Silk as a Multifunctional Biomaterial Substrate for Reduced Glial Scarring around Brain‐Penetrating Electrodes

The reliability of chronic, brain‐penetrating electrodes must be improved for these ‐neural recording technologies to be viable in widespread clinical applications. One approach to improving electrode reliability is to reduce the foreign body response at the probe‐tissue interface. In this work, silk fibroin is investigated as a candidate material for fabricating mechanically dynamic neural probes with enhanced biocompatibility compared to traditional electrode materials. Silk coatings are applied to flexible cortical electrodes to produce devices that transition from stiff to flexible upon hydration. Theoretical modeling and in vitro testing show that the silk coatings impart mechanical properties sufficient for the electrodes to penetrate brain tissue. Further, it is demonstrated that silk coatings may reduce some markers of gliosis in an in vitro model and that silk can encapsulate and release the gliosis‐modifying enzyme chondroitinase ABC. This work establishes a basis for future in vivo studies of silk‐based brain‐penetrating electrodes, as well as the use of silk materials for other applications in the central nervous system where gliosis must be controlled. Silk fibroin is investigated as a novel material for fabricating brain‐penetrating electrodes with dynamic mechanical properties and the capacity to deliver sensitive therapeutics. Silk coatings are shown to natively reduce some markers of gliosis in vitro, and a further reduction is demonstrated by encapsulation and release of the enzyme chondroitinase ABC.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98822/1/3185_ftp.pd

The Continuum of Microbial Ecosystems along the Female Reproductive Tract: Implications for Health and Fertility

The microbial ecosystem of the female urogenital tract is composed of many niche microenvironments across multiple organ systems in the urinary and reproductive tract. It is complex and contains a variety of bacteria, archaea, viruses, yeast, and protozoa—Many of which are still unidentified or whose functionality is unknown. Unlike the gut microbiome, whose composition is relatively stable in the absence of external perturbations, the urogenital microbiome is constantly shifting in response to biological cycles such as hormonal fluctuations during menstruation. Microbial composition differs between women but the dominance of some microbial families, such as Lactobacillaceae and other lactic acid-producing bacteria, are shared. Research suggests that it is difficult to define a universal healthy urogenital microbiome and consequently map a path to recovery from disease due to dysbiosis. Due to its temporal shifts, the female urogenital microbiome offers a unique opportunity to examine the biological mechanisms that work to restore a microbiome to its baseline. Common functional disorders in women’s health are often difficult to diagnose and treat, are prone to recurrence, and can lead to subfertility or infertility. Knowledge of the interconnected microorganism communities along the continuum of the female reproductive tract could revolutionize the quality of women’s healthcare