University of North Texas Health Science Center 5 articles published in JoVE Biology Optimizing Mouse Primary Lens Epithelial Cell Culture: A Comprehensive Guide to Trypsinization Yu Yu*1, Jinmin Zhang*1, Hongli Wu1,2 1Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 2North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center This manuscript outlines a detailed video protocol for culturing primary lens epithelial cells (LECs), aiming to improve reproducibility and aid research in cataracts and posterior capsule opacification (PCO). It offers step-by-step instructions on lens dissection, LECs isolation, and validation, serving as a valuable guide, especially for newcomers in the field. Bioengineering Creation of a Knee Joint-on-a-Chip for Modeling Joint Diseases and Testing Drugs Meagan J. Makarcyzk1,2, Zhong Alan Li1,3, Ilhan Yu1, Haruyo Yagi1, Xiurui Zhang1, Lauren Yocum1, Eileen Li1, Madalyn R. Fritch1, Qi Gao4, Bruce A. Bunnell5, Stuart B. Goodman4,6, Rocky S. Tuan1,8, Peter G. Alexander1,7, Hang Lin1,2,7 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, 3Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, 5Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 6Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 7McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 8The Chinese University of Hong Kong We provide detailed methods for generating four types of tissues from human mesenchymal stem cells, which are used to recapitulate the cartilage, bone, fat pad, and synovium in the human knee joint. These four tissues are integrated into a customized bioreactor and connected through microfluidics, thus generating a knee joint-on-a-chip. Neuroscience Translaminar Autonomous System Model for the Modulation of Intraocular and Intracranial Pressure in Human Donor Posterior Segments Tasneem P. Sharma1, Stacy M. Curry1, Husain Lohawala2, Colleen McDowell3 1North Texas Eye Research Institute, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 2Mechanical Engineer Consultant, 3Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin We describe and detail the use of the translaminar autonomous system. This system utilizes the human posterior segment to independently regulate the pressure inside the segment (intraocular) and surrounding the optic nerve (intracranial) to generate a translaminar pressure gradient that mimics features of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Behavior A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings Robert Carter III1, Kirtigandha Salwe Carter2, John Holliday3, Alice Holliday3, Carlton Keith Harrison4 1Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 2Department of Integrative Physiology, The University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3Works of Wonder International, 4DeVos Graduate Sports Business Management Program, University of Central Florida Stress is an unavoidable and persistent component of life and holistic approaches for its management are being considered. A standardized methodology was created to demonstrate the feasibility of a breath-based stress management protocol that can be used with commercially available portable technology. Bioengineering Preparation and Characterization of Novel HDL-mimicking Nanoparticles for Nerve Growth Factor Encapsulation Jing Zhu1, Xiaowei Dong1 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center Simple homogenization was used to prepare novel, high-density, lipoprotein-mimicking nanoparticles to encapsulate nerve growth factor. Challenges, detailed protocols for nanoparticle preparation, in vitro characterization, and in vivo studies are described in this article.
