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Description
Drug delivery has made a significant contribution to cancer immunotherapy and can have a tremendous impact on modulating immunometabolism, thereby affecting cancer outcomes. Notably, the science of delivery of cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics, modulating immune cell functions has inspired development of several successful companies and clinical products. For example, cancer

Drug delivery has made a significant contribution to cancer immunotherapy and can have a tremendous impact on modulating immunometabolism, thereby affecting cancer outcomes. Notably, the science of delivery of cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics, modulating immune cell functions has inspired development of several successful companies and clinical products. For example, cancer vaccines require activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and tumour associated Mɸs (TAMs) through modulation of their energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis, glutaminolysis, Krebs cycle). Similar to activated immune cells, cancer cells also upregulate glucose and glutamine transporters for proliferation and survival. Cancer cells having accelerated energy metabolism, which has been exploited as a target for various therapeutic studies. In the first strategy, an immunometabolism strategy based on sustained release of succinate from biomaterials, which incorporate succinate in the backbone of the polymer was developed. This study demonstrates that succinate-based polymeric microparticles act as alarmins by modulating the immunometabolism of DCs and Mɸs to generate robust pro-inflammatory responses for melanoma treatment in immunocompetent young as well as aging mice. In the second strategy, a biomaterial-based strategy was developed to deliver metabolites one-step downstream of the node where the glycolytic pathway is inhibited, to specifically rescue DCs from glycolysis inhibition. The study successfully demonstrated for the first time that the glycolysis of DCs can be rescued both in vitro and in vivo using a biomaterial strategy of delivering metabolites downstream of the inhibitory node. Overall, it is believed that advanced drug delivery strategies will play an important role in marrying the fields of immunometabolism and immunotherapy to generate translatable anti-cancer treatments.
ContributorsInamdar, Sahil (Author) / Acharya, Abhinav P (Thesis advisor) / Rege, Kaushal (Committee member) / Green, Matthew (Committee member) / Curtis, Marion (Committee member) / Seetharam, Mahesh (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
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Description
Sutures, staples, and tissue glues remain the primary means of tissue approximation and vessel ligation. Laser-activated tissue sealing is an alternative approach that conventionally employs light-absorbing chromophores and nanoparticles for converting near-infrared (NIR) laser to heat. The local increase in temperature engenders interdigitation of sealant and tissue biomolecules, resulting in

Sutures, staples, and tissue glues remain the primary means of tissue approximation and vessel ligation. Laser-activated tissue sealing is an alternative approach that conventionally employs light-absorbing chromophores and nanoparticles for converting near-infrared (NIR) laser to heat. The local increase in temperature engenders interdigitation of sealant and tissue biomolecules, resulting in rapid tissue sealing. Light-activated sealants (LASE) were developed in which indocyanine green (ICG) dye is embedded within a biopolymer matrix (silk or chitosan) for incisional defect repair. Light-activated tissue-integrating sutures (LATIS) that synergize the benefits of conventional suturing and laser sealing were also fabricated and demonstrated higher efficacies for tissue biomechanical recovery and repair in a full-thickness, dorsal surgical incision model in mice compared to commercial sutures and cyanoacrylate skin glue. Localized delivery of modulators of tissue repair, including histamine and copper, from LASE and LATIS further improved healed skin strength. In addition to incisional wounds, histamine co-delivered with silk fibroin LASE films accelerated the closure of full thickness, splinted excisional wounds in immunocompetent BALB/c mice and genetically obese and diabetic db/db mice, resulting in faster closure than Tegaderm wound dressing. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed LASE-histamine treatment enhanced wound repair involving mechanisms of neoangiogenesis, myofibroblast activation, transient epidermal EMT, and also improve healed skin biomechanical strength which are hallmarks of improved healing outcomes. Benefit of temporal delivery was further investigated of a second therapeutic (growth factor nanoparticles) in modulating wound healing outcomes in both acute and diabetic wounds. The hypothesis of temporal delivery of second therapeutic around the ‘transition period’ in wounds further improved wound closure kinetics and biomechanical recovery of skin strength. Laser sealing and approximation, together with delivery of immunomodulatory mediators, can lead to faster healing and tissue repair, thus reducing wound dehiscence, preventing wounds moving towards chronicity and lowering incidence of surgical site infections, all of which can have significant impact in the clinic.
ContributorsGhosh, Deepanjan (Author) / Rege, Kaushal (Thesis advisor) / Acharya, Abhinav (Committee member) / Holloway, Julianne (Committee member) / DiCaudo, David (Committee member) / P. Leung, Kai (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
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Description
The use of mRNA for therapeutic purposes has gained significant attention due to its potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders. However, the efficient delivery of mRNA to target cells remains a major challenge, and delivery of mRNA faces major issues such

The use of mRNA for therapeutic purposes has gained significant attention due to its potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders. However, the efficient delivery of mRNA to target cells remains a major challenge, and delivery of mRNA faces major issues such as rapid degradation and poor cellular uptake. Aminoglycoside-derived lipopolymer nanoparticles (LPNs) have been shown as a promising platform for plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery due to their stability, biocompatibility, and ability to encapsulate mRNA. The current study aims to develop and optimize LPNs formulation for the delivery of mRNA in aggressive cancer cells, using a combination of chemical synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and in vitro biological assays. From a small library of aminoglycoside-derived lipopolymers, the lead lipopolymers were screened for the efficient delivery of mRNA. The complexes were synthesized with different ratios of lipopolymers to mRNA. The appropriate binding ratios of lipopolymers and mRNA were determined by gel electrophoresis. The complexes were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential. The transgene expression efficacy of polymers was evaluated using in vitro bioluminescence assay. The toxicity of LPNs and LPNs-mRNA complexes was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The current study comprehensively investigates the optimization of the LPNs-mRNA formulation for enhanced efficacy in transgene expression in human advanced-stage melanoma cell lines.
ContributorsWubhayavedantapuram, Revanth (Author) / Rege, Kaushal (Thesis advisor) / Acharya, Abhinav (Committee member) / Yaron, Jordan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
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Description
This work describes efforts made toward the development of a compact, quantitative fluorescence-based multiplexed detection platform for point-of-care diagnostics. This includes the development of a microfluidic delivery and actuation system for multistep detection assays. Early detection of infectious diseases requires high sensitivity dependent on the precise actuation of fluids.

Methods

This work describes efforts made toward the development of a compact, quantitative fluorescence-based multiplexed detection platform for point-of-care diagnostics. This includes the development of a microfluidic delivery and actuation system for multistep detection assays. Early detection of infectious diseases requires high sensitivity dependent on the precise actuation of fluids.

Methods of fluid actuation were explored to allow delayed delivery of fluidic reagents in multistep detection lateral flow assays (LFAs). Certain hydrophobic materials such as wax were successfully implemented in the LFA with the use of precision dispensed valves. Sublimating materials such as naphthalene were also characterized along with the implementation of a heating system for precision printing of the valves.

Various techniques of blood fractionation were also investigated and this work demonstrates successful blood fractionation in an LFA. The fluid flow of reagents was also characterized and validated with the use of mathematical models and multiphysics modeling software. Lastly intuitive, user-friendly mobile and desktop applications were developed to interface the underlying Arduino software. The work advances the development of a system which successfully integrates all components of fluid separation and delivery along with highly sensitive detection and a user-friendly interface; the system will ultimately provide clinically significant diagnostics in a of point-of-care device.
ContributorsArafa, Hany M (Author) / Blain Christen, Jennifer M (Thesis advisor) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Smith, Barbara (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
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Description
A single cell is the very fundamental element in an organism; however, it contains the most complicated and stochastic information, such as DNA, RNA, and protein expression. Thus, it is a necessity to study stochastic gene expression in order to discover the biosignatures at the single-cell level. The heterogeneous gene

A single cell is the very fundamental element in an organism; however, it contains the most complicated and stochastic information, such as DNA, RNA, and protein expression. Thus, it is a necessity to study stochastic gene expression in order to discover the biosignatures at the single-cell level. The heterogeneous gene expression of single cells from an isogenic cell population has already been studied for years. Yet to date, single-cell studies have been confined in a fashion of analyzing isolated single cells or a dilution of cells from the bulk-cell populations. These techniques or devices are limited by either the mechanism of cell lysis or the difficulties to target specific cells without harming neighboring cells.

This dissertation presents the development of a laser lysis chip combined with a two-photon laser system to perform single-cell lysis of single cells in situ from three-dimensional (3D) cell spheroids followed by analysis of the cell lysate with two-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The 3D spheroids were trapped in a well in the custom-designed laser lysis chip. Next, each single cell of interest in the 3D spheroid was identified and lysed one at a time utilizing a two-photon excited laser. After each cell lysis, the contents inside the target cell were released to the surrounding media and carried out to the lysate collector. Finally, the gene expression of each individual cell was measured by two-step RT-qPCR then spatially mapped back to its original location in the spheroids to construct a 3D gene expression map.

This novel technology and approach enables multiple gene expression measurements in single cells of multicellular organisms as well as cell-to-cell heterogeneous responses to the environment with spatial recognition. Furthermore, this method can be applied to study precancerous tissues for a better understanding of cancer progression and for identifying early tumor development.
ContributorsWang, Guozhen (Author) / Meldrum, Deirdre R (Thesis advisor) / Chao, Shih-hui (Committee member) / Wang, Hong (Committee member) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
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Description
Early detection and treatment of disease is paramount for improving human health and wellness. Micro-scale devices promote new opportunities for the rapid, cost-effective, and accurate identification of altered biological states indicative of disease early-onset; these devices function at a scale more sensitive to numerous biological processes. The application of Micro-Electro-Mechanical

Early detection and treatment of disease is paramount for improving human health and wellness. Micro-scale devices promote new opportunities for the rapid, cost-effective, and accurate identification of altered biological states indicative of disease early-onset; these devices function at a scale more sensitive to numerous biological processes. The application of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in biomedical settings has recently emerged and flourished over course of the last two decades, requiring a deep understanding of material biocompatibility, biosensing sensitively/selectively, biological constraints for artificial tissue/organ replacement, and the regulations in place to ensure device safety. Capitalizing on the inherent physical differences between cancerous and healthy cells, our ultra-thin silicone membrane enables earlier identification of bladder cancer—with a 70% recurrence rate. Building on this breakthrough, we have devised an array to multiplex this sample-analysis in real-time as well as expanding beyond bladder cancer. The introduction of new materials—with novel properties—to augment current and create innovative medical implants requires the careful analysis of material impact on cellular toxicity, mutagenicity, reactivity, and stability. Finally, the achievement of replacing defective biological systems with implanted artificial equivalents that must function within the same biological constraints, have consistent reliability, and ultimately show the promise of improving human health as demonstrated by our hydrogel check valve. The ongoing proliferation, expanding prevalence, and persistent improvement in MEMS devices through greater sensitivity, specificity, and integration with biological processes will undoubtedly bolster medical science with novel MEMS-based diagnostics and therapeutics.
ContributorsPodlevsky, Jennie Hewitt Appel (Author) / Chae, Junseok (Thesis advisor) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Kozicki, Michael (Committee member) / Nikkhah, Mehdi (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018