Anti-biofouling mechanisms and devices for health applications

拟议计划的长期目标是继续在UBC机械工程系进行微机电系统（MEMS）研究。作为长期愿景的一部分，5年的具体研究主题是：（1）基于MEMS的抗生物污染装置植入式生物医学装置的障碍之一是“生物污染”。免疫反应通过在植入后立即在装置表面上形成薄的蛋白质层开始。在Discovery基金的支持下，我们已经证明了微型压电致动器可以减少蛋白质吸附，这是防止生物污垢层形成的第一步。我们计划将压电器件与葡萄糖传感器集成并进行体外测试。(2)抗生物污染机制在血管装置中的应用长期血管支架和支架移植物通常用于治疗血管疾病。短期和长期支架污染或血栓形成风险较高。支架上的蛋白质吸附和血栓组织生长是主要失效机制。从我们以前的研究中学习，我们假设使用磁性微柱阵列（MMPAs）结构与血管支架的受控低水平振动可能会促进内皮细胞在支架上生长，减少血栓形成组织的形成。我们将开发MMPAs并测试其与内皮细胞的相互作用。(3)抗生物污染装置在干细胞研究中的应用心肌细胞（收缩性肌肉细胞）从iPS细胞（诱导多能干细胞）的分化尚未在培养中实现，即使使用当今所有的干细胞重编程工具也是如此。我们建议使用本计划中开发的MEMS抗生物污染装置来施加低水平的循环应变，将iPS细胞重编程为心肌细胞。

The long-term goal of the proposed program is to continue Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UBC. As part of the long-term vision, 5-year specific research themes are: (1) MEMS-based anti-biofouling devices One of the obstacles in implantable biomedical devices is "biofouling". The immune reaction begins by forming a thin protein layer on the device surface immediately after implantation. From the support of Discovery grant, we have demonstrated miniature piezoelectric actuators can reduce protein adsorption, the first step to prevent formation of a biofouling layer. We plan to integrate a piezoelectric device with a glucose sensor and test in vitro. (2) Application of anti-biofouling mechanisms to vascular devices Long-term vascular stents and stent grafts are commonly used to treat vascular diseases. Short and long-term stent fouling, or thrombosis presents a high risk. Protein adsorption and thrombus tissue growth on the stent is a major failure mechanism. Learning from our previous research, we hypothesize that controlled low-level vibration using magnetic micropillar arrays (MMPAs) structures with a vascular stent may promote endothelial cells to grow on the stent and reduce thrombosis tissue formation. We will develop a MMPAs and test its interaction with endothelial cells. (3) Application of anti-biofouling devices in stem cell research Differentiation of cardiomyocytes (contractile muscle cells) from iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) has not been achieved in culture, even with all the stem cell reprogramming tools that are in place today. We are proposing to use the MEMS anti-biofouling devices developed in this program to apply low level cyclic strain to reprogram iPS cells into cardiomyocytes.