Abstract: Provided arm biocompatible polymer compositions, and methods of printing such polymer compositions using a fused deposition modelling printer to form a solid scaffold. In particular, the disclosed compositions may include a thermoresponsive polymer, and the printed scaffold may be used as a sacrificial template providing a three-dimensional vascular structure upon temperature-dependent disintegration. The present compositions and methods may be particularly useful for engineering thick tissues.

Abstract: Bioreactor systems can include a first frame and a second frame, a well plate, a motor plate, a motor, and a controller. The first frame may define a well plate inset and standoff insets for a first set of metal standoffs. The second frame may define a plurality of mounts and a plurality of insets for a second set of metal standoffs. A gear may be positioned in each of the plurality of mounts. A paddle may be coupled to each of the gears. The well plate can be positioned within the well plate inset. The motor plate can be supported by and connected to the first set of metal standoffs and the second set of metal standoffs. The motor can be mounted on the motor plate and operatively connected to one of the plurality of gears.

Abstract: A device for synthesizing a radioisotope-labelled target tracer includes a microfluidic chip having an SCX module configured to concentrate and capture a radioisotope from a radioisotope solution and release the captured radioisotope therefrom, an SAX module configured to purify the released radioisotope from the SCX module, and an passive in-plane mixing/reaction module configured to mix the purified radioisotope with a target precursor and perform labelling reaction to synthesize the radioisotope-labelled target tracer therein. The device also includes a heating means positioned in relation to the microfluidic chip for heating the microfluidic chip during the labelling reaction; and a first valve fluidically coupled with the SCX and SAX modules and a second valve fluidically coupled with the SAX module and the in-plane mixing/reaction module for operably controlling transit of various substances or mixtures among the SCX module, the SAX modules and the in-plane mixing/reaction module.

Abstract: Provided are biomaterials useful for cell culture, method of preparation thereof, and use thereof. The present biomaterial comprises a crosslinked hydrogel and a peptide chemically attached to the hydrogel, wherein the peptide comprises a histidine-alanine-valine (HAV) sequence. In particular, the present biomaterial may be useful for culturing neurons, brain endothelial cells, and/or glial cells, supporting the formation of synaptically connected neural networks, and growing stem cell-derived organoids that more closely resemble human organs.

Abstract: Provided arm biocompatible polymer compositions, and methods of printing such polymer compositions using a fused deposition modelling printer to form a solid scaffold. In particular, the disclosed compositions may include a thermoresponsive polymer, and the printed scaffold may be used as a sacrificial template providing a three-dimensional vascular structure upon temperature-dependent disintegration. The present compositions and methods may be particularly useful for engineering thick tissues.

Abstract: A device for synthesizing a radiotracer includes a microfluidic chip having a concentration module configured to concentrate and capture a radioactive reagent from a radioactive regent mixture, a reaction chamber in fluidic communication with the concentration module and configured to synthesize a radiotracer by reaction of the concentrated radioactive reagent and a radiotracer precursor therein, and a purification module in fluidic communication with the reactor chamber and configured to purify the synthesized radiotracer. The device also includes a heating means positioned in relation to the microfluidic chip for heating the microfluidic chip during evaporation and reaction; and a first valve fluidically coupled with the concentration module and the reaction chamber and a second valve fluidically coupled with the reaction chamber and the purification module for operably controlling transit of various substances or mixtures among the concentration module, the reaction chamber and the purification module.

Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical compositions, which include a gel comprising a thermoresponsive polymer, the polymer being soluble in water at a temperature of 37° C. or lower; and a therapeutic compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, dispersed in the gel. Also provided are methods of delivering a therapeutic compound, which include administering the disclosed pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof (e.g., by subcutaneous administration).

Abstract: A composite, analyte sensor includes a substrate; a micro- or nano-electro-mechanical (MEMS; NEMS) resonator that is coupled to the substrate at least two edge locations (i.e., it is at least doubly-clamped) of the resonator, wherein the resonator is in a statically-buckled state near a buckling transition point of the resonator; and a chemically-responsive substance covering at least a portion of the surface of the resonator that will undergo a conformational change upon exposure to a given analyte. The resonator may be a double-clamped, statically-buckled beam (or bridge), a multiply-clamped, statically-buckled dome (or crater), or other resonator geometry. The sensor may include two or more at least double-clamped, statically-buckled, composite MEMS or NEMS resonators each operating near a buckling transition point of the respective resonator, and each characterized by a different resonant frequency. A method for sensing an analyte in ambient air.

Abstract: Methods for microfabricating composite materials and composite materials prepared there from are described herein. The sacrificial material can be etched or patterned to create a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional sacrificial material structure. The resulting sacrificial material structure can be embedded in one or more embedding materials. The sacrificial material(s) are materials whose solubility can be altered by application of a stimulus typically pH, and/or temperature, light, pH, pressure, presence of absence of ions, and combinations thereof. The embedding materials can contain one or more additives that modify one or more properties of the embedding materials, such as degradation properties, porosity, mechanical properties, viscosity, conductive properties, and combinations thereof. The composite materials can be used in tissue engineering, drug screening, toxin detection, drug delivery, filtrations, bioseparations, and as microfluidic devices for fluid mixing and structural repair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses for obtaining sequence information from nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The first aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of producing a vascular network preform (VNP). This method involves forming a network of elongate fibers and at least one elongate structure from a sacrificial material. The diameter of the elongate structure is greater than that of the elongate fibers. The network of elongate fibers is placed in contact with at least one elongate structure either following or during forming the network of elongate fibers or forming the at least one elongate structure. A matrix is applied around the network of elongate fibers, in contact with the at least one elongate structure. The network of elongate fibers and elongate structure, within the matrix is sacrificed to form a preform. The resulting preform contains a vascular network of fine diameter tubes in contact with at least one elongate passage having a diameter greater than that of the fine diameter tubes. The resulting solid preform and methods of using it are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device is made by forming sacrificial fibers on a substrate mold. The fibers and mold are covered with a first material. The substrate mold is removed, and the covered fibers are then removed to form channels in the first material.

Abstract: A composite, analyte sensor includes a substrate; a micro- or nano-electro-mechanical (MEMS; NEMS) resonator that is coupled to the substrate at least two edge locations (i.e., it is at least doubly-clamped) of the resonator, wherein the resonator is in a statically-buckled state near a buckling transition point of the resonator; and a chemically-responsive substance covering at least a portion of the surface of the resonator that will undergo a conformational change upon exposure to a given analyte. The resonator may be a double-clamped, statically-buckled beam (or bridge), a multiply-clamped, statically-buckled dome (or crater), or other resonator geometry. The sensor may include two or more at least double-clamped, statically-buckled, composite MEMS or NEMS resonators each operating near a buckling transition point of the respective resonator, and each characterized by a different resonant frequency. A method for sensing an analyte in ambient air.

Abstract: Methods for microfabricating composite materials and composite materials prepared there from are described herein. The sacrificial material can be etched or patterned to create a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional sacrificial material structure. The resulting sacrificial material structure can be embedded in one or more embedding materials. The sacrificial material(s) are materials whose solubility can be altered by application of a stimulus typically pH, and/or temperature, light, pH, pressure, presence of absence of ions, and combinations thereof. The embedding materials can contain one or more additives that modify one or more properties of the embedding materials, such as degradation properties, porosity, mechanical properties, viscosity, conductive properties, and combinations thereof. The composite materials can be used in tissue engineering, drug screening, toxin detection, drug delivery, filtrations, bioseparations, and as microfluidic devices for fluid mixing and structural repair.

Abstract: A device is made by forming sacrificial fibers on a substrate mold. The fibers and mold are covered with a first material. The substrate mold is removed, and the covered fibers are then removed to form channels in the first material.

Abstract: The first aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of producing a vascular network preform (VNP). This method involves forming a network of elongate fibers and at least one elongate structure from a sacrificial material. The diameter of the elongate structure is greater than that of the elongate fibers. The network of elongate fibers is placed in contact with at least one elongate structure either following or during forming the network of elongate fibers or forming the at least one elongate structure. A matrix is applied around the network of elongate fibers, in contact with the at least one elongate structure. The network of elongate fibers and elongate structure, within the matrix is sacrificed to form a preform. The resulting preform contains a vascular network of fine diameter tubes in contact with at least one elongate passage having a diameter greater than that of the fine diameter tubes. The resulting solid preform and methods of using it are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses for obtaining sequence information from nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses for isolated biomolecule-containing fibers. The invention also relates to isolated, elongated biopolymers such as nucleic acids, polypeptides, lipids, and carbohydrates within fibers. The invention relates to methods of detecting and analyzing biomolecules in fibers using light, electrons, and neutrons. The invention further relates to methods of determining the sequence, structure, and properties of isolated, elongated biopolymers fixed within fibers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a design for the circuit required to drive electrostatic loudspeakers. Such speakers require a high voltage audio signal, typically generated using a wideband, high power step-up transformer. The design eliminates the requirement for such a transformer by mixing the audio frequency signal with a high frequency carrier. This modulated signal may then be amplified and transformed to a high voltage signal using a much more modest transformer operating at the carrier frequency. A simple detection circuit then recovers the original audio waveform from the modulated signal and drives the electrostatic loudspeaker. Such a circuit may be cheaper than a wideband transformer and may also improve the frequency response of the driving electronics.