Abstract: The current clinical paradigm for ovarian cancer treatment has a poor prognosis, partially due to the efficacy and toxicity concerns associated with the available chemotherapeutic formulations. To overcome these limitations, we have designed core-shell-structured paclitaxel (PTX) laden solid lipid microparticles (PTX-SLMPs) for intraperitoneal treatment of ovarian cancer. A single-step coaxial electro hydrodynamic atomization (CEHDA) process has been explored to synthesize core-shell structure of PTX-SLMPs with the particle size of 1.76 +/- 0.37 microm. Core-shell PTX-SLMPs have high encapsulation efficiency of 94.73% with sustained drug release profile. In vitro evaluation of PTX-SLMPs in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells yield significant enhancement in cytotoxicity when compared wit

Abstract: Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies due to its rapid proliferation, frequent acquisition of chemoresistance, and widespread metastasis within the peritoneal cavity. Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy has demonstrated significant anti-cancer potential but its broad clinical application is hindered by several drug delivery limitations. Herein, we engineer paclitaxel (PTX) laden hybrid microparticles (PTX-Hyb-MPs) for improved delivery of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer. The PTX-Hyb-MPs are comprised of a lipid-coated shell of poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) encapsulating hydrophobic PTX. A co-axial electrohydrodynamic (CEH) process is used for one-step and scalable production of the PTX-Hyb-MP agent with controlled particles size, uniform size

Abstract: We propose a portable fluorescence microscopic imaging system (PFMS) for intraoperative display of biliary structure and prevention of iatrogenic injuries during cholecystectomy. The system consists of a light source module, a camera module, and a Raspberry Pi computer with an LCD. Indocyanine green (ICG) is used as a fluorescent contrast agent for experimental validation of the system. Fluorescence intensities of the ICG aqueous solution at different concentration levels are acquired by our PFMS and compared with those of a commercial Xenogen IVIS system. We study the fluorescence detection depth by superposing different thicknesses of chicken breast on an ICG-loaded agar phantom. We verify the technical feasibility for identifying potential iatrogenic injury in cholecystectomy

Abstract: Current flow-based blood counting devices require expensive and centralized medical infrastructure and are not appropriate for field use. In this article we report a streamlined, easy-to-use method to count red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT) and 3-part WBC differential through a cost-effective and automated image-based blood counting system. The approach consists of using a compact, custom-built microscope with large field-of-view to record bright-field and fluorescence images of samples that are diluted with a single, stable reagent mixture and counted using automatic algorithms. Sample collection utilizes volume-controlled capillary tubes, which are then dropped into a premixed, shelf-stable solution to stain and dilute in a single step. Sample meas

Abstract: We propose a portable phantom system for calibration and validation of medical optical devices in a clinical setting. The phantom system comprises a perfusion module and an exchangeable tissue-simulating phantom that simulates tissue oxygenation and blood perfusion. The perfusion module consists of a peristaltic pump, two liquid storage units, and two pressure suppressors. The tissue-simulating phantom is fabricated by a three-dimensional (3D) printing process with microchannels embedded to simulate blood vessels. Optical scattering and absorption properties of biologic tissue are simulated by mixing graphite powder and titanium dioxide powder with clear photoreactive resin at specific ratios. Tissue oxygen saturation (StO(2)) and blood perfusion are simulated by circulating the

Abstract: We propose one-step synthesis of hemoglobin-laden microcapsules (HbMs) by the liquid-driven coaxial flow focusing (LDCFF) method, in which purified hemoglobin (Hb) is fully encapsulated inside photocurable resin with a solid core-shell structure. The polymeric shell constitutes a rigid semipermeable membrane which prevents the leakage of Hb and allows oxygen transport. Gas-binding capacity and oxygen affinity of HbMs are comparable to the purified Hb. Solid HbMs phantoms (SHMPs) are also fabricated using resin-based HbMs homogeneously mixed with oil-soluble silicone. The spectral characteristics of SHMPs closely resemble to that of oxy-hemoglobin, and its long-term stability is more than 25 weeks. HbM dispersion with certain absorption and scattering properties circulating throug

Abstract: A facile liquid-driven compound-fluidic flow focusing (LCFF) platform is employed to produce single- and multicompartment poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules at high production rates. Single-compartment microcapsules encapsulating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit very good magnetic responsiveness. The magnetic nature allows them to concentrate at specific sites by applying permanent magnetic fields, and the magnetic microcapsules can be separated quickly from the non-magnetic microcapsules. Moreover, multicompartment microdroplets are produced to encapsulate different kinds of interactive materials individually. It is demonstrated that after the controlled reaction of inner materials, the generated precipitates can be obviously observed. This study provides t

Abstract: We fabricate complex emulsions with irregular shapes in the microscale by a simple but effective multiplex coaxial flow focusing process. A multiphase cone-jet structure is steadily formed, and the compound liquid jet eventually breaks up into Janus microdroplets due to the perturbations propagating along the jet interfaces. The microdroplet shapes can be exclusively controlled by interfacial tensions of adjacent phases. Crescent-moon-shaped microparticles and microcapsules with designated structural characteristics are further produced under ultraviolet light of photopolymerization after removing one hemisphere of the Janus microdroplets. These complex emulsions have potential applications in bioscience, food, functional materials, and controlled drug delivery.Wu Q, Yang C, Yang

Abstract: We propose one-step synthesis of hemoglobin-laden microcapsules (HbMs) by the liquid-driven coaxial flow focusing (LDCFF) method, in which purified hemoglobin (Hb) is fully encapsulated inside photocurable resin with a solid core-shell structure. The polymeric shell constitutes a rigid semipermeable membrane which prevents the leakage of Hb and allows oxygen transport. Gas-binding capacity and oxygen affinity of HbMs are comparable to the purified Hb. Solid HbMs phantoms (SHMPs) are also fabricated using resin-based HbMs homogeneously mixed with oil-soluble silicone. The spectral characteristics of SHMPs closely resemble to that of oxy-hemoglobin, and its long-term stability is more than 25 weeks. HbM dispersion with certain absorption and scattering properties circulating throug

Abstract: In our study, we have established a novel liquid-driven co-flow focusing (LDCF) process to fabricate curcumin (CUR)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (CPMs). LDCF-CPMs of size 20.26 +/- 2.37 mum have high encapsulation efficiency (>70%) and were intended for application in ovarian cancer by intraperitoneal (IP) administration. LDCF-CPMs have smooth surface with narrow size distribution and a core-shell structured verified by confocal microscopy which can be precisely controlled by changing the flow rates of focusing, outer and inner phases. The LDCF-CPMs reveal the physiochemical stability with sustained release profile corresponding to 95% CUR release over a period of 14 days in an in vitro release medium. Moreover, LDCF-CPMs were testified for cytot

Abstract: Preoperative assessment of tissue anatomy and accurate surgical planning is crucial in conjoined twin separation surgery. We developed a new method that combines three-dimensional (3D) printing, assembling, and casting to produce anatomic models of high fidelity for surgical planning. The related anatomic features of the conjoined twins were captured by computed tomography (CT), classified as five organ groups, and reconstructed as five computer models. Among these organ groups, the skeleton was produced by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. For the other four organ groups, shell molds were prepared by FDM and cast with silica gel to simulate soft tissues, with contrast enhancement pigments added to simulate different CT and visual contrasts. T

Abstract: Tissue-simulating phantoms with interior vascular network may facilitate traceable calibration and quantitative validation of many medical optical devices. However, a solid phantom that reliably simulates tissue oxygenation and blood perfusion is still not available. This paper presents a new method to fabricate hollow microtubes for blood vessel simulation in solid phantoms. The fabrication process combines ultraviolet (UV) rapid prototyping technique with fluid mechanics of a coaxial jet flow. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a UV-curable polymer are mixed at the designated ratio and extruded through a coaxial needle device to produce a coaxial jet flow. The extruded jet flow is quickly photo-polymerized by ultraviolet (UV) light to form vessel-simulating solid structures at dif