As a 麻豆原创 Pegasus Professor and chair of materials science and engineering department, Seal takes his research down to the nanoscale.

He focuses on cerium oxide nanoparticles known as nanoceria. These specialized nanoparticles are versatile and can be tailored for a variety of medical applications.

Since arriving at 麻豆原创 in 1997, Seal has 92 麻豆原创 patents to his credit, with more than 450 journal papers. A pioneer in nanoceria research for the biomedical sector, his work focuses on the nanoscience of advanced materials processing and materials science and engineering.

Nanoceria and Biomedical Applications

As Seal continued his research, he realized nanoceria was being used for microelectronic processing, but not yet in the biomedical sector. 鈥淲e at 麻豆原创 are the first ones to show that this has wonderful properties,鈥� Seal says. 鈥淲e filed a patent and were the very first to show nano cerium cell survivability,鈥� he says 鈥淭hen of course, after that, the field has really blossomed. There is a wide range of applications in biomedical sciences 鈥� from cancer research to bone regeneration, tissue regeneration and radiation protection. All from this almost accidental discovery made at 麻豆原创.鈥�

Since then, Seal and his research team have found that nanoceria are non-toxic and great carriers for delivering therapeutic agents and have regenerative oxidative properties.

Seal says that the nanoceria structure can be tweaked depending on the application.

鈥淚n layman’s terms, I would say I create openings in that crystal structure that I can tinker with,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his is where the functional materials come in. I can take one opening and use it to send something, maybe I can load a drug on it. I can take another opening and keep it open to destroy nasty radicals produced by cells that are not needed.鈥�

Seal says that nanoceria鈥檚 versatility enables companies to put them in pills or injectables. 鈥淭he sky’s the limit,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 also recent data that when combined with drugs, the nanoceria material actually protects the good cells, while the drug kills cancer cells even more potently.鈥�

Seal鈥檚 cerium oxide research has led to four technologies that he co-developed with Kenneth Liechty, division chief of pediatric surgery and vice chair of surgery research at the University of Arizona. Liechty was previously at the University of Colorado鈥檚 Anschutz Medical Campus, which is where he and Seal had collaborated.

Seal and Liechty combined 麻豆原创鈥檚 nanoceria platform with the University of Colorado鈥檚 experience in microRNA (miRNA) to engineer a specialized miRNA that can assist with diabetic wound healing. Found in all human cells, miRNA plays important roles in many biological processes such as cell proliferation or development of specific cell functions and characteristics.

Wound Healing for Diabetic Patients

Seal and collaborators leveraged the cerium oxide molecules to deliver specialized miRNA to an enflamed wound site in patients with diabetes to correct the inflammatory response at the molecular level. Once there, the molecules shorten the time of diabetic wound closure and help avoid the complications associated with impaired diabetic wound healing as those with diabetes often experience slower wound healing.

The molecules specifically combat excess reactive oxygen species molecules, which may build up as a result of prolonged inflammation and ultimately delay proper wound closure and healing. With that kind of inflammatory response, the body can produce a build-up of excess reactive oxygen species molecules, which then leads to increased oxidative stress inside cells.

Nanosilk Fibers to Protect Skin and Treat Injuries

Nanosilk fibers created from silkworms or spiders is another unique healing invention developed by 麻豆原创 and the University of Colorado.

The patented invention includes biocompatible and hypoallergenic compositions to heal, protect and strengthen skin. It also employs a combined nanoceria-miRNA specialized composition.

Silk comprises two proteins: fibroin and sericin. The silk core is fibroin, often used to make surgical sutures because it is non-toxic and biocompatible with human tissues. Fibroin solution converts to many forms, including films, sponges, gels and powders.

During their research, the inventors found that applying a layered system of silk fibroin fibers in solution and spun mat formats can effectively protect and strengthen skin, especially in weak areas that are injury-prone or stressed repetitively.

Also, they found that when integrated with cerium oxide molecules conjugated with the miRNA, the silk fibroin fiber solution and mat enhanced wound healing.

鈥淲e are now using biodegradable material to deliver therapeutics in disease sites,鈥� Seal says. 鈥淪ilk ceria composite is one of them 鈥� it鈥檚 green and sustainable technology.鈥�

The solution of silk fibroin fibers may be applied as a spray, liquid, form or gel, and the fibroin mat can be applied as a mat, sheet, gel or fiber.

The invention can be used as a protective layer to improve the skin鈥檚 elasticity, thus preventing or reducing injury, even minor blisters and skin ulcers. It can also treat a variety of wounds, and it can be used to treat injuries to subcutaneous tissue.

Nanoceria and miRNA for Tissue Regeneration

麻豆原创 and the University of Colorado collaborated with the University of Pennsylvania to develop a nanoceria-miRNA conjugate that not only assists with wound healing, but with tissue regeneration and angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels).

鈥淵ou need angiogenesis, and you need blood vessels to grow,鈥� Seal says.

For instance, after a heart attack, the invention aids recovery by reducing the body鈥檚 inflammatory response and helping it to generate new tissue for blood vessels.

As with diabetic wounds, heart attacks can cause the body to produce excess reactive oxygen species, increase oxidative stress and inflammation.

Offering both treatment and prevention, the patented invention can significantly mitigate heart damage and prevent adverse ventricular remodeling during recovery.

Treating and Preventing Lung Injury

Seal says that his earlier work 10-15 years ago on lung injury and cancer therapy radiation helped to develop new technology with the University of Colorado to promote lung repair, reduce lung inflammation and help treat or prevent pulmonary diseases or conditions.

鈥淲hen you treat the lungs with nanoceria, the good cells around the lungs are protected from the radiotherapy while the radiotherapy is killing the cancer cells,鈥� Seal says. 鈥淭he cerium oxide has this bifunctionality to protect the good cells from the radiation.鈥�

He explained that the nanocerium oxide has multivalent states, meaning the invention鈥檚 nanoparticles can stay silent when they want to and stay active when needed.

鈥淲hat we have seen in nanoscale depends on the microenvironment in the cell,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t can switch back and forth.鈥�

The cerium oxide and miRNA compositions of the invention can be administered in different forms as a spray or a pump.

Seal says he plans to continue promoting the commercialization aspect of technology developed within his department.

鈥淚’m really a proponent of people creating new IPs and taking them to the next level,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he world of nanomaterials is quite intriguing and the potential benefit of the nanomaterials, nanotechnology is immense.鈥�

Researcher鈥檚 Credentials
Seal is a 麻豆原创 Pegasus Professor, 麻豆原创 trustee chair, and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Seal joined the department and the Advanced Materials Processing Analysis Center, which is part of, in 1997. He has an appointment at and is a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 prosthetics Biionix faculty cluster initiative. He is a past director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 NanoScience Technology Center and Advanced Materials Processing Analysis Center. Seal received his doctorate in materials engineering with a minor in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California Berkeley.

Technology Available for License
To learn more about Seal鈥檚 work and potential licensing of these 麻豆原创 technologies or for more information about sponsored research opportunities, contact Andrea White (andrea.white@ucf.edu) at (407) 823-0138.

麻豆原创 researchers aim to prevent such bleeding in potentially deadly situations with a new hemostatic spongelike bandage with antimicrobial efficacy that they recently developed and detailed in a newly published study in the journal Biomaterials Science.

鈥淲hat happens in the field or during an accident is due to heavy bleeding, patients can die,鈥� says Kausik Mukhopadhyay, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at 麻豆原创 and study co-author. 鈥淭hese fatalities usually occur in the first 30 minutes to one hour. Our whole idea was to develop a very simple solution that could have the hemostatic efficacy within that time. If you can save the patient, then the doctors and the nurses can then save the patient.鈥�

Chemistry and Mechanisms

The method Mukhopadhyay and his team developed is called SilFoam as it鈥檚 more of a foam than a traditional bandage wrap. SilFoam is a liquid gel comprised of siloxanes (silicon and oxygen) that is delivered via a special two-chamber syringe which rapidly expands into a spongy foam upon exposure to each other within the wound in under one minute. The sponge applies pressure to restrict the hemorrhage at the delivery site while also serving as an antibacterial agent because of the silver oxide in it.

For every five milliliters of gel injected, you can expect an expansion of about 35 milliliters, Mukhopadhyay says.

鈥淎nytime you have a profuse bleeding or bleeding, you want to press on top and stop the bleeding,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o, what we did here is actually the same thing. Instead of putting the hand, we injected it, and it creates a voluminous expansion.鈥�

Mukhopadhyay and his collaborators found that their sponge also resulted in a more gentle removal.

鈥淭he adhesive property of this bandage is optimized so that when you take it out from the system, the smaller vessels don’t get ruptured, but it has the right amount of addition that can adhere to the muscles, veins and the arteries so that the blood doesn’t leak,鈥� he says.

The sponge’s porosity and adhesion properties help it expand and seal the wound, allowing the body’s natural clotting process to take over, Mukhopadhyay says.

鈥淒uring the reaction, it generates a little bit amount of heat that helps the process very fast,鈥� he says. 鈥淥n top of that, oxygen gas as part of the reaction鈥檚 byproduct, tries to come out. So instead of making it a cross-linkable rubber, it’s a soft sponge with a lot of internal porosity.鈥�

Experimentation and Methods

Researching ways to address wounds requires special care and consideration to ensure no harm comes to test subjects, however, the researchers were able to bypass this by using a functional anatomic model to test their methods.

They used specially crafted mannequins designed with realistic blood vessels and wounds developed by a local company called SIMETRI to test their foam on in hopes the preliminary results were promising enough to proceed with further testing.

鈥淥ne of the most important parts of this was that we used non-invasive models,鈥� Mukhopadhyay says. 鈥淎t this phase, we can get approvals and move forward to study the in vivo models. At this stage, there are no psychological effects on vets or surgeons either.鈥�

The experimentation showed promise, especially when the researchers compared SilFoam to five other existing treatment methods.

They found that SilFoam had many advantages such as significantly less leakage, room-temperature storage versus requiring cold temperatures, ultimately lower cost of materials, little to no training requirements to use the syringe.

Pritha Sarkar, a graduate student in the materials science department at 麻豆原创, assisted with the experimentation.

鈥淲e had to check the reactivity of the two parts, because we wanted enough oxygen gas that can expand the sponge, but at the same time, we didn’t want the material to get too hot, because the reaction itself generates heat,鈥� she says.

Sarkar texted the toxicity and strength of the materials as well to ensure it was safe for human bodies and durable yet not too rigid.

She also worked to make sure the composition of the SilFoam doesn鈥檛 harm the patient upon removal.

鈥淚f you have something that’s very sticky, like a bandage that you can slap onto your wound, that that will prevent blood from coming out, but if you want to remove that bandage, it can cause tissue damage or pain,鈥� Sarkar says. 鈥淥ur polymer system doesn’t stick to your skin, so it’s very easy to remove. We have a dressing that can expand onto your wound and seal it shut, but at the same time, once it’s done its job, you can remove it very easily.鈥�

Reducing Infections and Next Steps

The antibacterial component of the research was through Melanie Coathup, a 麻豆原创 College of Medicine professor and director of the Biionix Cluster at 麻豆原创.

She works alongside material scientists and mechanical engineers with the goal of creating new medical technologies and therapies.

鈥淢y post-doc Dr. Abi Sindu Pugazhendhi and I worked alongside Dr. Mukhopadhyay and team to investigate the potency of his material and how well it stopped bacterial growth,鈥� Coathup says. 鈥淲e assessed bacteria that would typically infect a traumatic injury to the torso, and our results showed that the material was highly effective and so utilizing this material within the bandage system developed by Dr. Mukhopadhyay and confirming its efficacy as a novel hemostatic and antibacterial strategy is a great and important find.鈥�

She says the opportunity to save lives as part of this research was extremely rewarding.

鈥淭he research is significant, because at the moment, there are no effective treatments available to treat people with these conditions, and new strategies are really needed,鈥� Coathup says. 鈥淭his means that teaming up with Dr. Mukhopadhyay to investigate a novel antibacterial sponge that could in the future provide life-saving treatment following major traumatic injury, was an absolute pleasure and right up my street.鈥�

Mukhopadhyay also recently received a GAP award to assist in licensing SilFoam and deploying it. He says the next step is to collaborate with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and perform in vivo studies at their facilities.

Those interested in licensing this technology may聽.

Researcher鈥檚 Credentials

Mukhopadhyay is an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at 麻豆原创, and he directs the Hybrid Materials and Surfaces Laboratory. He received his doctoral degree in chemistry in 2004 from the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, India. Mukhopadhyay joined 麻豆原创 in Fall 2017 as a senior lecturer and researcher.

Coathup joined 麻豆原创 in 2017 and is a professor of medicine and director of Director of the Biionix (Bionic Implants, Materials and Interfaces) Cluster. Prior to 麻豆原创, she was an associate professor at University College London where she also earned her doctoral degree in orthopedic implant fixation.

But when people experience a debilitating medical condition such as a stroke or loss of a limb, these same everyday tasks may become a struggle.

Qiushi Fu, a professor in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, aims to alleviate such struggles with his new research on bimanual coordination that began in March as part of a National Institutes of Health grant.

Fu is observing how people interact with tasks that require coordinating two limbs, each controlling a robotic device, to complete a task within a virtual environment. The catch is that his task simulations will randomly impede his trial participants and lead them to decide how to compensate for the constraint placed upon one or more limbs.

However, there will be much more practical activities, too, Fu says.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to go beyond experimental tasks and have participants perform actual real-life tasks,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e also want to measure coordination in everyday tasks like buttoning or cutting a piece of paper with motion tracking technologies.鈥�

Fu proposes that the knowledge gained in this project can provide significant insight to improve the effectiveness of motor rehabilitation interventions for restoring upper-limb function in individuals affected by neurological disorders.

鈥淭he objective of this is research is we want to understand how our brain controls our two hands to work on a task with a common goal,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ne example is you鈥檙e pouring water from a bottle to a cup. So, imagine the hand holding the cup is being pushed by something. To successfully perform the task is to move the hand back or move the pouring hand, or both.鈥�

The research will use healthy young participants to perform those activities while their brain activity is monitored to acquire a foundational understanding of bimanual coordination, Fu says.

鈥淚f one hand makes a mistake or is impaired then the other can help compensate,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his is a decision the brain has to process, and we鈥檙e studying how the brain achieves this.鈥�

Data will be gathered noninvasively, as participants will wear a fitted cap that will measure neural activity via electrodes. There also will be measurements of limb movements, muscle activities and eye movements to pair with the neural data.

Fu says he was motivated to investigate further when he noticed prior research on bimanual coordination primarily focused on tasks that require each limb to attain an independent goal rather than a common goal.

鈥淣one of these studies focused on how they complement each other,鈥� Fu says. 鈥淚 found that this particular topic wasn鈥檛 well understood, and in the past the research has focused on independent goal tasks, and our project focuses on common goal tasks.鈥�

Although Fu is the principal investigator, he is collaborating with other 麻豆原创 faculty within the Disability, Aging and Technology faculty cluster initiative to use their expertise in measuring brain activity for the research. He is also working with scientists at Arizona State University to apply neural stimulation to examine the functional role of a few different brain areas.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping our research will provide biomarkers and baseline data to further investigate into patient populations to perform rehabilitation interventions and even regain motor control,鈥� Fu says.

Researcher鈥檚 Credentials

Fu came to 麻豆原创 in 2018 as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering. He received his 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2008 before graduating with his Doctor of Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University in 2013. Fu鈥檚 research focuses on rehabilitation, prosthetics, sensorimotor control, and bioinspired robots. He also is part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Biionix Cluster of interdisciplinary researchers, which brings together medical scientists and engineers to study and enhance high-tech medical technologies.

麻豆原创 researcher Sudipta Seal joined the fight by collaborating with Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center to provide a key component for a targeted medicine that combats the most common kind of pediatric brain tumor.

Seal, who is a professor and Chair of the within the , along with his postdoctoral researcher Elayaraja Kolanthai, created a solution containing therapeutic cerium oxide nanoparticles that acts as a protective vehicle to deliver a combination of cancer therapies through the body and to a patient鈥檚 brain. Their work was recently published in the journal .

A Targeted Approach

The intravenous mixture of therapies attacks medulloblastomas 鈥� or tumors 鈥� on all fronts. Ranjan Perera, director of the Center for RNA Biology at Johns Hopkins All Children鈥檚 Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, and his team developed the medicine that targets a specific part of RNA that 鈥渞eprograms鈥� a region of our DNA to hinder cancer causing genes.

A specific, long non-coding RNA, lncRNA, was identified as a potential bullseye target that accumulates and promotes cancerous growth. Johns Hopkins assembled a sequence of nucleotides 鈥� the building blocks of RNA 鈥� that can bind to the specific parts of the cancer-promoting portion of the RNA and destroy it.

Perera and his team paired the genetic treatment with cisplatin, a common intravenous chemotherapy medication that disrupts cancer cells and prevents them from replication.

The treatment was tested in mice and results showed that it inhibits tumor growth by 40-50%. The intravenous method may have an advantage as an alternative therapy to craniospinal irradiation as it may have less long-term side effects and risk of relapse.

The hope is once this specific genetic expression is identified and this treatment is administered, the malignant tumor growth can be halted and even eliminated in human patients.

Safe Delivery

Protecting the combination of promising treatments, bolstering therapeutic value and ensuring they reach their target is precisely what the cerium oxide was intended to do, Seal says.

鈥淲e can attach various drugs to the nanoparticles and deliver them to a specific site for medical intervention,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he medication on its own already has its own applications, so when you combine them, their role in intervention becomes quite significant. We are quite excited about this.鈥�

Seal and Perera previously had worked together and were familiar with each other鈥檚 work. After a few conversations between the two, a collaboration on this pediatric cancer research seemed like a good fit.

鈥淭his medication can be very difficult to deliver to sites,鈥� Seal says. 鈥淒r. Perera and I knew each other and so there was mutual interest between us both. I spoke with Dr. Perera, and he said that he had microorganisms to deliver, and that we鈥檝e been studying oxides for a long time. They鈥檙e very well known in medicine, and here we are at 麻豆原创 we鈥檙e well known for our oxide vector delivery.鈥�

Seal鈥檚 cerium oxide has been used in a variety of biomedical and therapeutic applications even before it was used in the Johns Hopkins study. The cerium oxide nanoparticles previously were shown to aid in healing diabetic wounds and to maintain bone strength during cancer treatments.

What makes these specific nanoparticles so useful is that because they are oxides, they can bond with such a varied spectrum of other compounds at the molecular level, Seal says.

鈥淥xides are omnipresent in nature, and so they can be fairly compatible with many things,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like a LEGO block. You鈥檝e got many anchors to attach to on it and many different kinds to attach to.鈥�

For this instance, the cerium oxide ensures the genetic therapy and chemotherapy successfully travels to the site of the brain tumor rather than taking any pit stops along the way, Seal says.

鈥淚t has the power to be like a GPS system,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou can program it to go to a specific address, or maybe it鈥檒l make a stop or bypass a stop. That is the power of what we can do with nanotechnology.鈥�

Studying and tweaking the particles (which are less than 10 nanometers in length) in water allows them to be highly customizable and to fit like a block or travel to the correct site.

Seal is greatly encouraged by the promise of the study and is excited to continue pursuing other ways to utilize his cerium oxide.

He invites other researchers to collaborate and see if he and his nanoparticles make a good fit.

鈥淲e鈥檙e open to opportunities,鈥� Seal says. 鈥淚 think this nano oxide vector can really help, and it opens a whole door of other biomedical opportunities that needs to be explored. We can modulate our nano vector in a way that it can sense and intervene in many ways. We鈥檙e happy to see if any other drugs can be attached to our molecules.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute and various other sources.

The researchers plan to study the therapy in humans to further test its safety and efficacy in hopes of triumphing over pediatric cancer and providing relief for children with cancer.

Researcher鈥檚 Credentials:

Seal joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the聽, which is part of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽College of Engineering and Computer Science, in 1997. He has an appointment at the聽College of Medicine聽and is a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚听叠颈颈辞苍颈虫聽faculty cluster initiative. He is the former director of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽聽and Advanced Materials Processing Analysis Center. He received his doctorate in materials engineering with a minor in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California Berkeley.

This is the sixth time 麻豆原创 has had experiments fly aboard New Shepard, with previous flights in August 2021, January, May and December of 2019 and April 2016. The studies are among several dozen research payloads on NS-24, New Shepard鈥檚 24^th mission.

Bone Loss in Space

麻豆原创 College of Medicine biomedical engineer Melanie Coathup is partnering with Michael Kinzel, an associate professor in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, to understand how the absence of gravity in space impacts the bones of space travelers.

鈥淲hen you’re in microgravity, there’s a change in characteristics of fluid flow and we鈥檙e trying to find out if that includes the fluid flow in our bodies, particularly through our bones,鈥� says Coathup, who heads 麻豆原创鈥檚 Biionix faculty cluster initiative, an interdisciplinary team developing innovative materials, processes, and interfaces to support health and well-being.

Microgravity-induced bone loss is a health risk for space travelers and long-term goals of human space exploration and colonization. NASA research has shown that astronauts who stay in space for extended periods can lose up to 1% to 2% of bone density per month, primarily in weight-bearing bones like the spine, hips and legs. That compares to bone loss of 0.5% to 1% per year in aging men and post-menopausal women on Earth. This significant bone loss can place space travelers at risk for bone fracture and an early-onset spaceflight-induced osteoporosis.

Coathup theorizes that while on Earth, gravity exerts a constant mechanical load to the skeletal system whenever we sit, walk or stand, which causes a tiny amount of fluid to flow in and out of bones.

鈥淥n Earth, when we bear weight on our bones, it forces fluid into the tissue and then as we take off the ground, water draws back out. So that applies a mechanical stimulus to our cells that sends nutrients into the bone and then removes waste products as well,鈥� Coathup says.

鈥淲e predict that in microgravity, in the absence of weight-bearing, there’s very little fluid movement, which stops or reduces that mechanical stimulus that sends nutrients in and stops waste products from going out and we believe this may contribute to bone damage,鈥� she says.

This New Shepard mission does not have crew, but human subjects are highly complex and difficult to understand. So, the 麻豆原创 researchers are combining medical and mechanical engineering technology to develop novel models that directly focus the study of human bone behavior to fluidic character in microgravity. Coathup is gathering the small-scale porous structure of bones using medical technology (CT Scans). These geometries are being used by Kinzel鈥檚 group to create a microfluidic chip to represent this geometry. These microfluidic chips are miniature flow channels that include artificial capillaries using advanced 3D printing technology. Fluid and tiny beads are pumped through the chip to mimic the proteins and solutes in blood. The goal is to develop comparisons of the flow in these bone-like chips in microgravity to the behavior in various orientations in normal gravity on Earth.

鈥淲e expect to see that the presence of gravity enhances micro-scale mixing needed to support healthy bones,鈥� Kinzel says.

The experiment is not a perfect representation of a real bone, but rather a simplified model to help researchers understand mechanisms. The size of the beads and capillaries are much larger in the experiment than in people鈥檚 bodies.

鈥淭o accommodate this, we plan to use high-end computational modeling to scale down the experiment to a real human bone,鈥� Kinzel says.

Kinzel, an expert in computational fluid dynamics, leads the team that is creating the microchip and its platform.

The overall study is led by imec, an international nano- and digital technology research organization. The study is primarily focused on demonstrating imec鈥檚 lens-free microscope technology in a space environment. 麻豆原创 and imec collaborated to formulate research questions to demonstrate the added value of these new microscopes, which are both smaller and lighter than conventional ones, for future biological testing on the International Space Station.

Coathup has dedicated much of her research to figuring out how bones are impacted by aging and environmental stressors such as space flight, and is working on developing new technologies and therapies that can protect, repair or rebuild damaged bones.

Her collaboration with Kinzel is one of numerous payloads on this flight funded by NASA primarily through the NASA Flight Opportunities program. These payloads are helping researchers better understand the capabilities of living and working in space.

Dust Behavior in Microgravity

This project 鈥� titled Electrostatic Regolith Interaction Experiment (ERIE) 鈥� examines charged dust behavior in microgravity and also tests sensors that will characterize the charging behavior of dust in a lunar-like environment.

Key to these experiments is the several minutes of microgravity provided by the Blue Origin flight.

The research is led by Adrienne Dove, an associate professor in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Physics, in collaboration with researchers at NASA鈥檚 Kennedy Space Center.

The sensors are being developed by collaborators at Kennedy to be used on lunar missions, such as on rover wheels, where they could measure charge on dust grains in natural lunar environments.

The results can inform strategies to keep lunar dust from damaging electronics, solar cells and mechanical equipment, and even human suits and systems during lunar missions.

The research is funded through NASA鈥檚 Flight Opportunities Program within its Space Technology Mission Directorate.

Seismic Wave Propagation in Asteroids

This project, titled Microgravity Experiment for the Speed of Sound (MESS), is examining how seismic waves and shaking can modify the surface and interior of an asteroid, and impact-induced seismicity can dictate surface features as well as overall shape and compactness changes within the asteroid.

The research is led by Julie Brisset, a research scientist and interim director of the Florida Space Institute (FSI) at 麻豆原创. Brisset researches dust behavior under microgravity conditions for the study of planet formation and regolith.

This work is important since the mechanical structure and dynamical behavior of small asteroids can retain clues to the early processes taking place during planet formation times.

In this experiment, simulated asteroid granular material that had been placed into three separate containers has sound waves generated into them, and their speeds are recorded while in the microgravity environment of the New Shepard rocket.

Three types of asteroid material simulant are used in the experiment: fine grains (about 0.1 millimeter), millimeter-, and centimeter-sized grains.

These simulants are routinely prepared at principal investigator Brisset鈥檚 lab at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Florida Space Institute.

Undergraduate students assembled the payload, and over the course of its design and implementation, a total of about 10 undergraduate students participated for a project duration of five semesters, with graduating students training new arrivals on the team.

鈥淪tudents were not only trained in hands-on skills in their respective areas of expertise and integrated teamwork, but also in mentoring and project management as well,鈥� Brisset says. 鈥淭hey learned to handle deadlines and project documentation, and overall, had an exceptional experience preparing them for their post-graduation professional life.鈥�

Researchers鈥� Backgrounds

Coathup received her doctorate in orthopedic implant fixation from University College London and joined 麻豆原创 in 2017. Before coming to 麻豆原创, she worked at the University College of London for 17 years. Her work includes the development of a novel synthetic bone substitute material Inductigraft to boost bone repair and regeneration, which is mainly used in spinal fusion surgery and marketed by Baxter Healthcare. Her research excellence has been recognized internationally through her publications and through receiving several prestigious UK, European and international prizes from her peers.

Kinzel received his doctorate in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University and joined 麻豆原创 in 2018. In addition to being a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a part of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽College of Engineering and Computer Science, he also works with 麻豆原创鈥檚聽Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research.

Dove received her doctorate in astrophysical and planetary sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Missouri. She joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Physics, part of the聽College of Sciences, in 2012. In 2017聽Dove was awarded the Susan Niebur Early Career Award by the NASA Solar System Exploration Virtual Research Institute (SSERVI) for her contributions to the science and exploration communities. She has also received 麻豆原创鈥檚 Reach for the Stars Award and Luminary Award.

Brisset earned her 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degrees in aerospace engineering in 2005 from the Institut Sup茅rieur de l’A茅ronautique et de l’Espace in Toulouse, France, and the Technical University of Munich. After working for several years as an aerospace engineer on European Space Agency International Space Station payload operations, she started graduate studies in astrophysics at the University of Braunschweig, Germany and received her doctoral degree in 2014.

Utilizing 3D printing and in-house manufacturing, Limbitless develops and advances its bionic arm design, reducing the weight and cost compared to traditional devices. Patients also personalize their bionic arms by customizing interchangeable magnetic 鈥渟leeves鈥� as tools for their personal expression. Powered by philanthropy and corporate partnerships, Limbitless Solutions provides these bionic arms to children at no cost to their families through clinical trials with hospitals nationwide. Limbitless Solutions operates as a uniquely interdisciplinary environment with opportunities for more than 50 undergraduate students across many of 麻豆原创鈥檚 colleges, from art to medicine and public relations to computer science.

Led by 麻豆原创 faculty members Matt Dombrowski ’05 鈥�08MFA with 麻豆原创鈥檚 and Peter Smith 鈥�05MS 鈥�12PhD with 麻豆原创鈥檚 , Limbitless also creates its own video games and uniquely leverages video game-based training that converts muscle flexing into the video game character’s actions.

In addition to the stage presentation at this year鈥檚 conference, Limbitless also had the unique opportunity to have an art exhibit in Adobe鈥檚 鈥淐reative Park.鈥� The reimagined Creative Park brought conference attendees together in new ways with intentional networking neighborhoods, community activations hosted by sponsors, customer spotlights, and a showcase on how purpose-driven creativity is making a positive impact around the world. The Limbitless bionic arms, with the unique interchangeable cosmesis designs, were represented to showcase the design and integration of art and technology. 麻豆原创 SVAD undergraduate students and past Limbitless bionic kids were also featured in the display.

This is the fourth time Limbitless Solutions was recognized at Adobe MAX for its unique approach to providing affordable, multi-gesture bionic prosthetics for children through innovative technology. In 2018, Dombrowski, Limbitless creative director, and Limbitless Co-founder and Executive Director Albert Manero 鈥�12 鈥�14MS 鈥�16PhD, were invited to speak at a breakout session focused on non-profit STEAM research. Dombrowski returned to Adobe MAX in 2019 to co-keynote EduMAX with then SVAD undergraduate student and Limbitless art intern Anna Stafford 鈥�19BFA. That same year,聽 Limbitless鈥� Bionic Kid comic and bionic arms were , sparking what would eventually become a celebrated partnership between the two organizations.

In 2020, Adobe committed a $100,000 grant to support plans for expanding the Limbitless Lab at 麻豆原创 鈥� a program-changing gift. Limbitless Branding Director Mrudula Peddinti 鈥�18 co-led a session at the all-virtual Adobe MAX that year. Since then, Adobe has continued to support training and access for students. The application of generative technologies allows for enhanced concept art generation and digital storytelling in a powerful way, something Limbitless hopes to continue to implement as it serves more patients. Dombrowski, named one of Adobe鈥檚 2023 Creators to Watch, pushed to incorporate these technologies since Adobe Firefly鈥檚 initial beta testing launch was featured in Forbes.

鈥淲ith Firefly, even non-traditional artists can contribute to creative conversations鈥�, Dombrowski says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 incredibly valuable for an organization like ours that creates something both highly technical and highly emotive.鈥�

Limbitless Solutions believes that generative AI can support more creative and expressive storytelling, adding digital effects previously difficult to bring to life.

鈥淎t Limbitless we like to say we don鈥檛 view collaboration as just working with companies. We work with people,鈥� Dombrowski says. 鈥淲e are grateful for the people who have joined us in amplifying the voices of students and … communities [in need] through the power of creativity and technology. We look forward to continuing that creative journey into the future.鈥�

The company, led by 麻豆原创 materials science and engineering alumna Christina Drake 鈥�07笔丑顿, is working with a multidisciplinary team of 麻豆原创 researchers, including Chair Sudipta Seal, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences Director Griff Parks and College of Medicine Professor Melanie Coathup, to further research the residual antimicrobial technology. 聽Kismet Technologies is one of 10 recipients of the STTR award this year.

College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Michael Georgiopoulos says this award demonstrates the power of collaboration at 麻豆原创.

鈥淥ne of the key goals of CECS is to be the nation鈥檚 technology partner leader,鈥� Georgiopoulos says. 鈥淭his collaboration of 麻豆原创 faculty with Kismet Technologies is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and building-together culture of our faculty and alumni.鈥�

During phase I testing, the team proved the antimicrobial technology could kill COVID-19 and other serious viruses such as parainfluenza and Zika.

鈥淲e made remarkable progress in phase I,鈥� Parks says. 鈥淲e had a multidisciplinary team that brought their expertise in materials science, biology, microbiology and project development. It was such a great learning experience for the whole group.鈥�

But the group still has more to learn about the antimicrobial technology, which was submitted for patent filing last year. 聽How long can it last under hospital conditions on surfaces? Does it work as effectively on biologically soiled surfaces? These are some of the questions the team hopes to answer during Phase II testing.

鈥淭he next steps are to thoroughly test the antibacterial properties of the coating under varying, and as such,聽more realistic human and environmental conditions; conditions that may challenge the potency of the formulation,鈥� Coathup says. 鈥淲e aim to confirm its efficacy despite these circumstances.鈥�

Those real-world conditions include testing the antimicrobial technology on surfaces coated in dust, dirt or other biological fluids. The goal is to understand the product’s limits and opportunities in demanding healthcare settings.

Aside from the final product, the best thing to come from the project is the partnership between 麻豆原创 researchers. Parks says there are many more opportunities for the College of Medicine and the College of Engineering and Computer Science to work together and share their expertise.

鈥淭he partnership between COM and CECS is only the tip of the iceberg of what we could be doing,鈥� Parks says. 鈥淚f you get the right people talking, interacting, thinking about the problem and each bringing to the table what they鈥檙e good at, it works.鈥�

About the Researchers

Seal joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the聽, which is part of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽College of Engineering and Computer Science, in 1997. He has an appointment at the聽College of Medicine聽and is a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚听叠颈颈辞苍颈虫 faculty cluster initiative. He is the former director of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽聽and Advanced Materials Processing Analysis Center. He received his doctorate in materials engineering with a minor in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California Berkeley.

Coathup is a professor of medicine at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, the director of the Biionix faculty cluster, and a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. Coathup鈥檚 research is focused on orthopaedic innovation with the view of applying scientific discovery to improve the treatment and care of patients. Her research focuses on novel biomaterials and small molecule therapeutics that boost bone repair when under challenging and complex physiological conditions, such as during aging, infection, radiotherapy and bone health when in the extreme environment of space.

Parks is the聽College of Medicine鈥檚聽associate dean for聽Research. He came to 麻豆原创 in 2014 as director of the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences after 20 years at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he was professor and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He earned his doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin and was an American Cancer Society Fellow at Northwestern University.

Name: Tara聽Pattilachan 鈥�22

Major: Biomedical sciences

Why are you interested in this research?

My fascination with this research emerged from its position at the pinnacle of contemporary medicine, combining materials science and engineering principles to develop personalized gene delivery methods. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I dove into initiatives like developing a contact tracer app and a COVID-19 public policy map in collaboration with Hikma Health 鈥� all from my own space at home. However, it was during my time as a journalism fellow at StartUp Health, interviewing leaders in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies, that I truly understood the central role of gene therapy and nanomedicine in producing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines globally. Inspired to be part of this monumental effort, I found an avenue at Dr. Mehdi Razavi鈥檚 Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Lab at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine. There, we’re advancing the field by targeting osteoporosis treatment through personalized, 鈥榯heranostic鈥� (therapeutic and diagnostic) nanobubbles. In parallel, my experiences as a medical assistant and in clinical settings allowed me to meet osteoporosis patients, whose personal stories, challenges, and hopes of a cure cemented my commitment to research in gene therapy and nanomedicine.

How did you get started in research at 麻豆原创?

Upon arriving at 麻豆原创, I was already set on a research-driven path, informed by experiences few students have had. In high school, my participation in the National Brain Bee offered a glimpse into the potential of neuroscience research, which was further solidified by a brief role working in Alzheimer鈥檚 research at USF. At 麻豆原创, my initial interest gravitated towards computational studies, leading me to Dr. Ulas Bagci鈥檚 Medical Imaging Lab, then a part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Center of Research in Computer Vision and now situated at Northwestern鈥檚 Feinberg School of Medicine. This lab exposed me to cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications in medical research, where I honed my skills in ‘dry’ lab techniques and programming. However, as I advanced in my undergraduate studies, my focus shifted to gene therapy, particularly its applications in cancer treatment. This newfound interest directed me to Dr. Razavi鈥檚 lab, laying the groundwork for my honors thesis. Transitioning from the vastness of artificial intelligence to the minute realm of nanomedicine, I’ve come to learn that sometimes the tiniest particles wield the greatest influence over human health.

Who is your mentor? Who inspires you and how?

Pinpointing a singular mentor or source of inspiration feels almost impossible, as my journey has been shaped by a mosaic of influential individuals. Dr. Bagci and Dr. Razavi, for instance, have played (and continue to play) pivotal mentorship roles in my professional trajectory, fueling my interest in joining computational and engineering principles with clinical medicine. My family, teachers, and friends form the foundation of my personal values, giving me the strength and motivation to tackle challenges head-on. My admiration also extends to my current supervisor and mentor, Dr. Sharona Ross, who is an exceptional surgeon devoted to robotic surgery research and championing women in surgery. However, I firmly believe that every interaction I’ve had has taught me something valuable and served as a source of inspiration in its own unique way.

How does 麻豆原创 empower you to do your research?

麻豆原创 has been integral to my research journey and has been a major catalyst for my growth. Given its vast size and scale, the university provides a wide and niche array of research opportunities for its students. What sets 麻豆原创 apart from other institutions is its proactive approach in motivating students to engage in research. Through initiatives like student research grants and the Student Undergraduate Research Council to summer fellowships and presenting at the Student Scholar Symposium, 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment is clear: this is an institution dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators. Every faculty member I’ve interacted with through my years has shown genuine support for students, valuing their curiosity over their background or prior experience.

With 麻豆原创’s support, I presented my work at the College of Medicine鈥檚 Biionix Symposium, a milestone that immensely promoted my confidence in effectively conveying research concepts to audiences. I鈥檓 also looking forward to presenting my research at another conference later this year. In addition, I鈥檝e had the privilege to collaborate on a literature review on nanobubbles alongside other fellow 麻豆原创 students 鈥� a clear testament to the collaborative culture here. 麻豆原创’s emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship has also allowed me to file a patent related to my honors undergraduate thesis, introducing a novel method for synthesizing nanobubbles targeting osteoporosis. My journey hasn鈥檛 been without its hurdles, but 麻豆原创 has consistently been a source of encouragement and opportunity. Grateful for the knowledge and experiences I’ve attained, I’m now focused on mentoring the next generation of 麻豆原创 students, guiding them through the multifaceted world of research and the limitless opportunities here.

Why is this research important?

Osteoporosis, a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide, currently lacks a definitive cure. The existing treatments, such as bisphosphonates and anabolic therapies, come with their own set of complications, including atypical fractures and osteonecrosis in the jaw. It’s clear that a novel breakthrough is needed.

Enter nanobubbles: our innovative, non-invasive solution. As the scientific community buzzes about the applications of gene editing and delivery, nanobubbles have emerged as a promising gene delivery vehicle candidate. These small echogenic gas cores can load, expand, and subsequently release therapeutic drugs or genes. Their novelty lies in their dual functionality: not only can they deliver cathepsin K siRNA to disrupt osteoclasts, which are responsible for bone degradation, but they are also ultrasound-responsive, serving as contrast agents in ultrasound imaging. This synergistic approach is complemented by the therapeutic potential of low-intensity ultrasound pulses, which can promote bone and tissue regeneration.

However, the significance of this research extends beyond laboratory experiments and academic discussions. I recently lectured at the University of South Florida’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where I introduced senior citizens to the field of gene therapy. After sharing some insights from my thesis, many approached me with their personal struggles with illnesses like cancer and osteoporosis. Their stories, full of optimism and anticipation, illustrated the real-world implications of our work.

Looking to the horizon, as we venture into the era of space exploration and tourism, the health challenges posed by microgravity-induced strain and ionizing radiation cannot be ignored. Osteoporosis and bone fractures intensified in the space environment will pose a significant challenge, even to the young. Our work with nanobubbles could very well be the ultimate countermeasure, ensuring that as we embark on interstellar journeys, we remain strong against the health challenges of the cosmos.

The event welcomed heroes from across Florida to the Governor鈥檚 Mansion in Tallahassee to honor them for exhibiting courage, perseverance, and self-sacrifice.

This included police officers, first responders, and veterans who had risked health and safety to serve and protect their communities and country, as well as members of the community who have dedicated themselves to helping others overcome adversity through nonprofit efforts, adoption and foster care, careers in education, and advocacy.

Founded in 2014, Limbitless Solutions is a nonprofit and direct support organization at 麻豆原创 dedicated to increasing accessibility and empowering children and adults in the limb difference community.

鈥淲e were honored to be recognized at the event and to represent our program and the university,鈥� Manero says. 鈥淲e were surrounded by an incredible group of heroes, and it was an honor to hear how they are making our communities stronger.鈥�

The stories of all heroes in attendance were displayed throughout the Governor鈥檚 Mansion as a tribute to their civic service and self-sacrifice. Manero was recognized for the work does to deliver 3D-printed bionic arms to children around the U.S. at no cost to their families. Most recently, Limbitless Solutions announced it鈥檚 launching a new clinical trial in partnership with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Children鈥檚 Hospital to provide more bionic arms for children locally and nationally.

Manero received his聽doctoral degree聽in mechanical engineering and his聽尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听补苍诲听产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚聽degrees in aerospace engineering from 麻豆原创. He also holds courtesy research appointments in 麻豆原创鈥檚聽聽and Mayo Clinic鈥檚 neurology department and is a member of 麻豆原创鈥檚聽Biionix聽faculty cluster initiative.

Manero attended the event with Limbitless Solutions co-founder John Sparkman 鈥�13 鈥�15MS, vice president and head of research and development of technology.

Sparkman received his 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 and 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degrees in mechanical engineering from 麻豆原创. In his role at Limbitless Solutions, Sparkman leads the electrical and mechanical designs for the prostheses pre-production, in addition to research and development.

To learn more about Limbitless Solutions, visit .

By using bioabsorbable magnesium composites, Razavi鈥檚 team is developing screws, pins, rods and other medical implants that dissolve within the body, eliminating the need to remove them.

鈥淭he traditional titanium bone implants work well and have been around for a long time, but you need a second procedure to remove them, which can bring psychological issues,鈥� he says. 聽Inserting strong implants, like titanium, also can actually inhibit bone growth, he says, because the body鈥檚 weight is transferred to the metal 鈥� not the bone 鈥� during recovery.

鈥淗owever, magnesium has mechanical properties very similar to bone, already exists in the body, and promotes bone formation, making it an ideal option,鈥� he says.

Nemours Children鈥檚 Health鈥檚 Zach Stinson, a pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon who had contributed to the research, says he agrees. He says biodegradable implants could take substantial stress and financial burdens off families, noting that one in three children breaks a bone at some point in childhood.

鈥淓very time I have to fix a kid鈥檚 broken bone, the automatic question almost every time from the parent is, 鈥業s that going to stay in forever?鈥� Psychologically, it鈥檚 a big deal,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you have an implantable metal that is naturally absorbed and does not have to be removed during a second surgery, that has tremendous benefits in terms of eliminating the stress of additional surgeries on patients and containing healthcare costs.鈥�

Razavi says his magnesium composite is also infused with nanoparticles that are absorbed into the tissue as the implant dissolves. The nanoparticles help regenerate new bone, making the healing process quicker.

鈥淲hat we do is called regenerative medicine, where we build bioactive materials that can repair tissue.鈥� he says. 鈥淢y research is always focused on bringing together advancements in material science and medicine. This research is focused on bone tissue that has been lost due to bone fractures, tumor removal and osteoporosis.鈥�

Magnesium, he says, is an ideal material for bone health and healing. It is as strong as metal, but more flexible than ceramics, and because it is a compound already found in the body, there are fewer chances for rejection. As the magnesium plates and screws dissolve over three to six months post-surgery, patients鈥� systems can safely filter the natural product out of the body. The team has successfully used the implants in rat models 鈥� the first step in getting the devices approved for testing in humans.

Second-year 麻豆原创 medical student Alison Grise is part of Razavi鈥檚 team and considers her work an important opportunity to grow and be a part of something that could help patients for years.

鈥淚t is so exciting to be working on research that can eventually improve the way we treat patients, especially to be involved in the early stages. The fact that it is helping me build by surgical, clinical and research skills is also important to me,鈥� she said.

The team is also looking at how the magnesium composite could be developed for applications beyond medicine and has received funding from the U.S.National Science Foundation to improve the material鈥檚 properties and create possible applications for the aerospace, automotive and sports industries.