Anti-biofouling mechanisms and devices for health applications

该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的抗生物污垢器件植入式生物医学器件的障碍之一是“生物污垢”。在植入后，免疫反应首先在设备表面形成一层薄薄的蛋白质层。在发现基金的支持下，我们已经证明了微型压电驱动器可以减少蛋白质吸附，这是防止形成生物污垢层的第一步。我们计划将压电装置与葡萄糖传感器集成，并在体外进行测试。(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是治疗血管疾病的常用方法。短期和长期支架堵塞或血栓形成的风险很高。蛋白质吸附和血栓组织在支架上生长是支架失效的主要机制。根据我们之前的研究，我们假设使用磁微柱阵列（MMPAs）结构与血管支架一起控制低水平振动可以促进内皮细胞在支架上生长，减少血栓组织的形成。我们将开发一种MMPAs并测试其与内皮细胞的相互作用。即使使用当今所有的干细胞重编程工具，也无法在培养中实现心肌细胞（可收缩肌细胞）与诱导多能干细胞（iPS细胞）的分化。我们建议使用本项目开发的MEMS抗生物污垢装置，应用低水平的循环菌株将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.