Transplantation is necessary and often the only viable treatment for many forms of end stage organ failure. While advances in immunosuppressive therapies have facilitated largely blocking acute rejection, 5-10 year post-transplant attrition rates have not significantly improved in the past 30 years. The predominant antigen facilitating the alloimmune response is...
Bio-inspired materials have a distinct advantage over other materials by virtue of their mimicry of nature’s own products, which have been subjected to the inimitable tests of time and evolutionary pressure. Here we have taken instruction from natural nanostructures that are ubiquitous across the animal kingdom, namely high-density lipoproteins (HDL)....
The last decade has witnessed a rapid transformation in our understanding of the structure of chromatin, the nuclear complex of DNA and its structural proteins. While, barring mutations, the DNA sequence in each cell of the human body is the same, it is the structure of the chromatin complex that...
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body, allowing for the execution of complex and athletic tasks. Unfortunately, such expansive mobility comes at a cost. The shoulder is prone to instability, or painful symptoms associated with increased humeral head translation, and dislocation. To prevent dislocations and maintain...
Nanoparticles are nanometer scale (1-1000 nm) structures capable of encapsulating a diverse range of cargoes. Encapsulation of a cargo can drastically alter its pharmacokinetics, cytotoxicity, and biodistribution while allowing for informed and rational design of the nanoparticle itself. Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene sulfide) (PEG-b-PPS) is an amphiphilic diblock co-polymer able to self-assemble...
Found in 1-2% of the population, bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased risk of aortic valve dysfunction and aortic disease. Current treatment is focused on surgical intervention either after the development of symptomatic aortic stenosis/regurgitation or aortic diameter thresholds. However,...
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally-invasive treatment method that aims to destroy undesired tissue by exposing it to alternating current in the 100 kHz to 800 kHz frequency range and heating it until it is destroyed via coagulative necrosis. Ablation treatment is gaining momentum especially in cancer research, where the undesired...
The dynamics of human joints are fundamental characteristic of the human motor system, and altered joint impedance can hinder mobility. Individuals with transtibial amputation typically experience slower and energetically costly gait, while individuals with chronic stroke experience persisting gait deficits arising from spasticity, hypertonia and paresis. Investigating joint impedance of...
A one-time, unilateral injury to the developing brain can interrupt the typical process of development and result in motor impairments that evolve over the course of the whole life-span. The timing of injury relative to neural development has implications for the continued refinement of the nervous system and the descending...
Everyday tasks, such as putting on a jacket or reaching up to a shelf, often become more challenging for older adults. These tasks rely on the ability to generate three-dimensional torques about the shoulder and to adapt these torques across activities. Shoulder strength and muscle coordination impact shoulder torque production,...