Professor Iman Noshadi from the University of California, Riverside have developed a choline BIL-functionalized GelMA hydrogel (BioGel) with multifunctional properties for chronic wound treatment. The invention works by enhancing gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) with a special choline-based bio-ionic liquid, which significantly increases the number of intact vascular tubes compared to standard GelMA. Research results suggest that BioGel can accelerate wound closure, with chronic wounds fully healing in about 21 days. This technology is advantageous over existing treatments because the application of BioGel may accelerate chronic wound closure, reduce biofilm, and promote hair regrowth. 

Professor Iman Noshadi and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed an innovative, transparent, and highly effective material called BioPEG hydrogel for corneal repair. This technology is a next-generation anti-microbial bioadhesive that leverages a flexible polymer (PEGDA) to provide a scaffold that is supple enough to conform to the delicate surface of the eye and facilitate corneal repair and regeneration. This technology is advantageous because the antimicrobial hydrogel is applied as a liquid and rapidly cures using visible light to form a strong, watertight, and highly adhesive transparent patch.    Fig 1: A schematic of the UCR BioPEG synthesis: visible light crosslinks the hydrogel structure from polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and bio-ionic liquid. 

Professor Jin Nam and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed novel synthesize piezoelectric scaffolds that can be remotely activated without a physically connected electrical wire to produce optimal electric fields in vivo for enhanced nerve regeneration. The technology works by using a biocompatible nanofibrous scaffold with a mesh-like structure that mimics the body’s natural tissue architecture and is made from piezoelectric materials. This technology allows for the mechano-electrical stimulation (MES) on endogenous or transplanted stem cells to enhance their neural differentiation/maturation. This technology is advantageous because this scaffold can be applied as a conduit or patch and activated remotely and non-invasively.  Fig 1: In vivo characterization of piezoelectric conduits and their impact on sciatic nerve regeneration. (a) A photo showing the transplantation of the P(VDF-TrFE) conduit into the rat to bridge the sciatic nerve gap. (b) Shockwave magnitude-dependent voltage outputs from P(VDF-TrFE) conduits. (c) A zoomed-in voltage output graph showing the  generation of 200 mVp-p under the 4-bar pressure of the shockwave actuation. (d, e) Large-field-of-view immunofluorescence images showing the entire structure of P(VDF-TrFE) conduit and ingrowth tissue, bridging transected sciatic nerve in (d) static and (e) MES conditions (NF200: axonal marker NF200; S1-S4 denote each of the 4 rats in the static group while MES1-MES4 denote each of the 4 rats from the MES group).

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Professor Linlin Zhao and their team from the University of California, Riverside have developed mTAP, a new chemical probe engineered to selectively bind to abasic sites within mitochondrial DNA without affecting nuclear DNA. Unlike non-specific agents, mTAP is equipped with a mitochondria-targeting group, ensuring its precise localization. This invention is advantageous over current technology because its mechanism of action involves forming a stable chemical bond with damaged DNA sites, thereby protecting mtDNA from enzymatic cleavage and maintaining its replication and transcriptional activities.    Fig 1: The UCR mitochondria-targeting water-soluble probe mTAP exclusively reacts with mitochondrial abasic sites, and retains mitochondrial DNA levels under genotoxic stress which are responsible for certain mitochondrial diseases.