of bovine testicular cells including type A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells.

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