Albert Y Huang

Publications of Albert Y Huang

• Neural precursor cell lines promote neurite branching.

  Authors: Craig M Neville, Albert Y Huang, Jeffrey Y Shyu, Evan Y Snyder, Tessa A Hadlock, Cathryn A Sundback

  The International journal of neuroscience. 02/2009; 119(1):15-39.

  Schwann cells and primary progenitor cells improve regeneration across peripheral nerve defects. This study examined the impact of immortalized neural precursor cells on regeneration of rat nerveSchwann cells and primary progenitor cells improve regeneration across peripheral nerve defects. This study examined the impact of immortalized neural precursor cells on regeneration of rat nerve defects. Across 10-mm gaps, neuromas formed without neural cables with C17.2- or RN33B-transplanted cells, but neural cables formed across 5-mm gaps seeded with RN33B cells. In vitro, dorsal root ganglia neurites elongated across Schwann and RN33B cells; RN33B cells induced neurite branching with shorter total outgrowth. Neural cable formation in vivo was likely determined by the balance of guidance and branch-inducing factors secreted by Schwann and transplanted precursor cells.

• Degradation behavior of poly(glycerol sebacate).

  Authors: Irina Pomerantseva, Nicholas Krebs, Alison Hart, Craig M Neville, Albert Y Huang, Cathryn A Sundback

  Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A. 01/2009;

  Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a promising scaffold material for soft tissue engineering applications, is a soft, tough elastomer with excellent biocompatibility. However, the rapid in vivoPoly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a promising scaffold material for soft tissue engineering applications, is a soft, tough elastomer with excellent biocompatibility. However, the rapid in vivo degradation rate of PGS limits its use as a scaffold material. To determine the impact of crosslink density on degradation rate, a family of PGS materials was synthesized by incrementally increasing the curing time from 42 to 144 h, at 120 degrees C and 10 mTorr vacuum. As expected, PGS became a stiffer, tougher, and stronger elastomer with increasing curing time. PGS disks were subcutaneously implanted into rats and periodically harvested; only mild tissue responses were observed and the biocompatibility remained excellent. Regardless of crosslink density, surface erosion degradation was observed. The sample dimensions linearly decreased with implantation time, and the mass loss rates were constant after 1-week implantation. As surface erosion degradation frequently correlates with enzymatic digestion, parallel in vitro digestion studies were conducted in lipase solutions which hydrolyze ester bonds. Enzymatic digestion played a significant role in degrading PGS, and the mass loss rates were not a function of curing time. Alternative chemistry approaches will be required to decrease the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of the ester bonds in PGS polymers. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009.

• Comparison of hydrogels in the in vivo formation of tissue-engineered bone using mesenchymal stem cells and beta-tricalcium phosphate.

  Authors: Christian Weinand, Rajiv Gupta, Albert Y Huang, Eli Weinberg, Ijad Madisch, Rameez A Qudsi, Craig M Neville, Irina Pomerantseva, Joseph P Vacanti

  Tissue engineering. 05/2007; 13(4):757-65.

  Availability of grafts and morbidity at the donor site limit autologous transplantation in patients requiring bone reconstruction. A tissue-engineering approach can overcome these limitations byAvailability of grafts and morbidity at the donor site limit autologous transplantation in patients requiring bone reconstruction. A tissue-engineering approach can overcome these limitations by producing bone-like tissue of custom shape and size from isolated cells. Several hydrogels facilitate osteogenesis on porous scaffolds; however, the relative suitability of various hydrogels has not been rigorously assessed. Fibrin glue, alginate, and collagen I hydrogels were mixed with swine bone marrow-derived differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), applied to 3-dimensionally printed porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) scaffolds and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Although noninvasive assessment of osteogenesis in 3 dimensions is desirable for monitoring new bone formation in vivo, correlations with traditional histological and mechanical testing need to be established. High-resolution volumetric computed tomography (VCT) scanning, histological examination, biomechanical compression testing, and osteonectin (ON) expression were performed on excised scaffolds after 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of subcutaneous implantation in mice. Statistical correlation analyses were performed between radiological density, stiffness, and ON expression. Use of collagen I as a hydrogel carrier produced superior bone formation at 6 weeks, as demonstrated using VCT scanning with densities similar to native bone and the highest compression values. Continued contribution of the seeded MSCs was demonstrated using swine-specific messenger ribonucleic acid probes. Radiological density values correlated closely with the results of histological and biomechanical testing and ON expression. High-resolution VCT is a promising method for monitoring osteogenesis.

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