Solid Fiber Inside of Capillary and Modified Fusion-Spliced Fiber Optic Microneedle Devices for Improved Light Transmission Efficiency.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a drug delivery technique used to deliver therapeutics directly to the brain and is a continually evolving technique to treat glioblastoma. Early versions of CED have proven to result in inadequate drug volume dispersed (Vd), increasing the likelihood of tumor recurrence. Fiber optic microneedle devices (FMDs) with the ability to deliver fluid and thermal energy simultaneously have shown an ability to increase Vd, but FMDs have historically had low light transmission efficiency. In this study, we present a new fabrication method, solid fiber inside capillary (SFIC) FMD, and a modified fusion splicing (FS) method with the goal of increasing light delivery efficiency. The modified FS FMD resulted in an increase in light transmission efficiency between 49% and 173% compared to previous prototypes. However, the FS FMD resulted in significantly lower transmission efficiencies compared to the SFIC FMD (p ≤ 0.04) and FS FMDs perform much worse when light-absorptive materials, like black dye, are placed in the bore. The light absorption of a candidate cytotoxic agent, QUAD-CTX, appear to be similar to water, and light delivery through FS FMDs filled with QUAD-CTX achieves a transmission efficiency of 85.6 ± 5.4%. The fabrication process of the SFIC FMDs results in extremely fragile FMDs. Therefore, the use of a modified FS FMD fabrication process appears to be better suited for balancing the desire to increase light transmission efficiency while retaining a sturdy FMD construction.

Advancements in drug delivery methods for the treatment of brain disease.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a formidable obstacle to the effective delivery of systemically administered pharmacological agents to the brain, with ~5% of candidate drugs capable of effectively penetrating the BBB. A variety of biomaterials and therapeutic delivery devices have recently been developed that facilitate drug delivery to the brain. These technologies have addressed many of the limitations imposed by the BBB by: (1) designing or modifying the physiochemical properties of therapeutic compounds to allow for transport across the BBB; (2) bypassing the BBB by administration of drugs via alternative routes; and (3) transiently disrupting the BBB (BBBD) using biophysical therapies. Here we specifically review colloidal drug carrier delivery systems, intranasal, intrathecal, and direct interstitial drug delivery methods, focused ultrasound BBBD, and pulsed electrical field induced BBBD, as well as the key features of BBB structure and function that are the mechanistic targets of these approaches. Each of these drug delivery technologies are illustrated in the context of their potential clinical applications and limitations in companion animals with naturally occurring intracranial diseases.

Constant Pressure Convection-Enhanced Delivery Increases Volume Dispersed With Catheter Movement in Agarose.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has been extensively studied for drug delivery to the brain due to its inherent ability to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Unfortunately, CED has also been shown to inadequately distribute therapeutic agents over a large enough targeted tissue volume to be clinically beneficial. In this study, we explore the use of constant pressure infusions in addition to controlled catheter movement as a means to increase volume dispersed (Vd) in an agarose gel brain tissue phantom. Constant flow rate and constant pressure infusions were conducted with a stationary catheter, a catheter retracting at a rate of 0.25 mm/min, and a catheter retracting at a rate of 0.5 mm/min. The 0.25 mm/min and 0.5 mm/min retracting constant pressure catheters resulted in significantly larger Vd compared to any other group, with a 105% increase and a 155% increase compared to the stationary constant flow rate catheter, respectively. These same constant pressure retracting infusions resulted in a 42% and 45% increase in Vd compared to their constant flow rate counterparts. Using constant pressure infusions coupled with controlled catheter movement appears to have a beneficial effect on Vd in agarose gel. Furthermore, constant pressure infusions reveal the fundamental limitation of flow-driven infusions in both controlled catheter movement protocols as well as in stationary protocols where maximum infusion volume can never be reliably obtained.

Convection-enhanced delivery with controlled catheter movement: A parametric finite element analysis.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is an investigational method for delivering therapeutics directly to the brain for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, it has not become a common clinical therapy due to an inability of CED treatments to deliver therapeutics in a large enough tissue volume to fully saturate the target region. We have recently shown that the combination of controlled catheter movement and constant pressure infusions can be used to significantly increase volume dispersed (Vd ) in an agarose gel brain tissue phantom. In the present study, we develop a computational model to predict Vd achieved by various retraction rates with both constant pressure and constant flow rate infusions. An increase in Vd is achieved with any movement rate, but increase in Vd between successive movement rates drops off at rates above 0.3-0.35 mm/min. Finally, we found that infusions with retraction result in a more even distribution in concentration level compared to the stationary catheter, suggesting a potential increased ability for moving catheters to have a therapeutic impact regardless of the required therapeutic concentration level.

Comparison of linear and volumetric criteria for the determination of therapeutic response in dogs with intracranial gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumor therapeutic responses can be quantified from magnetic resonance images (MRI) using 1- (1D) and 2-dimensional (2D) linear and volumetric methods, but few studies in dogs compare these techniques. HYPOTHESES: Linear methods will be obtained faster, but have less agreement than volumetric measurements. Therapeutic response agreement will be highest with the total T2W tumor volumetric (TTV) method. Therapeutic response at 6-weeks will correlate with overall survival (OS). ANIMALS: Forty-six dogs with intracranial gliomas. METHODS: Prospective study. Three raters measured tumors using 1D and 2D linear, TTV, and contrast-enhancing volumetric (CEV) techniques on 143 brain MRI to determine agreement between methods, define therapeutic responses, and assess relations with OS. RESULTS: Raters performed 1D the fastest (2.9 ± 0.57 minutes) and CEV slowest (17.8 ± 6.2 minutes). Inter- and intraobserver agreements were excellent (intraclass correlations ≥.91) across methods. Correlations between linear (1D vs 2D; ρ > .91) and volumetric (TTV vs CEV; ρ > .73) methods were stronger than linear to volumetric comparisons (ρ range, .26-.59). Incorporating clinical and imaging data resulted in fewer discordant therapeutic responses across methods. Dogs having partial tumor responses at 6 weeks had a lower death hazard than dogs with stable or progressive disease when assessed using 2D, CEV, and TTV (hazard ration 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.63; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: One-dimensional, 2D, CEV, and TTV are comparable for determining therapeutic response. Given the simplicity, universal applicability, and superior performance of the TTV, we recommend its use to standardize glioma therapeutic response criteria.

Biocompatibility of the fiberoptic microneedle device chronically implanted in the rat brain.

The fiberoptic microneedle device (FMD) is a fused-silica microcatheter capable of co-delivery of fluids and light that has been developed for convection-enhanced delivery and photothermal treatments of glioblastoma. Here we investigate the biocompatibility of FMD fragments chronically implanted in the rat brain in the context of evaluating potential mechanical device failure. Fischer rats underwent craniectomy procedures for sham control (n = 16) or FMD implantation (n = 16) within the brain. Rats were examined daily after implantation, and at 14, 30, 90, and 180 days after implantation were evaluated via computed tomography of the head, hematologic and blood biochemical profiling, and necropsy examinations. Clinical signs of illness and distant implant migration were not observed, and blood analyses were not different between control and FMD implanted groups at any time. Mild inflammatory and astrogliotic reactions localized to the treatment sites within the brain were observed in all groups, more robust in FMD implanted groups compared to controls at days 30 and 90, and decreased in severity over days 90-180 of the study. One rat developed a chronic, superficial surgical site pyogranuloma attributed to the FMD silica implant. Chronically implanted FMD fragments were well tolerated clinically and resulted in anticipated mild, localized brain tissue responses that were comparable with other implanted biomaterials in the brain.

A Clean Sweep: Initial Experience with a Novel Intracavity Laparoscopic Cleaning Device.

Background: A frequently encountered problem in laparoscopic surgery is an impaired visual field. The Novel Intracavitary Laparoscopic Cleaning Device (NILCD) is designed to adequately clean a laparoscopic lens quickly and efficiently without requiring removal from the surgical cavity. Animal and cadaver studies showed good efficacy and a short learning curve. This study aims to describe the efficacy and initial human experience with the device during laparoscopic operations. Methods: Since 2020, NILCD was used in 167 cases with surgeons at 12 different institutions in Texas, California, and Massachusetts. The rate of scope removal in each case was examined. Following each trial, users were asked to rank the NILCD on ease of set up, insertion, adjustment, and cleaning efficacy. A survey was then used to evaluate surgeon satisfaction. Results: The NILCD was tested in a variety of cases, including colorectal, gynecological, general, pediatric, hepatobiliary, thoracic, bariatric and foregut surgery. NILCD usage eliminated the need for scope removal in 90.14% of debris events, with only 97 removals in 984 events. Eighty-six percent of users reported that the NILCD improved their visual field. When asked to rate specific qualities of the device using a 5-point Likert scale, surgeons gave an average score of 4.56 for ease of setup, 4.10 for ease of insertion, and 4.12 for ease of adjusting and cleaning efficacy. Conclusion: In an initial analysis of 167 cases, the NILCD proved to be an effective and convenient method of cleaning the laparoscopic lens in-vivo. It was associated with good surgeon satisfaction.

Convection-Enhanced Arborizing Catheter System Improves Local/Regional Delivery of Infusates Versus a Single-Port Catheter in Ex Vivo Porcine Brain Tissue.

Standard treatment for glioblastoma is noncurative and only partially effective. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) was developed as an alternative approach for effective loco-regional delivery of drugs via a small catheter inserted into the diseased brain. However, previous CED clinical trials revealed the need for improved catheters for controlled and satisfactory distribution of therapeutics. In this study, the arborizing catheter, consisting of six infusion ports, was compared to a reflux-preventing single-port catheter. Infusions of iohexol at a flow rate of 1 µL/min/microneedle were performed, using the arborizing catheter on one hemisphere and a single-port catheter on the contralateral hemisphere of excised pig brains. The volume dispersed (Vd) of the contrast agent was quantified for each catheter. Vd for the arborizing catheter was significantly higher than for the single-port catheter, 2235.8 ± 569.7 mm3 and 382.2 ± 243.0 mm3, respectively (n = 7). Minimal reflux was observed; however, high Vd values were achieved with the arborizing catheter. With simultaneous infusion using multiple ports of the arborizing catheter, high Vd was achieved at a low infusion rate. Thus, the arborizing catheter promises a highly desirable large volume of distribution of drugs delivered to the brain for the purpose of treating brain tumors.

Controlled Catheter Movement Affects Dye Dispersal Volume in Agarose Gel Brain Phantoms.

The standard of care for treatment of glioblastoma results in a mean survival of only 12 to 15 months. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is an investigational therapy to treat glioblastoma that utilizes locoregional drug delivery via a small-caliber catheter placed into the brain parenchyma. Clinical trials have failed to reach their endpoints due to an inability of standard catheters to fully saturate the entire brain tumor and its margins. In this study, we examine the effects of controlled catheter movement on dye dispersal volume in agarose gel brain tissue phantoms. Four different catheter movement control protocols (stationary, continuous retraction, continuous insertion, and intermittent insertion) were applied for a single-port stepped catheter capable of intrainfusion movement. Infusions of indigo carmine dye into agarose gel brain tissue phantoms were conducted during the controlled catheter movement. The dispersal volume (Vd), forward dispersal volume (Vdf), infusion radius, backflow distance, and forward flow distance were quantified for each catheter movement protocol using optical images recorded throughout the experiment. Vd and Vdf for the retraction and intermittent insertion groups were significantly higher than the stationary group. The stationary group had a small but significantly larger infusion radius than either the retracting or the intermittent insertion groups. The stationary group had a greater backflow distance and lower forward flow distance than either the retraction or the intermittent insertion groups. Continuous retraction of catheters during CED treatments can result in larger Vd than traditional stationary catheters, which may be useful for improving the outcomes of CED treatment of glioblastoma. However, catheter design will be crucial in preventing backflow of infusate up the needle tract, which could significantly alter both the Vd and shape of the infusion.

Parametric Study of the Design Variables of an Arborizing Catheter on Dispersal Volume Using a Biphasic Computational Model.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is an investigational therapy developed to circumvent the limitations of drug delivery to the brain. Catheters are used in CED to locally infuse therapeutic agents into brain tissue. CED has demonstrated clinical utility for treatment of malignant brain tumors; however, CED has been limited by lack of CED-specific catheters. Therefore, we developed a multiport, arborizing catheter to maximize drug distribution for CED. Using a multiphasic finite element (FE) framework, we parametrically determined the influence of design variables of the catheter on the dispersal volume of the infusion. We predicted dispersal volume of a solute infused in a permeable hyperelastic solid matrix, as a function of separation distance (ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 cm) of imbedded infusion cavities that represented individual ports in a multiport catheter. To validate the model, we compared FE solutions of pressure-controlled infusions to experimental data of indigo carmine dye infused in agarose tissue phantoms. The Tc50, defined as the infusion time required for the normalized solute concentration between two sources to equal 50% of the prescribed concentration, was determined for simulations with infusion pressures ranging from 1 to 4 kPa. In our validated model, we demonstrate that multiple ports increase dispersal volume with increasing port distance but are associated with a significant increase in infusion time. Tc50 increases approximately tenfold when doubling the port distance. Increasing the infusion flow rate (from 0.7 µL/min to 8.48 µL/min) can mitigate the increased infusion time. In conclusion, a compromise of port distance and flow rate could improve infusion duration and dispersal volume.

Effect of mechanical optical clearing on near-infrared spectroscopy.

Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a broadly utilized technology with many emerging applications including clinical diagnostics, sports medicine, and functional neuroimaging, to name a few. For functional brain imaging NIR light is delivered at multiple wavelengths through the scalp and skull to the brain to enable spatial oximetry measurements. Dynamic changes in brain oxygenation are highly correlated with neural stimulation, activation, and function. Unfortunately, NIRS is currently limited by its low spatial resolution, shallow penetration depth, and, perhaps most importantly, signal corruption due to light interactions with superficial non-target tissues such as scalp and skull. In response to these issues, we have combined the non-invasive and rapidly reversible method of mechanical tissue optical clearing (MOC) with a commercially available NIRS system. MOC utilizes a compressive loading force on tissue, causing the lateral displacement of blood and water, while simultaneously thinning the tissue. A MOC-NIRS Breath Hold Test displayed a ∼3.5-fold decrease in the time-averaged standard deviation between channels, consequentially promoting greater channel agreement. A Skin Pinch Test was implemented to negate brain and muscle activity from affecting the recorded signal. These results displayed a 2.5-3.0 fold increase in raw signal amplitude. Existing NIRS instrumentation has been further integrated within a custom helmet device to provide a uniform force distribution across the NIRS sensor array. These results showed a gradual decrease in time-averaged standard deviation among channels with an increase in applied pressure. Through these experiments, and the development of the MOC-NIRS helmet device, MOC appears to provide enhancement of NIRS technology beyond its current limitations.

Dynamic Assessment of the Endothelialization of Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels Using an Optical Coherence Tomography Catheter-Based Fluorescence Imaging System.

BACKGROUND: Lumen endothelialization of bioengineered vascular scaffolds is essential to maintain small-diameter graft patency and prevent thrombosis postimplantation. Unfortunately, nondestructive imaging methods to visualize this dynamic process are lacking, thus slowing development and clinical translation of these potential tissue-engineering approaches. To meet this need, a fluorescence imaging system utilizing a commercial optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheter was designed to visualize graft endothelialization. METHODS: C7 DragonFly™ intravascular OCT catheter was used as a channel for delivery and collection of excitation and emission spectra. Poly-dl-lactide (PDLLA) electrospun scaffolds were seeded with endothelial cells (ECs). Seeded cells were exposed to Calcein AM before imaging, causing the living cells to emit green fluorescence in response to blue laser. By positioning the catheter tip precisely over a specimen using high-fidelity electromechanical components, small regions of the specimen were excited selectively. The resulting fluorescence intensities were mapped on a two-dimensional digital grid to generate spatial distribution of fluorophores at single-cell-level resolution. Fluorescence imaging of endothelialization on glass and PDLLA scaffolds was performed using the OCT catheter-based imaging system as well as with a commercial fluorescence microscope. Cell coverage area was calculated for both image sets for quantitative comparison of imaging techniques. Tubular PDLLA scaffolds were maintained in a bioreactor on seeding with ECs, and endothelialization was monitored over 5 days using the OCT catheter-based imaging system. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in images obtained using our imaging system to those acquired with the fluorescence microscope. Cell area coverage calculated using the images yielded similar values. Nondestructive imaging of endothelialization on tubular scaffolds showed cell proliferation with cell coverage area increasing from 15 ± 4% to 89 ± 6% over 5 days. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed the capability of an OCT catheter-based imaging system to obtain single-cell resolution and to quantify endothelialization in tubular electrospun scaffolds. We also compared the resulting images with traditional microscopy, showing high fidelity in image capability. This imaging system, used in conjunction with OCT, could potentially be a powerful tool for in vitro optimization of scaffold cellularization, ensuring long-term graft patency postimplantation.

A review of biotransport education in the 21st century: lessons learned from experts.

The field of bioengineering is relatively new and complex including multiple disciplines encompassing areas in science and engineering. Efforts including the National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) and VaNTH Engineering Research Center in Bioengineering Educational Technologies have been made to establish and disseminate knowledge and proven methods for teaching bioengineering concepts. Further, the summer bioengineering conference (SBC), sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME) Bioengineering Division, was established to provide a meeting place for engineering educators and students having common interests in biological systems. Of the many subdisciplines of bioengineering, biotransport is a key subject that has wide applicability to many issues in engineering, biology, medicine, pharmacology, and environmental science, among others. The absence of standard content, guidelines, and texts needed for teaching biotransport courses to students motivated the Biotransport committee of ASME's Bioengineering Division to establish a biotransport education initiative. Biotransport education workshop sessions were conducted during the SBC 2011, 2012, and 2013 as part of this initiative. The workshop sessions included presentations from experienced faculty covering a spectrum of information from general descriptions of undergraduate biotransport courses to very detailed outlines of graduate courses to successful teaching techniques. A list of texts and references available for teaching biotransport courses at undergraduate and graduate levels has been collated and documented based on the workshop presentations. Further, based on individual teaching experiences and methodologies shared by the presenters, it was noted that active learning techniques, including cooperative and collaborative learning, can be useful for teaching undergraduate courses while problem based learning (PBL) can be a beneficial method for graduate courses. The outcomes of the education initiative will help produce students who are knowledgeable in the subject of biotransport, facile in applying biotransport concepts for solving problems in various application areas, and comfortable with their own abilities as life-long learners.

Influence of hyperthermia on efficacy and uptake of carbon nanohorn-cisplatin conjugates.

Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) have significant potential for use in photothermal therapies due to their capability to absorb near infrared light and deposit heat. Additionally, their extensive relative surface area and volume makes them ideal drug delivery vehicles. Novel multimodal treatments are envisioned in which laser excitation can be utilized in combination with chemotherapeutic-SWNH conjugates to thermally enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the transported drug. Although mild hyperthermia (41-43 °C) has been shown to increase cellular uptake of drugs such as cisplatin (CDDP) leading to thermal enhancement, studies on the effects of hyperthermia on cisplatin loaded nanoparticles are currently limited. After using a carbodiimide chemical reaction to attach CDDP to the exterior surface of SWNHs and nitric acid to incorporate CDDP in the interior volume, we determined the effects of mild hyperthermia on the efficacy of the CDDP-SWNH conjugates. Rat bladder transitional carcinoma cells were exposed to free CDDP or one of two CDDP-SWNH conjugates in vitro at 37 °C and 42 °C with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for each treatment. The in vitro results demonstrate that unlike free CDDP, CDDP-SWNH conjugates do not exhibit thermal enhancement at 42 °C. An increase in viability of 16% and 7% was measured when cells were exposed at 42 deg compared to 37 deg for the surface attached and volume loaded CDDP-SWNH conjugates, respectively. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed a decreased uptake of CDDP-SWNH conjugates at 42 °C compared to 37 °C, revealing the importance of nanoparticle uptake on the CDDP-SWNH conjugate's efficacy, particularly when hyperthermia is used as an adjuvant, and demonstrates the effect of particle size on uptake during mild hyperthermia. The uptake and drug release studies elucidated the difference in viability seen in the drug efficacy studies at different temperatures. We speculate that the disparity in thermal enhancement efficacy observed for free drug compared to the drug SWNH conjugates is due to their intrinsic size differences and, therefore, their mode of cellular uptake: diffusion or endocytosis. These experiments indicate the importance of tuning properties of nanoparticle-drug conjugates to maximize cellular uptake to ensure thermal enhancement in nanoparticle mediated photothermal-chemotherapy treatments.

Single-walled carbon nanohorns decorated with semiconductor quantum dots to evaluate intracellular transport.

Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) have great potential to enhance thermal and chemotherapeutic drug efficiencies for cancer therapies. Despite their diverse capabilities, minimal research has been conducted so far to study nanoparticle intracellular transport, which is an important step in designing efficient therapies. SWNHs, like many other carbon nanomaterials, do not have inherent fluorescence properties making intracellular transport information difficult to obtain. The goals of this project were to (1) develop a simple reaction scheme to decorate the exohedral surface of SWNHs with fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) and improve conjugate stability, and (2) evaluate SWNH-QD conjugate cellular uptake kinetics and localization in various cancer cell lines of differing origins and morphologies. In this study, SWNHs were conjugated to CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs using a unique approach to carbodiimide chemistry. Transmission electron microscopy and electron dispersive spectroscopy verified the conjugation of SWNHs and QDs. Cellular uptake kinetics and efficiency were characterized in three malignant cell lines: U-87 MG (glioblastoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), and AY-27 (bladder transitional cell carcinoma) using flow cytometry. Cellular distribution was verified by confocal microscopy, and cytotoxicity was also evaluated using an alamarBlue assay. Results indicate that cellular uptake kinetics and efficiency are highly dependent on cell type, highlighting the significance of studying nanoparticle transport at the cellular level. Nanoparticle intracellular transport investigations may provide information to optimize treatment parameters (e.g., SWNH concentration, treatment time, etc.) depending on tumor etiology.

Fiberoptic microneedle device facilitates volumetric infusate dispersion during convection-enhanced delivery in the brain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A fiberoptic microneedle device (FMD) was designed and fabricated for the purpose of enhancing the volumetric dispersal of macromolecules delivered to the brain through convection-enhanced delivery (CED) by concurrent delivery of sub-lethal photothermal hyperthermia. This study's objective was to demonstrate enhanced dispersal of fluid tracer molecules through co-delivery of 1,064 nm laser energy in an in vivo rodent model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FMDs capable of co-delivering fluids and laser energy through a single light-guiding capillary tube were fabricated. FMDs were stereotactically inserted symmetrically into both cerebral hemispheres of 16 anesthetized rats to a depth of 1.5 mm. Laser irradiation (1,064 nm) at 0 (control), 100, and 200 mW was administered concurrently with CED infusions of liposomal rhodamine (LR) or gadolinium-Evans blue-serum albumin conjugated complex (Gd-EBA) at a flow rate of 0.1 µl/min for 1 hour. Line pressures were monitored during the infusions. Rodents were sacrificed immediately following infusion and their brains were harvested, frozen, and serially cryosectioned for histopathologic and volumetric analyses. RESULTS: Analysis by ANOVA methods demonstrated that co-delivery enhanced volumetric dispersal significantly, with measured volumes of 15.8 ± 0.6 mm(3) for 100 mW compared to 10.0 ± 0.4 mm(3) for its fluid only control and 18.0 ± 0.3 mm(3) for 200 mW compared to 10.3 ± 0.7 mm(3) for its fluid only control. Brains treated with 200 mW co-delivery exhibited thermal lesions, while 100 mW co-deliveries were associated with preservation of brain cytoarchitecture. CONCLUSION: Both lethal and sub-lethal photothermal hyperthermia substantially increase the rate of volumetric dispersal in a 1 hour CED infusion. This suggests that the FMD co-delivery method could reduce infusion times and the number of catheter insertions into the brain during CED procedures.

3D viability imaging of tumor phantoms treated with single-walled carbon nanohorns and photothermal therapy.

A new image analysis method called the spatial phantom evaluation of cellular thermal response in layers (SPECTRL) is presented for assessing spatial viability response to nanoparticle enhanced photothermal therapy in tissue representative phantoms. Sodium alginate phantoms seeded with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and single-walled nanohorns were laser irradiated with an ytterbium fiber laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm and irradiance of 3.8 W cm(-2) for 10-80 s. SPECTRL quantitatively assessed and correlated 3D viability with spatiotemporal temperature. Based on this analysis, kill and transition zones increased from 3.7 mm(3) and 13 mm(3) respectively to 44.5 mm(3) and 44.3 mm(3) as duration was increased from 10 to 80 s. SPECTRL provides a quantitative tool for measuring precise spatial treatment regions, providing information necessary to tailor therapy protocols.

Imaging and characterization of bioengineered blood vessels within a bioreactor using free-space and catheter-based OCT.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Regenerative medicine involves the bioengineering of a functional tissue or organ by seeding living cells on a biodegradable scaffold cultured in a bioreactor. A major barrier to creating functional tissues, however, has been the inability to monitor the dynamic and complex process of scaffold maturation in real time, making control and optimization extremely difficult. Current methods to assess maturation of bioengineered constructs, such as histology or organ bath physiology, are sample-destructive. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently emerged as a key modality for structural assessment of native blood vessels as well as engineered vessel mimics. The objective of this study was to monitor and assess in real time the development of a bioengineered blood vessel using a novel approach of combining both free-space and catheter-based OCT imaging in a new quartz-walled bioreactor. Development of the blood vessel was characterized by changes in thickness and scattering coefficient over a 30-day period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed a novel blood vessel bioreactor utilizing a rotating cylindrical quartz cuvette permitting free-space OCT imaging of an installed vessel's outer surface. A vascular endoscopic OCT catheter was used to image the lumen of the vessels. The quartz cuvette permits 360 degree, free-space OCT imaging of the blood vessel. Bioengineered blood vessels were fabricated using biodegradable polymers (15% PCL/collagen, ∼300 µm thick) and seeded with CH3 10t1/2 mesenchymal stem cells. A swept-source OCT imaging system comprised of a 20 kHz tunable laser (Santec HSL2000) with 1,300 nm central wavelength and 110 nm FWHM bandwidth was used to assess the vessels. OCT images were obtained at days 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 30. Free-space (exterior surface) OCT images were co-registered with endoscopic OCT images to determine the vessel wall thickness. DAPI-stained histological sections, acquired at same time point, were evaluated to quantify wall thickness and cellular infiltration. Non-linear curve fitting of free-space OCT data to the extended Huygen-Fresnel model was performed to determine optical scattering properties. RESULTS: Vessel wall thickness increased from 435 ± 15 µm to 610 ± 27 µm and Vessel scattering coefficient increased from 3.73 ± 0.32 cm⁻¹ to 5.74 ± 0.06 cm⁻¹ over 30 days. Histological studies showed cell migration from the scaffold surface toward the lumen and cell proliferation over the same time course. The imaging procedure did not have any significant impact on scaffold dimensions, cell migration, or cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that combination of free-space and catheter-based OCT for blood vessel imaging provides accurate structural information of the developing blood vessel. We determined that free-space OCT images could be co-registered with catheter-based OCT images to monitor structural features such as wall thickness or delamination of the developing tissue-engineered blood vessel within a bioreactor. Structural parameters and optical properties obtained from OCT imaging correlate with histological sections of the blood vessel and could potentially be used as markers to non-invasively and non-destructively assess regeneration of engineered tissues in real time.

Dynamic, nondestructive imaging of a bioengineered vascular graft endothelium.

Bioengineering of vascular grafts holds great potential to address the shortcomings associated with autologous and conventional synthetic vascular grafts used for small diameter grafting procedures. Lumen endothelialization of bioengineered vascular grafts is essential to provide an antithrombogenic graft surface to ensure long-term patency after implantation. Conventional methods used to assess endothelialization in vitro typically involve periodic harvesting of the graft for histological sectioning and staining of the lumen. Endpoint testing methods such as these are effective but do not provide real-time information of endothelial cells in their intact microenvironment, rather only a single time point measurement of endothelium development. Therefore, nondestructive methods are needed to provide dynamic information of graft endothelialization and endothelium maturation in vitro. To address this need, we have developed a nondestructive fiber optic based (FOB) imaging method that is capable of dynamic assessment of graft endothelialization without disturbing the graft housed in a bioreactor. In this study we demonstrate the capability of the FOB imaging method to quantify electrospun vascular graft endothelialization, EC detachment, and apoptosis in a nondestructive manner. The electrospun scaffold fiber diameter of the graft lumen was systematically varied and the FOB imaging system was used to noninvasively quantify the affect of topography on graft endothelialization over a 7-day period. Additionally, results demonstrated that the FOB imaging method had a greater imaging penetration depth than that of two-photon microscopy. This imaging method is a powerful tool to optimize vascular grafts and bioreactor conditions in vitro, and can be further adapted to monitor endothelium maturation and response to fluid flow bioreactor preconditioning.

Intracranial hyperthermia through local photothermal heating with a fiberoptic microneedle device.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The fiberoptic microneedle device (FMD) seeks to leverage advantages of both laser-induced thermal therapy (LITT) and convection-enhanced delivery (CED) to increase volumetric dispersal of locally infused chemotherapeutics through sub-lethal photothermal heat generation. This study focused on determination of photothermal damage thresholds with 1,064 nm light delivered through the FMD into in vivo rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FMDs capable of co-delivering laser energy and fluid agents were fabricated through a novel off-center splicing technique involving fusion of a multimode fiberoptic to light-guiding capillary tubing. FMDs were positioned at a depth of 2.5 mm within the cerebrum of male rats with fluoroptic temperature probes placed within 1 mm of the FMD tip. Irradiation (without fluid infusion) was conducted at laser powers of 0 (sham), 100, 200, 500, or 750 mW. Evans blue-serum albumin conjugated complex solution (EBA) and laser energy co-delivery were performed in a second set of preliminary experiments. RESULTS: Maximum, steady-state temperatures of 38.7 ± 1.6 and 42.0 ± 0.9 °C were measured for the 100 and 200 mW experimental groups, respectively. Histological investigation demonstrated needle insertion damage alone for sham and 100 mW irradiations. Photothermal damage was detected at 200 mW, although observable thermal damage was limited to a small penumbra of cerebral cortical microcavitation and necrosis that immediately surrounded the region of FMD insertion. Co-delivery of EBA and laser energy presented increased volumetric dispersal relative to infusion-only controls. CONCLUSION: Fluoroptic temperature sensing and histopathological assessments demonstrated that a laser power of 100 mW results in sub-lethal brain hyperthermia, and the optimum, sub-lethal target energy range is likely 100-200 mW. The preliminary FMD-CED experiments confirmed the feasibility of augmenting fluid dispersal using slight photothermal heat generation, demonstrating the FMD's potential as a way to increase the efficacy of CED in treating MG.