Nanostructured surfaces have demonstrated extraordinary capacity to influence protein adsorption and cellular responses, although the mechanisms behind such capacity are still not clear to date. In the present study, the role of surface energy associated with nanostructured stiff surfaces in modulating fibronectin and consequently osteoblast (OB, bone forming cells) responses was investigated. Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) and submicron crystalline diamond (SMCD) films with controllable surface energy were prepared by microwave-enhanced plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) techniques. Fibronectin adsorption on the diamond films with varied surface energy values was measured via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the relationship between the surface energy and fibronectin adsorption was studied. OB aggregates (each containing 30∼50 cells) on the NCD with varied surface energy values were also studied. The results indicated that fibronectin adsorption on nanostructured surfaces was closely related to both surface energy and material microstructures, and osteoblast spreading and migration on stiff nanosurfaces are surface energy-driven processes.

The goal of this research was to investigate the ability of lubricin to prevent bio-fouling of intraocular lenses after surgery, through surface coating trials with lubricin and analogues of the two major sub-units of the lubricin molecule (mucin and vitronectin). Yearly, there are over 6 million surgeries worldwide that involve intraocular lenses (IOLs) 1. However, preventing post-operative biofouling and bacterial infection of these implants remains a challenge 2. Surface modification of IOLs may provide a solution. This study proposes the use of the anti-adhesive protein lubricin (LUB), a glycoprotein found in the synovial fluid, as a means to make polymer surfaces less prone to bacterial adhesion and proliferation; thus, reducing the opportunity for post-operative infection 3. This study used extended bacteria growth trials on tissue cultures polystyrene coated with either lubricin, vitronectin, or mucin to investigate how lubricin and protein sub-regions of lubricin may reduce bacterial adhesion and proliferation.

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developed countries.Early detection of the cancer can greatly increase both survival rates and quality of life for patients. A magnto-acoustic based method had been previously proposed for early tumor detection, in a minimal invasive procedure, using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). However, in order to accompany tumor identification with immediate treatment, a complementary tumor localization algorithm was needed. Therefore, our objective was to measure the acoustic signals generated by the MNP conjugated tumor in an optimal multi sensor array and estimate the 3D location of the tumor in real time. A Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) based localization algorithm was developed, and implemented in computerized simulations on the breast tissue geometry. Tumor localization feasibility and the hyperbolic positioning algorithm performance were evaluated. Overall performance yielded localization with a median Euclidean distance of 2.8mm. Such performance indicates that tumor localization was estimated with high accuracy, and suggests that the combination of magneto-acoustic detection along with a TDOA based localization algorithm can produce an efficient tumor diagnostic system. It enables the detection of tumor presence, as well as the triangulation of its location, and can be further developed into a powerful “image and treat” system.