Document text
Principal Investigator: ANDREW K. GODWIN
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $217,550
Funding agency: National Institute of General Medical Sciences
ABSTRACT
The goals of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Core within the Kansas Institute of Precision Medicine COBRE
is two-fold: (1) Provide pioneering tools for the isolation of Liquid Biopsy Markers (LBMs) and small molecules
of biological or clinical importance (Liquid Biopsy Unit); and (2) generate innovative microfluidic and nanofluidic
devices in plastics for translational research (Plastics Engineering Unit). Outputs from both units has generated
microfluidic tools to allow for the efficient isolation of disease biomarkers with the ability to process blood, plasma,
saliva, and urine samples. The unique infrastructure of the BME Core and its outputs assist the KIPM COBRE
members, including Research Project Leaders (RPLs) and Pilot Project Leaders (PPLs) as well as researchers
outside of the KIPM to advance their science and effectively competing for federally funded research projects.
Under the auspices of the BME Core, we have developed state-of-the-art assays and the associated microfluidic
tools to support discovery and translational work. Some of our microfluidic tools are used for the efficient isolation
of liquid biopsy markers, including extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell free molecules, and rare biological cells. EVs
are an evolving liquid biopsy marker – related markers include lipid nanoparticles, and polymer nanoparticles –
due to the high abundance found in biological fluids and the molecular cargo they carry in spite of their small
size (<200 nm). Accurate characterization (i.e., size, concentration, presence of specific surface proteins) of
these particles remains elusive requiring an array of optical instrumentation and highly trained personnel to infer
vague conclusions from indirect measurements and assumptions to deduce their properties. Peer review data
suggest that Spectradyne’s ARC™ particle analyzer delivers direct, accurate, and fast measurements that will
help users of our BME Core for securing tangible results and enabling new discoveries. The Spectradyne’s
technology allows for unique analyses of EVs and other nanoparticles such as polymer nanoparticles, liposomes,
viruses, bacteria etc. that can play a central role in the field of precision medicine, the central theme of the KIPM.
Ultimately, the novel analytical capabilities of this technology will allow for a better understanding of novel
biomarkers, such EVs or lipid/polymer nanoparticles allowing for concentration and payload determinations.
Terms: <Antigens><Assay><Bacteria><Bioassay><Biogenesis><Biological><Biological Assay><Biological Markers><Biomedical Engineering><Blood><Blood Plasma><Blood Reticuloendothelial System><COBRE><Cell Body><Cells><Center of Biomedical Research Excellence><Centers of Research Excellence><Characteristics><Clinical><Data><Devices><Disease><Disorder><Engineering><Evaluation><Fluorescence><Funding><Goals><Human Resources><Infrastructure><Investigators><Kansas><Lipid Bilayers><Lipids><Liposomal><Liposomes><Liquid substance><Manpower><Measurement><Membrane Protein Gene><Membrane Proteins><Membrane-Associated Proteins><Microfluidics><Molecular><Optics><Origin of Life><Output><Peer Review><Physiologic pulse><Pilot Projects><Plasma><Plasma Serum><Plastics><Play><Process><Property><Pulse><R-Series Research Projects><R01 Mechanism><R01 Program><Research Grants><Research Personnel><Research Project Grants><Research Projects><Researchers><Reticuloendothelial System, Serum, Plasma><Role><Saliva><Sampling><Science><Secure><Surface Proteins><Technology><Training><Translational Research><Translational Science><Urine><Virus><Work><bio-engineered><bio-engineers><bio-markers><bioengineering><biologic><biologic marker><biological engineering><biomarker><experiment><experimental research><experimental study><experiments><extracellular vesicles><fluid><immunogen><innovate><innovation><innovative><instrument><instrumentation><lipid based nanoparticle><lipid bilayer membrane><lipid nanoparticle><liquid><liquid biopsy><member><metrology><nano fluidic><nano particle><nano polymer><nano-sized particle><nanofluidic><nanoparticle><nanopolymer><nanosized particle><new marker><novel><novel biomarker><novel marker><optical><particle><personnel><pilot study><precision medicine><precision-based medicine><small molecule><social role><tool><translation research><translational investigation><µfluidic>