Author: Raquel Ajalik

Introduction: This post presents a comprehensive protocol detailing an in vitro seeding and culturing method tailored for diverse cellular monolayer and tissue interfaces. These interfaces necessitate varying culturing conditions and extended timeframes, facilitated through modular device utilization. The methodology focuses on endothelial cells interfacing a three-dimensional (3D) tissue construct, demarcated by a porous membrane within…

The Burden of Tendon Injuries on HealthCare: Acute and chronic tendon injuries commonly affecting the working-age population are frequently work-related and have negative socioeconomic outcomes such as productivity loss, income loss, and unemployment(O’Hara et al., 2020). Tendon injuries are often multifaceted and can be characterized by inflammation and degenerative changes in tendon structures collectively known…

Background: The human Tendon-on-Chip (hToC) spans collaboration between the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR) at the UR and the McGrath lab to develop an in vitro platform to study inflammation, fibrosis, and cell-cycle regulation in fibrovascular tendon healing. Interaction between the blood-tendon-barrier (BTB) is fundamental to the investigation of this pathology as part of the…

Just wanted to drop this data here in case it may be useful for others in the lab. I calculated the volumetric flow rates for one of the peristaltic pumps used in the lab for the flow circuit in cell-culture. The setting # is the bar # on the peristaltic pump controller (the 10 bars…

Introduction: Transforming Growth Factor -β1 (TGF-β1) is a key player in the induction and progression of fibrosis in many tissues. This factor has also been established as a regulator in the development of fibrotic diseases for its involvement of different signaling pathways and cross-talks between many signaling cascades. We are in collaboration with Dr. Hani…

This post serves as an introduction to the uni-axial motion envisioned to be integrated into the tendon-on-chip platform. As discussed previously we are working in junction with Dr. Awad from the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR) center at UR to develop an in vitro platform to study fibrosis and inflammation in tendon tissue. One important…

This is my draft presentation for my CMSR presentation on December 4th. Link

This post serves as a summary of the work done during my rotation in the McGrath lab this summer. Over the course of six weeks, I shadowed projects covered in the lab along with the specializations of microfluidic devices and porous membranes. I worked closely with Tejas, who gave me a glimpse of his work…