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Modeling of Microfluidic Systems for High Throughput Cell Culture This portfolio of microfluidic technologies improves cell culture techniques. Current cell culture techniques have several limitations: they are resource and... Read More This portfolio of microfluidic technologies improves cell culture techniques. Current cell culture techniques have several limitations: they are resource and process intensive, the culture environment is inconsistent, and manual manipulation is both time consuming and error prone. These microfluidic inventions enable more consistent cell culture environments; allow use of high throughput devices which provide speed and consistency; conserve cell-cell factors to maintain cell-cell communication; and ultimately reduce operator error. High Throughput In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Device compatible with Multi-Head Flow Cytometry Systems This invention consists of microchannels to incubate oocytes and embryos. Microchannels are aligned to match the multi-head pipettor of a fluid handling robot with the dispenser of flow cytometers. After a certain amount of incubation time, depending on species, sorted sperm are introduced into the microchannels using a flow cytometer. The microchannels direct the movement and location of the sperm toward the oocyte. Once fertilized, embryos are removed from the fluid handling root and are ready for downstream steps. This process is very low shear, can be easily scaled for high throughput and should improve the yield of current processes. High Throughput Migration Device for Chemotaxis Studies Most chemotaxis devices cannot be used in high throughput studies. The geometry and surface tension properties of this invention use fluidic resistance to provide convection and a flow barrier, which then enable the development of concentration gradients. Fluidic resistance ensures this gradient is not disturbed, preserving cell-cell factors. The chamber has a cell inlet, a chemoattractant is introduced in the source channel, and a blank medium is introduced in the sink channel. Microfluidics Well Insert (MWI) for Oocyte/Embryo Culture To facilitate culture microenvironments for embryos similar to in-vivo, this invention provides a ready-to-use culture system made using soft lithography technology. This invention has two versions: channel-less and channeled. The channel-less version is composed of wells of a size especially tailored for the characteristic size of the particular species of oocyte/embryo being cultured. This allows for a flexible platform that will accommodate a wide variety of animal species. The channeled version has microchannels networked between the wells of the channel-less version, so that cell-cell communication between oocytes/embryos can be maintained during medium change. This invention is particularly useful for culturing zona pellucida-free oocytes and embryos as the well holds the cells together much as the zona pellicuda would with intact oocytes or embryos. This invention is easily scalable and fits into standard culture dishes. Automatic Top-Off System using a Surface Tension-Based Valve This liquid handling system automatically fills culture wells to desired levels without operator handling. Liquid is passively added as surface tension drops, maintaining the medium at a constant level without manual manipulation. This has the following benefits: Scalable to high-throughput Culture environment not disrupted Risk of operator error reduced Open-Close-Open-Close-Open (OCOCO) Microchannel System Microchannels provide good micro-environments for cell/embryo/oocyte culture and chemical analysis. However microchannels are very inconvenient for loading or accessing samples. This invention uses passive pumping to change mediums or reagents. This invention does not use any connecting channels or tubing, thus eliminating waste. It can be easily expanded for high-throuhput. The figure shows the liquid flowing from small drop to large drop by surface energy forces.
Bioresorbable Silicon Electronics for Neural Sensing Dr. John Rogers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed bioresorbable silicon electronics that can be used for real-time sensing of neural... Read More Dr. John Rogers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed bioresorbable silicon electronics that can be used for real-time sensing of neural electrical activity. This invention could prevent follow-up neural surgeries, and has potentials for long-term monitoring of patients. 2015-158 Photo for Web.png
Quantum Dots with Thin Coatings that Allow for Efficient Bioconjugation Dr. Andrew Smith from the University of Illinois has developed new quantum dots with a multidentate polymer coating that minimizes size while maintaining stability and... Read More Dr. Andrew Smith from the University of Illinois has developed new quantum dots with a multidentate polymer coating that minimizes size while maintaining stability and improving efficiency of conjugation. Quantum dots are promising agents for cellular and molecular imaging, but their bulky organic coatings have limited their use in cells. Dr. Smith's quantum dots are small, stable, and can be conjugated to targeting molecules and purified easily.
Algorithm Modified Deoxynybomycin for the Treatment of Gram-Negative Bacteria Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a novel antibiotic that is effective against certain antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. His powerful... Read More Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a novel antibiotic that is effective against certain antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. His powerful predictive algorithm determines accumulation of molecules in Gram-negative bacteria and enables conversion of known Gram-positive only antibiotics into novel compounds with Gram-negative potency.
Designer Estrogens with Decreased Cancer Risk Dr. John Katzenellenbogen from the University of Illinois has designed Pathway preferential estrogens (PaPEs) that are novel synthetic compounds that... Read More Dr. John Katzenellenbogen from the University of Illinois has designed Pathway preferential estrogens (PaPEs) that are novel synthetic compounds that structurally resemble the natural estrogen but with its reduced binding affinity, form ER-PaPE complex with a short lifetime of seconds. This short binding is sufficient to selectively activate the ER non-genomic pathway and not the ER genomic pathway. PaPEs are shown in animal models to promote health of metabolic tissues and vasculature; reduces body weight gain and fat accumulation after ovariectomy and accelerates repair of endothelial damage; no stimulation on breast and endometrial cancerous cells. Technology Benefits: • Selectively activates ER non-genomic pathway • Results in an enhancement of the repair of vascular injury, & prevents weight gain • No stimulation on breast and endometrial cancerous cells
In Vivo Active Inhibitors of FOXM1 for Suppression of Cancer Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women all over the world. Hormonal therapy, sometimes also called anti-estrogen therapy, works by lowering the amount of... Read More Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women all over the world. Hormonal therapy, sometimes also called anti-estrogen therapy, works by lowering the amount of estrogen in the body or blocking estrogen from attaching to the breast cancer cells. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks the three most common types of receptors to fuel most breast cancer growth: ER, PR and HER-2. It constitutes about 10-20% of diagnosed breast cancers, can be more aggressive and difficult to treat and is more likely to spread and recur. There is great interest in finding targeted therapies against TNBC. The transcription factor FOXM1 has been pointed out as a potential target for several types of cancer (breast, prostate, ovary, lung ad GU tract); however, no effective therapies targeting FOXM1 have been developed so far. Inventors at the University have developed small molecule anticancer compounds that can inhibit the FOXM1 transcription factors, a known anticancer target, and are effective against breast cancer including a triple negative variant. These compounds have been tested in mouse models showing good bioavailability after oral or subcutaneous administration. The compound NB-72 labeled with a fluorescent probe was additionally used to developed an in vitro assay for screening of inhibitors against FOXM1. Publications Ziegler, Y., Laws, M.J., Sanabria Guillen, V. et al. Suppression of FOXM1 activities and breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo by a new class of compounds. npj Breast Cancer5, 45 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-019-0141-7 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210032193A1/
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
Digital Methods for Breast Cancer Detection and Distinguishing Different Lesions Prof. Bhargava has developed a digital method for identifying areas of early stage tumor and distinguishing them from benign population in breast cancer lesions. This... Read More Prof. Bhargava has developed a digital method for identifying areas of early stage tumor and distinguishing them from benign population in breast cancer lesions. This highly accurate artificial intelligence method can assist pathologists to interpret biopsies in breast cancer screening, increasing their efficiency and accuracy. About a million breast biopsies are performed in the US, out of which quarter receive a cancer diagnosis. The remaining patient cases are categorized by pathologists according to a diagnostic spectrum ranging from benign to preinvasive diseases which are difficult to classify. Misclassification can contribute to over treatment or undertreatment of lesions causing serious health and financial repercussions. Precise stratification of the lesions will reduce under or over diagnosis and time in breast cancer diagnosis. This digital toolbox will be of interest to both health care clinics for risk stratification and early detection and digital pathology companies as a translatable diagnostic suite.
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.