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Human Systems

Latest Innovations
A Device and Algorithm for the Quantitative Measurement of Spasticity, Rigidity, and Muscle Strength Dr. Hsiao-Wecksler from the University of IL has developed a method to evaluate muscle tone and joint movement through wearable hardware that quantifies muscle tone and... Read More Dr. Hsiao-Wecksler from the University of IL has developed a method to evaluate muscle tone and joint movement through wearable hardware that quantifies muscle tone and joint movement, a classification algorithm to identify abnormalities, and a software application to store history and patient data. This technology provides an objective, quantitative measure of muscle tone (spasticity & rigidity) and strength that is portable and can be used for muscles of upper and lower limbs. This technology also reduces variability in clinical measurements, especially for the purpose of training clinicians. It improves the accuracy of measurements, which are important to evaluate efficacy of treatments.
System and Method for High Volume-Rate Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Imaging 3D ultrasound imaging is one of the most desired features of an ultrasound imaging system. It provides comprehensive evaluations of the targeted tissue and effectively alleviates the user... Read More 3D ultrasound imaging is one of the most desired features of an ultrasound imaging system. It provides comprehensive evaluations of the targeted tissue and effectively alleviates the user dependence of ultrasound. Achieving a high imaging volume rate is critical for all the 3D ultrasound applications. The current 3D ultrasound technologies use 1D or 2D ultrasound transducers, but they face challenges including limited imaging volume rate, high cost, and technical issues. A high volume-rate 3D ultrasound imaging method and a device based on Fast Acoustic Steering via Tilting Electromechanical Reflectors (FASTER). This technology addresses challenges of conventional 3D ultrasound imaging like high cost, suboptimal imaging quality, and low volume scan rate. FASTER is capable of high volume rate (up to 500 Hz compared to 0.2-20 Hz for conventional techniques) large field-of-view 3D imaging with conventional 1D transducers. Publication Z. Dong, S. Li, M. R. Lowerison, J. Pan, J. Zou and P. Song, "Fast Acoustic Steering Via Tilting Electromechanical Reflectors (FASTER): A Novel Method for High Volume Rate 3-D Ultrasound Imaging," in IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 675-687, March 2021, doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2020.3020871
Real-Time Super-Resolution Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging The super-resolution ultrasound microvessel imaging (SR-UMI) technique offers a promising solution to the challenge of achieving both high imaging resolution and deep... Read More The super-resolution ultrasound microvessel imaging (SR-UMI) technique offers a promising solution to the challenge of achieving both high imaging resolution and deep penetration in biomedical imaging. By using ultrasound contrast microbubbles and super-resolution strategies similar to PALM and STORM, SR-UMI enhances ultrasound imaging resolution by tenfold while maintaining deep penetration. This technique can resolve capillary-scale blood vessels at depths greater than 10 cm and measure microvascular blood flow speeds as low as 1 mm/s. SR-UMI provides detailed structural and functional information about tissue microvasculature and is noninvasive, low-cost, and free of ionizing radiation. Despite its potential, SR-UMI faces challenges such as slow data acquisition and computationally intensive post-processing, which hinder its clinical translation. This technology is a method of real-time Super-Resolution Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging (SR-UMI). Current SR-UMI requires hours of data post-processing, making it impractical for clinical, diagnostic applications. Implementing advances in deep learning and parallel computing enabled real-time microbubble signal extraction, separation, localization, tracking, and quantitative analysis and display. This technology has a wide range of clinical applications, including but not limited to, the diagnosis and characterization of a range of disorders (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological diseases). Publication X. Chen, M. R. Lowerison, Z. Dong, A. Han and P. Song, "Deep Learning-Based Microbubble Localization for Ultrasound Localization Microscopy," in IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 1312-1325, April 2022, doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2022.3152225
Rapamycin-resistant mTOR C2C12 cell line Professor Jie Chen has developed a mouse myoblast cell line whose mTOR pathway is insensitive to the presence of rapamycin. This invention is useful for studying related... Read More Professor Jie Chen has developed a mouse myoblast cell line whose mTOR pathway is insensitive to the presence of rapamycin. This invention is useful for studying related biochemical pathways and the drivers for skeletal myogenesis. Publications: The mammalian target of rapamycin regulates C2C12 myogenesis via a kinase-independent mechanism. Erbay, Chen. J. Biol. Chem. 2001. IGF-II transcription in skeletal myogenesis is controlled by mTOR and nutrients. Erbay, Park, Nuzzi, Schoenherr, Chen. J. Cell Biol. 2003.
Rapid detection of target DNA using gFET and LAMP Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and crumpled graphene in order to detect the presence of a target segment of DNA within a provided sample. By using crumpled graphene, gFET, and LAMP Dr. Ganguli's technology is able rapidly detect pathogens using entirely electronic means bringing diagnostics directly to point of care medical practice, all while being less expensive, more sensitive, and quicker than other traditional, gold-standard pathogen diagnostics methods. This technology is even able to detect molecular concentrations down to 8 zeptomolar. Publication: Ganguli, A., Faramarzi, V., Mostafa, A., Hwang, M. T., You, S., & Bashir, R. (2020). High Sensitivity Graphene Field Effect Transistor-Based Detection of DNA Amplification. Advanced Functional Materials, 30(28), [2001031]. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202001031
Bispecific Chimeric Mucosal Antibody The secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) is the predominant antibody in mucosal surfaces, playing a crucial role in immune defense by interacting with both commensal and... Read More The secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) is the predominant antibody in mucosal surfaces, playing a crucial role in immune defense by interacting with both commensal and pathogenic microbes. The secretory component (SC) is a part of SIgA as well as SIgM (secretory IgM), and facilitates the binding of polymeric IgA and IgM to epithelial cells, allowing their transcytosis and secretion into the lumen. The SC also enhances the stability of SIg by protecting them from proteolytic degradation, aids in their localization in the mucus layer, promotes intralumenal sequestration of bacteria, and performs homeostatic functions in the epithelium. This technology is a chimeric secretory immunoglobulin A (cSIgA) where the secretory component (SC) is replaced with a single domain antibody. This bispecific cSIgA can bind its target antigen and additional ligands by the engineered SC portion, such as toxins or surface antigens. This can be applied to treatment for mucosal infections such as Clostridium difficile. Compared to unmodified SIgA, cSlgA exhibits increased neutralization potency against C. difficile toxins, promotes bacterial clumping and cell rupture, and has decreased cytotoxicity. Benefits Bispecific cSIgA binds its target antigen and additional ligands (e.g., toxins or surface antigens) Applications Anti-infective, Diagnostics, Research Tool Publication Engineered Secretory Immunoglobulin A provides insights on antibody-based effector mechanisms targeting Clostridiodes difficile Sonya Kumar Bharathkar, Michael J. Miller, Beth M. Stadtmueller bioRxiv 2023.11.08.566291; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.08.566291
Early Detection of HPV-Positive and -Negative Head-and-Neck Cancer through Saliva Based Screening Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a non-invasive method for the early detection of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a non-invasive method for the early detection of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -negative head and neck cancer using saliva samples. This method has potential research and clinical applications including diagnosis of HPV-positive and -negative head-and-neck cancer. The approach detects several genes characteristic of each type of cancer HNSCC that are commonly detected in head-and-neck cancer. Applications: Diagnosis of HPV-positive and -negative head-and-neck cancer; research applications Benefits: Non-invasive as it only requires saliva from patient Saliva-based screening is quick (i.e., hours) and easy as it uses common laboratory equipment Head-and-neck screening can be completed more than the recommendation of once a year because it is low in cost, fast, and non-invasive. Early detection of HNSCC
Radiological Clip Design Using Ultrasound Identification to Improve Localization Radiological clips, or markers, are inserted at the time of biopsy to mark tumor locations, lesions and lymph nodes for consistent identification over time and multiple... Read More Radiological clips, or markers, are inserted at the time of biopsy to mark tumor locations, lesions and lymph nodes for consistent identification over time and multiple treatments. Prof. Michael Oelze has developed a new type of radiological clip that have a unique ultrasonic signal, acting like both a beacon and a barcode. This technology can be particularly helpful to mark multiple areas that are close together.
A Molecular Toolkit for Heterologous Protein Secretion in Bacteroides Species Bacteria-based therapeutics are engineered live microbial cells that produce a drug or perform a metabolic function while inhabiting a specific physiological niche on or... Read More Bacteria-based therapeutics are engineered live microbial cells that produce a drug or perform a metabolic function while inhabiting a specific physiological niche on or within the host. This targeted therapeutic approach can help minimize negative side effects associated with many drugs (e.g., off-target toxicity from intravenous chemotherapy distributed throughout the entire body). Antibody therapies are also traditionally administered intravenously, but do not accumulate to high levels in the gut and thus have limited impact on gut disease. On the other hand, bacterial therapeutics allow production of antibodies directly within the gut. Current bacterial therapies utilize transient colonizers of the human body (e.g., Escherichia coli, Lactococcus lactis, Salmonella typhimurium), limiting applications in long-term disease treatment and monitoring. Bacteroides species, are long-term stable colonizers of the human gut and are thus a promising for developing long-term bacterial therapeutics and diagnostics. Bacteroides also benefit from already being highly abundant and prevalent in the human gut microbiota. However, more work is required in identifying and optimizing protein secretion machinery for Bacteroides species. This technology is a molecular toolkit for engineering of the stable gut colonizing bacteria Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. The system allows expression and secretion of protein cargos from multiple Bacteroides species. In contrast to transient colonizers such as E. coli, Bacteroides can be better leveraged for long-term therapeutic and diagnostic applications, providing a platform for targeted approaches to the treatment of ailments such as cancer and gut-related diseases. Benefits Effective secretion achieved in multiple Bacterioides speices. Preserved function for the secreted cargo. Application Bacterial-based therapeutics, Gut microbiome Publication Yeh, YH., Kelly, V.W., Rahman Pour, R. et al. A molecular toolkit for heterologous protein secretion across Bacteroides species. Nat Commun 15, 9741 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53845-7

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