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Biomedical subjects

Aliasger K Salem

Publications and source records attributed to Aliasger K Salem.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Rapid localized cell trapping on biodegradable polymers using cell surface derivatization and microfluidic networking.

Spatial control over cell attachment is essential for controlling cell behavior and engineering cell-based sensor arrays. Here we report on a patterning procedure that can be utilized on a wide range of adherent and non-adherent cell types without the need to identify the exact peptide sequence or extracellular matrix (ECM) necessary for optimal cell attachment. This is achieved by converting native sialic residues present on the surface of most cells into non-native aldehydes using a mild sodium periodate treatment. The aldehyde groups are then reacted with biotin hydrazide to produce biotinylated cells. Avidin is patterned onto the surface of a biotinylated biodegradable block copolymer, polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol)-biotin (PLA-PEG-biotin) by microfluidic networking using a PDMS stamp. The biotinylated cells then bind specifically to the patterned avidin regions. The PEG that is presented from the PLA-PEG-biotin copolymer in the regions without avidin immobilization minimizes cell binding in the non-patterned regions.

Avidin↗

Leukocyte-inspired biodegradable particles that selectively and avidly adhere to inflamed endothelium in vitro and in vivo.

We exploited leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion chemistry to generate biodegradable particles that exhibit highly selective accumulation on inflamed endothelium in vitro and in vivo. Leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive particles exhibit up to 15-fold higher adhesion to inflamed endothelium, relative to noninflamed endothelium, under in vitro flow conditions similar to that present in blood vessels, a 6-fold higher adhesion to cytokine inflamed endothelium relative to non-cytokine-treated endothelium in vivo, and a 10-fold enhancement in adhesion to trauma-induced inflamed endothelium in vivo due to the addition of a targeting ligand. The leukocyte-inspired particles have adhesion efficiencies similar to that of leukocytes and were shown to target each of the major inducible endothelial cell adhesion molecules (E-selectin, P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1) that are up-regulated at sites of pathological inflammation. The potential for targeted drug delivery to inflamed endothelium has significant implications for the improved treatment of an array of pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Multifunctional nanorods for gene delivery.

The goal of gene therapy is to introduce foreign genes into somatic cells to supplement defective genes or provide additional biological functions, and can be achieved using either viral or synthetic non-viral delivery systems. Compared with viral vectors, synthetic gene-delivery systems, such as liposomes and polymers, offer several advantages including ease of production and reduced risk of cytotoxicity and immunogenicity, but their use has been limited by the relatively low transfection efficiency. This problem mainly stems from the difficulty in controlling their properties at the nanoscale. Synthetic inorganic gene carriers have received limited attention in the gene-therapy community, the only notable example being gold nanoparticles with surface-immobilized DNA applied to intradermal genetic immunization by particle bombardment. Here we present a non-viral gene-delivery system based on multisegment bimetallic nanorods that can simultaneously bind compacted DNA plasmids and targeting ligands in a spatially defined manner. This approach allows precise control of composition, size and multifunctionality of the gene-delivery system. Transfection experiments performed in vitro and in vivo provide promising results that suggest potential in genetic vaccination applications.

Cells, Cultured↗

Optimization of yield in magnetic cell separations using nickel nanowires of different lengths.

Ferromagnetic nanowires are shown to perform both high yield and high purity single-step cell separations on cultures of NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. The nanowires are made by electrochemical deposition in nanoporous templates, permitting detailed control of their chemical and physical properties. When added to fibroblast cell cultures, the nanowires are internalized by the cells via the integrin-mediated adhesion pathway. The effectiveness of magnetic cell separations using Ni nanowires 350 nm in diameter and 5-35 micrometers long in field gradients of 40 T/m was compared to commercially available superparamagnetic beads. The percent yield of the separated populations is found to be optimized when the length of the nanowire is matched to the diameter of the cells in the culture. Magnetic cell separations performed under these conditions achieve 80% purity and 85% yield, a 4-fold increase over the beads. This effect is shown to be robust when the diameter of the cell is changed within the same cell line using mitomycin-C.

3T3 Cells↗