Nishtha Panwar

A Self‐Powered Implantable Drug‐Delivery System Using Biokinetic Energy

The first triboelectric-nanogenerator (TENG)-based self-powered implantable drug-delivery system is presented. Pumping flow rates from 5.3 to 40 µL min-1 under different rotating speeds of the TENG are realized. The implantable drug-delivery system can be powered with a TENG device rotated by human hand motion. Ex vivo trans-sclera drug delivery in porcine eyes is demonstrated by utilizing the biokinetic energies of human hands.

Fundus Photography in the 21st Century—A Review of Recent Technological Advances and Their Implications for Worldwide Healthcare

BACKGROUND The introduction of fundus photography has impacted retinal imaging and retinal screening programs significantly. LITERATURE REVIEW Fundus cameras play a vital role in addressing the cause of preventive blindness. More attention is being turned to developing countries, where infrastructure and access to healthcare are limited. One of the major limitations for tele-ophthalmology is restricted access to the office-based fundus camera. RESULTS Recent advances in access to telecommunications coupled with introduction of portable cameras and smartphone-based fundus imaging systems have resulted in an exponential surge in available technologies for portable fundus photography. Retinal cameras in the near future would have to cater to these needs by featuring a low-cost, portable design with automated controls and digitalized images with Web-based transfer. CONCLUSIONS In this review, we aim to highlight the advances of fundus photography for retinal screening as well as discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and implications of the various technologies that are currently available.

Functionalized MoS2 Nanosheets as Multi-Gene Delivery Vehicles for In Vivo Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are categorized as novel two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with unique physical and chemical properties, bearing varied applications in medical and materials sciences. However, only a few works report the application of TMDCs for gene therapy in cancer treatment. Here, we engineer a multi-gene delivery system based on functionalized monolayer MoS2, which can co-deliver HDAC1 and KRAS small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to Panc-1 cancer cells for combinational cancer therapy. The synergistic effect of gene silencing therapy and NIR phototherapy is demonstrated by inhibition of both genes, in vitro cell growth rate, and in vivo tumor volume growth rate, exemplifying pre-eminent anticancer efficacy. This anti-tumor effect is a result of the photothermal effect of MoS2 induced by NIR excitation and inactivation of HDAC1 and KRAS genes, which consequently bring about apoptosis, inhibit migration, and induce cell cycle arrest in the treated Panc-1 cells. Moreover, good biocompatibility and reduced cytotoxicity of MoS2-based nanocarriers enable their metabolism within in vitro and in vivo mouse models over a prolonged duration without any evident ill-effects. In summary, we demonstrate the promising potential of low-toxicity, functionalized MoS2 nanocarriers as a biocompatible gene delivery system for in vivo pancreatic adenocarcinoma therapy.

Pressure-driven particle focusing in lab-on-a-chip flow cytometers: The choice between sheath-assisted and inertial focusing

We describe two different particle focusing approaches in microfluidic channels: sheath-assisted and inertial forces-assisted, for lab-on-a-chip flow cytometry applications. The conditions and ranges of all parameters that define these focusing techniques are discussed. Simulation and experimental results for particle focusing using both techniques are presented.

An optofluidic approach for gold nanoprobes based-cancer theranostics

Suppression of overexpressed gene mutations in cancer cells through RNA interference (RNAi) technique is a therapeutically effective modality for oncogene silencing. In general, transfection agent is needed for siRNA delivery. Also, it is a tedious and time consuming process to analyze the gene transfection using current conventional flow cytometry systems and commercially available transfection kits. Therefore, there are two urgent challenges that we need to address for understanding and real time monitoring the delivery of siRNA to cancer cells more effectively. One, nontoxic, biocompatible and stable non-viral transfection agents need to be developed and investigated for gene delivery in cancer cells. Two, new, portable optofluidic methods need to be engineered for determining the transfection efficiency of the nanoformulation in real time. First, we demonstrate the feasibility of using gold nanorods (AuNRs) as nanoprobes for the delivery of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) siRNA in a pancreatic cancer cell line- MiaPaCa-2. An optimum ratio of 10:1 for the AuNRs–siRNA nanoformulation required for efficient loading has been experimentally determined. Promising transfection rates (≈88%) of the nanoprobe-assisted gene delivery are quantified by flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging, which are higher than the commercial control, Oligofectamine. The excellent gene knockdown performance (over 81%) of the proposed model support in vivo trials for RNAi-based cancer theranostics. In addition to cancer theranostics, our nanoprobe combination can be also applied for disease outbreak monitoring like MERS. Second, we present an optical fiber-integrated microfluidic chip that utilizes simple hydrodynamic and optical setups for miniaturized on-chip flow cytometry. The chip provides a powerful and convenient tool to quantitatively determine the siRNA transfection into cancer cells without using bulky flow cytometer. These studies outline the role of AuNRs as potential non-viral gene delivery vehicles, and their suitability for microfluidics-based lab-on-chip flow cytometry applications.

Study of inertial hydrodynamic focusing in sheath-driven flows for lab-on-a-chip flow cytometry

Miniature flow cytometer models enable fast and cost-effective management of diseases in vulnerable and low-end settings. The single-line focusing of cell or particle samples is achieved using hydrodynamic forces in the microfluidic channels. The two common configurations among them are the single-sheath and dual-sheath flows wherein the sample is directed through the main channel, and the surrounding sheath fluids are directed into the main channel through inlets on either side of the main channel. Most models predict the width of the focused sample stream based on hydrodynamic focusing in the low Reynolds number regime (Re << 1), where the viscous forces dominate the inertial forces. In this work, we present comparative analysis of particle focusing by single-sheath and dual-sheath configurations for focusing of micron-sized cells/particles in the range 2 to 20 μm in the higher Re (10 < Re < 80) laminar regime. A quantitative analysis of the relative focused stream width (wf/wch) as a function of flow rate ratio (FRR = Sample flow rate/Sheath flow rate) for the two configurations is presented. The particle tracing results are also compared with the experimental fluorescent microscopy results at various FRR. The deviations of the results from the theoretical predictions of hydrodynamic focusing at Re << 1, are explained analytically. These findings clearly outline the range of flow parameters and relative particle sizes that can be used for cytometry studies for a given channel geometry. This is a highly predictive modeling method as it provides substantial results of particle positions across the microchannel width according to their size and FRR for single-line focusing of particles. Such information is crucial for one to engineer miniaturized flow cytometry for screening of desired cells or particles.