Research Terms
The University of Central Florida invention is a biocompatible ink (bio-ink) for three-dimensional (3D) printing and 3D bioprinting. The technology provides preformed microstructures that enable engineered tissues and organs.
Current 3D printing technologies have critically expanded tissue engineering approaches, making it possible to replicate the complex structure and function of natural tissues and organs better. However, challenges remain. Still needed are 3D printing biomaterial bio-inks that are readily extruded (that is, printable), self-supporting and adhesive. The biomaterials also must provide tunable bioactivity and porosity to facilitate robust colonization by target cells (biocompatible). The UCF invention offers such capabilities.
Technical Details
The UCF invention consists of a Capgel biomaterial ink and methods for producing and using it. The technology comprises sheared slurries of alginate gels with preformed micro-capillary configurations for retaining and incorporating 3D printed/bioprinted structures. With one setup, sheared slurries coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL) form a polyelectrolyte complex "skin" on the outer surfaces of gel blocks before extrusion, increasing self-adherence between microgel particles in the slurries. Thus, the Capgel bio-ink enables the printing of stackable structures such as weave patterns and cylinders. An example application for the poly-L-lysine-coated Capgel particles is to use them as microspheres and microcapsules that contain and deliver drugs and cells. Clinicians and researchers can also use them as injectable biomaterial tissue scaffolds.
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.
Stage of Development
Prototype available.
Unlike traps that only lure and kill insects, UCF researchers developed a low-cost Passive Insect Surveillance Sensor Device that also indicates whether an insect carries a specific infectious disease. This device can operate without electricity, has no moving parts, and does not require someone to send specimens to a lab. Thus, virtually anyone anywhere can use the device to better assess and respond to possible health threats from vector species in real-time (such as Dengue fever, Zika or chikungunya), even in the more remote regions of the world. Additionally, the device is modular and can be scaled to detect one or more targeted diseases simultaneously.
Technical Details
The device consists of the following:
When an insect infected with a targeted pathogen enters the trap and ingests the bait, the detector molecules bind to the pathogen protein and cause a colorimetric readout that is clearly visible.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed compositions and methods for enhancing mosquito feeding behavior, which could aid in detecting mosquitoes and the pathogens they carry. Mosquitoes continue to be a significant threat to global health. Their ability to vector deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya make mosquito control an indispensable tool for protecting public health. Passive, unpowered devices are one method used to detect mosquitoes or pathogens that infect the mosquitoes. The devices can use DNA aptamer-gold nanoparticle conjugates (Au-aptamers) to enable colorimetric detection.
However, mosquito feeding is variable, with many mosquitoes showing insufficient feeding for colorimetric detection analysis. The UCF invention provides a solution to this issue by neuromodulating the various feeding receptors of mosquitoes to increase their feeding, making their engorged bodies easier to identify and assess.
Technical Details
In some example applications of the invention, the mosquito food source is 10% sucrose. The composition can further comprise 15 mM NaCl, 1 mM NaHCO3, 1 µM MgCl2, 5 µM ß,?-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate disodium salt (ß,?-met ATP), or a combination of food sources. In another example, the mosquito neuromodulation agent may include an octopaminergic agonist, a MAO-B inhibitor, a 5-HT2A agonist, a TRPA1 agonist, a broad-spectrum neuropeptide receptor agonist, or a combination of agents.
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is looking for partners to develop the technology further for commercialization.
Aptamer–gold nanoparticle conjugates for the colorimetric detection of arboviruses and vector, RSC Advances, 31 Jul 2019, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA02089F.
The University of Central Florida invention is a biomaterial platform that provides engineered human or animal skin-like constructs for studying the biting or blood-feeding behaviors of arthropods, such as mosquitoes and spiders. Many mosquito species are important vectors of parasitic diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and Zika. Yet, due to a lack of pertinent assay systems, their biting/blood-feeding behavior and those of other medically relevant arthropods, such as ticks, need to be better understood. For example, little is known about their preferred human skin condition, the selection of landing site and biting site on human skin, the number of feeding attempts, and the quantity consumed during feedings. As a result, scientists often sacrifice their skin, allowing the insects to bite them in laboratory settings and manually recording the score of experimental outcomes. Such methods have limitations, including the number and type of experiments and the inability to use infected mosquitoes.
Called biologic interfacial tissue-engineered systems (BITES), the UCF technology resolves such issues, enabling 3D model skin tissue made from an alginate gel that scientists can fill with solutions that arthropods feed on, such as blood, serum and sugar. The tissues can be cellularized with human or animal cells or used alone for studying arthropod biting and blood-feeding. In addition, the BITES model can be used to test the effectiveness of various substances like repellents or insecticides.
Technical Details
The UCF invention (BITES) comprises an arthropod bite model and methods for making the model. BITES is a platform of multiple microtubular capillaries made from a gel or alginate gel. The capillaries can be of different sizes, ranging between 10 µm and 300 µm, and can be cellularized and filled with a cell culture medium, serum or body fluid such as blood.
One embodiment is Capgel for BITES, a platform for studying the behavior of mosquitoes. Capgel for BITES is a scaffold of densely packed parallel micro-capillary structures which enable robust cell seeding, growth, and colonization, including micro-vascularization under laboratory cell culture conditions. Experimental results showed that when Capgel for BITES capillaries are cellularized with cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and loaded with human red blood cells, the structures attracted more mosquitoes than blood-loaded non-cellularized Capgels. Thus, the scaffold can imitate the human skin condition.
Other cell types (human or animal) can also be used, such as mesenchymal stem cells, keratinocytes, immune cells, and umbilical vein endothelial cells. Examples of immune cells include macrophages, either tissue-resident or derived from infiltration of monocytes, or dendritic cells.
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.
Stage of Development
Prototype available.
