There are an estimated 300 million people worldwide who are affected by asthma, a respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the airways. One key process during an asthmatic event is vasodilation (i.e., the widening of blood vessels) in the lungs which causes increased blood flow and inflammation, making it difficult to breathe. Processes like vasodilation are mediated by the exchange of chemical signals between cells. Crucial to advancing our knowledge and understanding of inflammatory disease progression is gaining more insight into the underlying cellular communication during complex signaling events. Current methods used to study cell signaling include 2D cell culture studies which often lack spatial biological relevance or animal models, which are not adequate for understanding inflammation in humans. We developed a user-friendly method that can be used to measure cytokine response during inflammatory processes, including vasodilation. Our device enables the creation of a model blood vessel structure, offering a simple approach to test potential drug treatments. A 3D printed device is used to form hydrogel rings in a range of sizes. The rings are comprised of cell-laden collagen I to mimic blood vessels; vasodilators and constrictors can then be introduced to the solution housing the free-standing vessels. We then collect and analyze the solution to identify the chemical signals released by the cells during treatment with the drug. By identifying key chemical signals mediating disease pathways, we can begin to target those chemical signals and develop new therapeutic treatments.

Though renewed efforts in tuberculosis (TB) research have facilitated massive strides towards treating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), TB remains a global health problem with an estimated 10 million infections and 1.4 million deaths in 2019. The ability of the pathogen to hide itself inside a granuloma, a mass of immune cells whose precise mechanism of regulation is unknown, prevents both the study of M.tb pathogenesis and the development of drugs or treatments. Current in vivo models have been established to study TB infection using animal models or tissues, limiting its biological relevance as it relates to human disease while current in vitro models lack components of the complex lung microenvironment during infection. We present the creation of a novel microscale infection model, which uses open and suspended microfluidic principles to enable spatial and temporal manipulation of cultures in suspended hydrogel plugs. By stacking together two devices, we demonstrate the ability of a suspended model granuloma consisting of M.bovis BCG (Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin) and monocyte-derived macrophages to interact with a model vasculature layer consisting of endothelial cells. Analysis of soluble factors for proinflammatory cytokines and characterization of infection-dependent angiogenesis in the vasculature layer are used to verify communication between cultures. In the future, we envision this model expanding to contain multiple immune cell types and to incorporate additional aspects of the lung anatomy to approach a more accurate pathophysiological model as a tool for other researchers.

Standard diagnostic tests for common bacterial and viral infections are invasive and uncomfortable, especially for children. Difficulty performing these tests leads to diseases such as strep throat or pneumonia going undiagnosed in children with significant health risks. There is a need for more accessible diagnostics. Our research uses saliva analysis as a diagnostic medium for Streptococcus pyogenes. This presentation depicts a novel saliva collection platform that is designed and engineered to be child-friendly, effective at pathogen collection, and is suitable for home use. We produced prototype devices using 3D printing, computer numerical control (CNC milling), and molding. Human studies were performed to examine usability and inform further design. In addition to engineering the device, we tested coatings and capture of bacteria. Preliminary data finds success in capturing S. pyogenes. Collection of commensal oral bacteria capture is the next step of our human studies. Our expectation is to find success with our device in a human mouth. Once our device and system are established, we plan to expand to include additional diseases. We will be presenting our innovations in the device as well as our preliminary data on the efficient capture of bacteria. We hope this technology will provide diagnostics with a way to provide care to underserved populations as well as help us to better collect data regarding the bacteria and viruses present in previously inaccessible populations.