Poster Sessions

Anju Joshi¹ and Gymama Slaughter^1,2

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23508 

²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23592

The present work highlights a scalable and facile fabrication strategy for developing flexible, nanostructured, non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for lactate detection using  copper-modified  laser-induced  graphene  (CuNPs/LIG). The  modification process employs a convenient one-step electrodeposition process to uniformly decorate the porous LIG framework with copper nanostructures, offering a cost-effective and reproducible approach for constructing enzyme-free sensing platforms. Detailed scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed to ensure Cu nanostructure loading and efficient interfacial integration across the conductive LIG surface. The resulting CuNPs/LIG electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, achieving a sensitivity of 8.56 μA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a low detection limit of 42.65 μM and a linear response toward lactate concentrations ranging from 100 to 1100 μM in artificial saliva under physiological conditions. The sensor maintained high selectivity in the presence of physiologically relevant interferents (ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, and glucose). The practical applicability of the proposed sensor was demonstrated through recovery studies, where recovery rates exceeding 104% showcase the sensor’s analytical reliability in complex biological matrices. The proposed work establishes a robust, sensitive, and cost-efficient Cu-nanostructured LIG sensing platform, offering strong potential for non-invasive lactate monitoring in real-world biomedical and wearable applications.

Keywords: Laser-induced graphene, copper nanostructures, non-enzymatic lactate sensor, flexible biosensors

Poster Number: NBT3.19

¹Christopher Animashaun, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen¹ and Gymama Slaughter^1,2

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23508 

²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23592

We  are  reporting  the  development  of  a  high-performance,  non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for selective lactate detection, integrating laser-induced graphene (LIG), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)  synthesized  from  poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)  (PEDOT).  The  LIG electrode offers a highly porous, conductive scaffold, while electrodeposited AuNPs enhance catalytic activity and signal amplification. The PEDOT-based MIP layer, electropolymerized via cyclic voltammetry, imparts molecular specificity by creating lactate-specific binding sites. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed successful molecular imprinting and enhanced interfacial electron transfer. The resulting LIG/AuNPs/MIP biosensor demonstrated a wide linear detection range from 0.1 μM to 2500 μM, with a sensitivity of 22.42 μA/log(μM) and a low limit of detection (0.035 μM). The sensor showed excellent selectivity against common electroactive interferents such as glucose and uric acid, long-term stability, and accurate recovery in artificial saliva (>95.7%), indicating strong potential for practical application. This enzyme-free platform offers a robust and scalable strategy for continuous lactate monitoring, particularly suited for wearable devices in sports performance monitoring and critical care diagnostics.

Keywords:  Lactate  biosensor;  laser-induced  graphene;  gold  nanoparticles; molecularly imprinted polymer; PEDOT

Poster Number: NBT3.20

Abdellatif Ait Lahcen¹ and Gymama Slaughter^1,2

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23508 

²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, 23592

Accessible and reliable tools for monitoring antiretroviral drug adherence are critical for improving HIV treatment and prevention strategies. In this work, we present a reagent-free  electrochemical  sensing  platform  for  the  selective  detection  of emtricitabine (FTC) based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) integrated with a conductive graphene-based electrode. By eliminating the need for external reagents, the sensor simplifies operation and supports rapid, point-of-care use. The platform combines a porous graphene-based transducer with an electroactive layer that enables internal signal generation, while molecular imprinting provides antibody-free and target-specific recognition of FTC. This design enables sensitive electrochemical responses over a wide concentration range, spanning clinically relevant levels, with nanomolar-level detection limits. The sensor exhibits good selectivity, showing minimal interference from structurally related compounds and common electroactive species. Successful detection of FTC in urine-like samples highlights the potential of this platform for non-invasive drug monitoring and real-world application. Overall, this work demonstrates how reagent-free electrochemical sensing, combined with MIPs and advanced carbon electrodes, can support low-cost, portable tools for therapeutic drug monitoring and adherence assessment.

Keywords: Reagent-free electrochemical sensing; antiretroviral drug monitoring; molecular imprinting; graphene-based electrodes; point-of-care testing

Poster Number: NBT3.21

Madeline Gunawardena¹, Bao Chau², Hayden Nothacker², Rudra Pangeni¹, Thomas Roper², Qingguo Xu^1,3, and Charles McGill²

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

²Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA 23219, USA

³Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering, Center for Drug Discovery, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

Oral microemulsions are often implemented to improve intestinal permeability and oral bioavailability of poorly-water soluble drugs. They present many advantages including high patient compliance and simplified manufacturing methods, which contribute to their promise as marketable drug products. However, the microemulsion formulation development process can be extremely time consuming and resource intensive, typically involving extensive component screening and preliminary trials to achieve stable formulations. As a result, they are often suboptimal in their therapeutic performance, and there is an unmet need for improved methods to streamline formulation design. In this work, a two-phase batch Bayesian Optimization strategy was used to design a subset of unique in-specification microemulsions with highly optimized physicochemical properties in five iterations containing batches of five experiments. This allowed for navigating a complex experimental design space, including multiple oils, surfactants, cosurfactants, and processing parameters with a training dataset consisting of 22 experiments. Five high-performing microemulsions were identified, with four of them exhibiting physical stability upon 30 days of storage. Further, three achieved high drug loading when loaded with two model drugs, as well as acceptable stability and improved in-vitro permeability. This platform lays the groundwork for moving away from trial-and-error based approaches to more efficient, data-driven development methods.

Keywords: Oral drug delivery, drug formulation development, property prediction, physicochemical regression, stability classification

Poster Number: NBT3.22

Logan N. Peters¹, Alaina K. Holt¹, Justin L. Poklis², Ankita Gola¹, and Michelle R. Peace^1,2

¹Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, 1015 West Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, United 91����Ƶs

²Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, 1112 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA, 23298, United 91����Ƶs

The rapid expansion of the cannabis market has outpaced regulatory oversight, raising concerns about labeling accuracy and product safety. This study evaluates discrepancies between labeled and actual cannabinoid content and assesses chemical and microbial contamination in commercially available cannabis products. Seventy-two products (vape devices, plant material, edible products, and drinks) purchased  in  Washington,  D.C.,  were  analyzed  using  chromatographic  and microbiological methods. Only 63.8% of products disclosed cannabinoid content. Among labeled products, 76% contained undeclared cannabinoids, and 30% lacked one or more labeled compounds. Microbial contamination above threshold limits was detected in 94.1% of plant material products but not in vape or edible products. Residual solvents, including methanol, ethanol, and acetone, were identified in 58.3% of samples. These findings demonstrate widespread inconsistencies between labeling and actual composition, as well as the presence of potentially harmful contaminants. The high prevalence of undeclared compounds highlights significant risks to consumers. Continued surveillance and stronger regulatory oversight are critical to ensure product safety, improve labeling accuracy, and reduce potential harm to consumers as a result of cannabis use.

Keywords: Cannabinoids, product regulation, quality assurance

Poster Number: NBT3.23

Ehsan Kaffash¹, Rudra Pangeni¹, Wentao Liang², Tianyi Li¹, Shiya Han², Sagun Poudel¹, Jian-xing Ma², and Qingguo Xu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA 23298

²Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest 91����Ƶ School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157

Purpose: Diabetic keratopathy is characterized by delayed epithelial healing, corneal neuropathy, and ulceration, and currently lacks effective topical therapy. Diabetic corneas exhibit impaired mitochondrial metabolism, which plays a crucial pathogenic role. We previously reported that PPARα is reduced in diabetic corneas and that oral fenofibrate restores corneal PPARα, promotes wound healing, and alleviates corneal nerve degeneration in diabetic models. We hypothesize that Feno microemulsion eyedrops are effective for diabetic keratopathy.

Methods: STZ, db/db, and db/m (control) mice were subjected to corneal injury by the epithelial abrasion method. A stable Feno microemulsion eyedrop was optimized and its  safety  profile  was  evaluated.  Injured  corneas  were  treated  with  Feno microemulsion,  placebo  microemulsion,  or  saline  eyedrops.  Routine  clinical observations and evaluations were conducted.

Results: Feno microemulsion components were optimized based on cell migration studies; the formulation improved cell migration in high-glucose media and under HNE stress, with droplet size ≈35 nm, PDI <0.3, and drug loading >97%. Stability testing showed 12-month shelf stability. Ocular surface retention was superior to marketed eyedrop (Systane® Ultra). Safety evaluations showed no toxicity or irritation. In high-glucose conditions, Feno microemulsion restored mitochondrial respiration. Efficacy studies showed that Feno microemulsion eyedrops enhanced corneal wound healing within 24 h compared to no treatment.

Conclusion: Feno microemulsion eyedrops could serve as a promising treatment option with potential for easy translational application to improve corneal wound healing in diabetic keratopathy.

Keywords: PPARα agonist, diabetic keratopathy, topical administration, ocular drug delivery

Poster Number: NBT3.24

Ayodeji X. Aderin, Messaoud Bahoura, Aylin Marz, Patricia F. Mead, and Yaw Sefa-Boateng

Norfolk 91����Ƶ 91����Ƶ, Norfolk VA 23504

Breast cancer outcomes are closely linked to the stage at which the disease is first detected. To make early detection more accessible, a device capable of distinguishing between low- and high-HER2 breast cancer using optical tweezing has been proposed. Initial efforts using the optical trapping of SKBR3 cells have been fully manual, limiting precision, reproducibility, and throughput. This effort has produced a fully automated capability and allows users to adjust experimental parameters, including laser power, image capture, and cell delivery parameters. Automated control of the operation parameters for a microfluidic controller, high-speed microscope camera, and compact laser diode driver has been achieved. The system synchronizes device operation, enabling consistent cell manipulation and deformation. The functional prototype can regulate microchannel flow velocity via microfluidic pressure control, trapping and deforming cells by modulating the current output for laser diode drivers, and capturing and storing micrographs at automated intervals. The prototype was developed in compliance with biomedical device safety standards (IEC/IEEE 82079-1:2019, IEC 62304, IEC 60601-1) to ensure operational safety and usability. This automated optical tweezing system enhances the process of cell trapping and deformation assays, representing a significant step toward the development of a clinically relevant diagnostic tool for breast cancer detection.

Keywords: Microfluidics, breast-cancer, optical tweezing, medical device prototype

Poster Number: NBT3.25

Rudra Pangeni¹, Riley Schweizer^1,2, Surendra Poudel¹, Dale Farkas², Mohammad AM Momin¹, Felicia Hall¹, Woon N. Chow³, Jason Kang⁴, Phillip Hylemon⁴, P. Worth Longest^1,2, Michael Hindl¹, and Qingguo Xu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, USA

²Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, USA

³Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, USA ⁴Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, USA

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) are primarily treated with inhaled antibiotics. Inhaled tobramycin (Tobi) (solution or dry powder) is effective as it delivers high local drug concentrations, however its efficacy is limited due to rapid mucociliary clearance, macrophage uptake, and poor penetration through viscous mucus. In this study, we developed a new Tobi-synthetic lung surfactant (SLS) dry powder  formulation  using  excipient  enhanced  growth  (EEG)  technology  and evaluated the in vitro aerosol performance and in vivo antibacterial efficacy in a P. aeruginosa induced lung infection rat model. The mean geometric diameter aerosol particle size (Dv50) of Tobi SLS EEG formulations emitted from in-house novel air-jet dry powder insufflator (Rat AJ DPI) and emitted dose were 1.1 ± 0.0 µm and 57.5 ± 8.1%, respectively. Tobi SLS EEG powder formulation significantly lowered bacterial counts (CFU/rat) compared to the no treatment group. Histological analysis revealed that infected rats treated with Tobi SLS EEG powder exhibited relative preservation of lung parenchyma, including alveolar septa and airspaces. In this initial study, once-daily administration of Tobi SLS EEG powder via Rat AJ DPI significantly reduced bacterial burden on day 5 compared to untreated P. aeruginosa-infected controls.

Keywords: Tobramycin, synthetic lung surfactant, enhanced excipient growth, lung infection model

Poster Number: NBT3.26

Shiya Han¹, Sagun Poudel¹, Yi Cui², Adam S Duerfeldt³, Jian-Xing Ma², and Qingguo Xu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, (USA)

²Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest 91����Ƶ, Winston-Salem, NC, (USA) ³Department of Medicinal Chemistry, 91����Ƶ of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, (USA)

Prior research shows that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist fenofibrate has therapeutic potential for diabetic retinopathy. Here, we designed A190, a novel non-fibrate PPARα agonist with higher potency and selectivity. Using Vldlr⁻/⁻ mice, a model of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we encapsulated A190 in biodegradable microparticles (A190-MP) for sustained release. A190-MP had an average size of 12.4 ± 1.2 µm, 14 wt% drug loading, and sustained

in vitro release for >6 months. Following a single intravitreal injection, A190-MP provided sustained drug release in vitreoretinal tissues for at least 6 months. Compared to Blank-MP controls, A190-MP significantly increased photopic ERG a-wave amplitudes (indicating preserved cone function) and increased outer retinal and outer nuclear layer thickness (suggesting reduced photoreceptor loss). After six months, retinal levels of VEGF, ICAM-1, and IL-1β were significantly lower in A190-MP-treated mice. These findings demonstrate that a single intravitreal injection of A190-MP ameliorates retinal degeneration and inflammation in Vldlr⁻/⁻ mice for at

least six months by suppressing pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines.

Keywords: PPARα, microparticle, AMD

Poster Number: NBT3.27

Tianyi Li¹, Ehsan Kaffash¹, Rudra Pangeni¹, Wentao Liang², Sagun Poudel¹, Jian-xing Ma², Qingguo Xu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United 91����Ƶs

²Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest 91����Ƶ School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist, has been used to treat dyslipidemia for over 30 years. PPARα mitigates oxidation, inflammation, and angiogenesis and is highly expressed in the cornea. Nitrogen mustard (NM) is a potent vesicant that can cause severe corneal injuries without available therapeutic options. This study aims to formulate a fenofibrate microemulsion (Feno-ME) eyedrop as a potential treatment for NM-induced corneal injury. Corneal injury was induced on the corneas of SD rats with 1% NM  solution  for  2  minutes.  0.5%  Feno-ME  formulation  was  optimized  and characterized for drug content, particle size, surface charge, viscosity, osmolarity, and storage stability. The safety of Feno-ME eyedrop was comprehensively evaluated. Injured corneas were treated with Feno-ME, Placebo-ME, or saline eyedrops. Routine clinical evaluations were performed over two weeks. Histological analysis was conducted following treatment. NM-induced injury decreased PPARα expression in the cornea. The optimized Feno-ME formulation showed ~20 nm droplet size, low polydispersity (≤ 0.1), near-neutral charge (~-0.7 mV), osmolarity of 457 mOsmol/kg,

> 95% drug content, and excellent stability over 12 months. Safety evaluation showed no signs of toxicity. Efficacy studies revealed that Feno-ME significantly inhibited corneal opacity, ulceration, and neovascularization. The Feno-ME eyedrop could serve as a novel treatment option for NM-induced corneal injury.

Keywords: PPARα agonist; nitrogen mustard; microemulsion eyedrop

Poster Number: NBT3.28

McKenzie Hall¹, Surendra Poudel¹, Rudra Pangeni¹, Qiangnan Zhang², Yan Wang², Bin Qin², Matthew S Halquist¹, and Qingguo Xu¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA, USA

²Office of Research and Standards, Office of Generic Drugs, CDER, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA

PLGA-based in situ forming implants are complex parenteral that provide sustained drug delivery from weeks to months. However, there is lack of regulatory guidance on in vitro release testing (IVRT) system that is important for evaluating formulation differences. In this study, we evaluated saturation solubility of buprenorphine (BUP) in relevant aqueous media, reproducible implant formation of Sublocade® or compositionally equivalent in-house formulation, and BUP release using USP paddle over basket and USP 2 apparatus. The saturated solubility study showed inclusion of surfactant such as 0.2% Tween 80 and 0.2% SLS significantly enhanced BUP solubility compared to PBS pH 7.4. A ≥ 85% BUP release within 1.5 months was observed with 0.2% SLS, whereas 0.2% Tween 80 plateaued at 70% release, thus SLS was chosen for further studies. In USP 2, the cylindrical adapter ensured reproducible depot shapes. Sublocade® and a compositionally equivalent formulation showed similar release profiles (≤ 10%) within 24 hours, demonstrating a reproducible IVRT system was achieved utilizing a versatile adapter compatible with various dissolution setup. We plan to further test its discriminatory ability towards non-equivalent formulation. The optimized IVRT method can serve as tool for investigating drug release kinetics and mechanism of in situ forming implant.

Keywords: In situ forming implants, PLGA, Buprenorphine, IVRT, Sublocade

Poster Number: NBT3.29

Tyler Rector¹, Zaria Booth¹ , and Venkat Maruthamuthu¹

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508

Rho GTPases control the spatiotemporal organization of the actin cytoskeleton, enabling cell adhesion, force generation, shape changes, and migration that underlie tissue dynamics. Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) in particular plays an important role in actin organization and cell contractility. Optogenetic stimulation of RhoA provides an experimental means of controlling when and where it is activated, enabling mechanobiological studies of force generation in epithelial cells. To test this approach, we transfected Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells with an optogenetic system, consisting of a membrane-anchored Stargazin-GFP-LOVpep and a YFP-tagged photo-recruitable GEF construct, and confirmed expression by fluorescence imaging. CellMask Deep Red Actin Tracking Stain was incorporated to enable visualization of cytoskeletal organization and actin dynamics in response to RhoA activation. Stimulation with 405 nm light will be used to drive membrane recruitment of PR_GEF for localized RhoA activation. Ongoing experiments aim to characterize the resulting morphological and contractile responses, including in Vinculin knockout MDCK cells, to probe the role of vinculin in RhoA-mediated force transmission. Overall, this work aims to establish a platform for spatiotemporally resolved mechanobiology studies of how epithelial cells generate and transmit force.

Keywords:  Rho  GTPases,  RhoA,  actin  cytoskeleton,  cell  contractility, mechanobiology, optogenetics, actin, cell adhesion, force generation, spatiotemporal control, fluorescence imaging, cytoskeletal organization, vinculin, force transmission, cellular mechanics

Poster Number: NBT3.30

Anasua Banerjee¹, Ahmed El-Hasash¹, Christopher Krauss¹, Narendra Banerjee¹, Erik Armstrong¹, Kwan Dozier¹, Nahturie Ward¹, Jamie Noble¹, Karrington Perry¹, Santanu Bhattacharya², and Hirendra Banerjee¹

¹Department of Natural, Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Elizabeth City 91����Ƶ 91����Ƶ campus of The 91����Ƶ of North Carolina. Elizabeth City, NC 27909.

²Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Sciences, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with limited treatment options, largely due to poor tumour-specific targeting and associated systemic toxicity. This study explores a targeted nanotherapeutic approach using Plectin-1-targeted peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles (PTP-GNP) in BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells, which overexpress surface Plectin-1. These nanoparticles  enable  selective  binding  and  receptor-mediated  endocytosis, enhancing intracellular delivery while minimizing off-target effects. BxPC3 cells were cultured and treated with PTP-GNP, followed by RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and gene expression analysis via RT-PCR. Results revealed significant differential gene expression, including downregulation of oncogenes such as PRKAA1, NF-κB, MAPK12, E2F1, and SIRT1, as well as modulation of tumour-related genes like CREB3 and PRKAB2. Notably, PIK3R1 expression was reduced, suggesting an impact on tumour progression pathways. Overall, PTP-GNP treatment demonstrated the ability to alter key molecular pathways associated with cancer cell survival and proliferation. These  findings  highlight  the  potential  of  Plectin-1-targeted  gold nanoparticles as a promising strategy for improving specificity and therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Acknowledgement: Supported by US-DOE graduate training grant, NSF- NOYCE graduate training grant, NIH-AIM Ahead award, 91����Ƶ of North Carolina Collaboratory award.

Keywords: Gold nanoparticle, pancreatic cancer, oncogenes

Poster Number: NBT3.31

Diane Ingabire, Matthew Banks, and Qingguo Xu

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

Background: The prevalence of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has reached epidemic levels. According to the CDC, about 105,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2023, with around 76% of those deaths involving opioids. Although Medication for OUD (MOUD), such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, has proven effective in tackling the OUD crisis, many challenges still exist. These include limited patient adherence, frequent dosing needs, and unwanted side effects, highlighting the urgent need for preclinical research to develop more effective and accessible OUD treatments. This study aims to develop long-acting injectables (≥1 month) that are highly efficacious and safe for OUD treatment. This work developed early microparticle formulations using FDA-approved PLGA polymers and an emulsion solvent evaporation method. The initial formulations had a low drug loading of 3 wt.% and exhibited an undesired burst release. To increase the drug loading and minimize burst release, we applied the Hydrophobic Ion Pairing (HIP) strategy during nor-LAAM microparticle (nor-LAAM-MP) preparation. We successfully prepared nor-LAAM-MP with particle size ~20 µm and a drug loading of ~11 wt.% using the HIP of nor-LAAM with pamoate. Microparticles were characterized by assessing drug loading using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV), particle size using Mastersizer, morphology using Hitachi SEM SU-70, and in vitro drug release in sink conditions at 37°C. This nor-LAAM-MP exhibited sustained drug release for around 1 month with minimal burst release, which is suitable for the in vivo efficacy study. We performed pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies in fentanyl-dependent rats for a selected formulation. The presence of nor-LAAM in plasma was determined utilizing a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. Non-compartmental analysis (NCA) was  then  performed  to  derive  pharmacokinetic  parameters  based  on  the  plasma concentration-time profiles. Nor-LAAM was detected for at least 2 weeks in the blood plasma, and for efficacy, nor-LAAM-MP was administered subcutaneously at a low dose of 20 mg/kg (n=6) and a high dose of 70 mg/kg (n=5) to SD rats with fentanyl dependence, and saline was administered as vehicle (n=4). A single subcutaneous high dose of norLAAM-MP was observed to diminish fentanyl choices for at least 2 weeks compared to baseline. At day 30, tissues were collected for histopathology analysis, and the histological analysis revealed the absence of pathological alterations within the internal tissues, including the liver, kidney, and spleen, 30 days post-administration of nor-LAAM-MP. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of a single subcutaneous injection of norLAAM microparticles to decrease opioid reinforcement, highlighting its promise as a candidate therapeutic for opioid use disorder.

Keywords: Drug abuse, fentanyl-vs-food choice, hydrophobic ion pairing (hip), pharmacokinetics, sustained delivery

Poster Number: NBT3.32

Jessica Slaughter¹,Ye Ji Kim^2,3, and Polina Anikeeva^2,3,4,5

¹Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, 91����Ƶ of Maryland, Baltimore County

²Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

³Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

⁴McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

⁵Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Place  preference  (PP)  assays  assess  reward  or  aversion  responses  to neuromodulation based on the time an animal spends in two stimulation chambers separated by a neutral zone. While tools such as BehaviorCloud and ANY-maze automate the analysis, they struggle to trace animals under low-light and low-contrast conditions, which are necessary to increase experiment flexibility and broaden the scope of neuromodulation research. For example, neuromodulation using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is an emerging method due to its wireless, minimally invasive nature. Still, magnetic coils required for stimulation reduce video quality due to the low-light intensity. Therefore, we developed a computer-vision method for tracking animals under low-light conditions. A deep learning model was trained to identify visually distinct features of mice across varied poses and light conditions. A custom Python script then computed the time spent in each chamber. We validated this pipeline using a PP assay where mice received wireless neuromodulation via MNPs targeting a genetically defined, non-reward-related pathway. Our model accurately tracked and classified chamber occupancy. The absence of significant preference shifts confirmed the specificity of the intervention, as the targeted feeding pathway is distinct from reward circuits. This pipeline offers a high-throughput, unbiased method for evaluating the specificity of neuromodulation systems.

Keywords: Behavioral assay, neuromodulation, magnetic nanoparticles, computer vision

Poster Number: NBT3.33

Olivia M. Penrose^1,2, Dawn D. Harris^1,2, Carl E. Bonner Jr¹ , Dr. Sheila A. Thibeault², Dr. Keith L. Gordon², and Dr. Jin Ho Kang²

¹Norfolk 91����Ƶ 91����Ƶ, Norfolk VA 23504

²NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton VA 23681

NASA needs inexpensive radiation shielding materials that the astronauts can manufacture and use in space. The aim of this research is to explore materials with chemical moieties that suggest feasibility for Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) shielding on the Moon, Mars, and free space. In this project, eight UV-curable polymers, along with elemental aluminum as a reference, are studied to examine the effects they have on solid cancer and leukemia in humans on a 253-day mission in free space. The NASA Langley Research Center developed computer code OLTARIS (On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation In Space) was used. The computed data are compared to determine which of the polymers studied, when testing dose equivalent versus sphere thickness, is the best radiation shielding material for GCR in free space.

Keywords: polymers, radiation, space travel

Poster Number: NBT3.34

Reagan Aviha^1,2 and Gymama Slaughter^1,2

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA. ²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.

Diabetes continues to impose significant global health and economic burdens, driving the demand for robust enzyme-free glucose sensors capable of reliable operation under physiological conditions. Here, we report the development of a high-performance nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) and platinum (Pt) nanostructures. ZnO nanostructures were electrodeposited onto laser-induced graphene (LIG) under optimized potential and time conditions to achieve controlled morphology and enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation. A ternary Pt/ZnO/LIG architecture was subsequently fabricated through Pt nanoparticle electrodeposition, further improving catalytic efficiency and glucose sensing performance. Detailed electrochemical investigations were performed using cyclic voltammetry and the chronoamperometric technique. The proposed sensor demonstrated an excellent sensitivity of 37.125 µA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², a wide linear dynamic range (0.5–10 mM; 12–28 mM), and a detection limit of 77.78 µM. Furthermore, the proposed sensor exhibited excellent reproducibility, long-term stability (7 weeks) and excellent selectivity against common interfering species (maltose, fructose, sucrose, ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid). We also investigated the practical utility of the proposed sensor using synthetic urine samples with  standard  recoveries  ranging  from  94—105%.  This  study  highlights  the significance of the Pt/ZnO/LIG platform for next-generation enzyme-free glucose monitoring systems for clinical and point-of-care diabetes management.

Keywords: Glucose, non-enzymatic nanostructures, point-of-care diagnostics, diabetes

Poster Number: NBT3.35

David G. Morgan

Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508

The Hampton Roads region of Virginia faces increasing climate-related threats, including flooding and marine debris accumulation. An estimated 99.6% of downtown Norfolk properties will risk flooding within the next 30 years. While infrastructure interventions such as the Norfolk Sea Wall project aim to address these threats, they lack community engagement and fail to provide adequate environmental education. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-integrated STEM camp in enhancing high school students’ environmental awareness, self-efficacy, and intentions to advocate for climate change. The one-week program will engage 20–30 students from the Tidewater region in hands-on training using a Surface Autonomous Vessel (Blue Boat) and a handheld sonar device to collect bathymetric data and GIS software to map marine debris and mitigate pollution and flooding hazards. A pre- and post-survey design will measure changes in environmental knowledge, STEM interest, and perceived ability to impact local climate issues. The study hypothesizes that participants will exhibit significant gains in environmental awareness, with increased self-efficacy associated with stronger intentions to advocate for climate change. Conclusions from this study will enhance climate resilience efforts and inspire youth to shape local policy recommendations in vulnerable coastal communities.

Keywords: GIS, climate resilience, STEM education

Poster Number: NBT3.36

Samuel Shin^1,2, Xin Xu³, Ryan D. Sochol³, and Bidhan Bandyopadhyay^1,2

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic 91����Ƶ of America

²Research Service, DC VA Medical Center, Washington DC ³Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, 91����Ƶ of Maryland, College Park

The proximal tubule, responsible for reclaiming nearly two-thirds of filtered water and salts in the kidney, is highly vulnerable to injury. Existing laboratory models often oversimplified its structure, primarily focusing on the straight segment and neglecting the crucial coiled shape of the proximal convoluted tubule. To address this, we developed a novel microfluidic device mimicking the natural convoluted architecture of the proximal tubule, utilizing 3D printing and microfabrication techniques to maximize surface area and accurately replicate substance transport. Human kidney tubular cells cultured within the device formed a stable layer, enabling real-time observation of cellular responses to oxidative stress, a common factor in kidney injury. Results revealed increased reactive oxygen species production, endoplasmic reticulum stress, altered calcium signaling, and both apoptotic and necrotic cell death, mirroring  observed  responses  in  real  kidney  tissue. This  microfluidic  model demonstrates remarkable resemblance to native kidney function and provides a valuable platform for investigating kidney disease mechanisms. Its potential extends to supporting future drug testing and kidney research, offering a reduced reliance on traditional animal models.

Keywords: Convoluted tubule, 3-D printed microfluidics, kidney injury mode

Poster Number: NBT3.37

Vanessa Correll¹, Ben Lepene², O. John Semmes¹, Julius Nyalwidhe²

¹Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA, USA.

²Ceres Nanosciences, Inc., Manassas, VA, USA.

Mass spectrometry-based global proteomics of biofluids is a powerful approach for biomarker discovery. Depleting high-abundant proteins from biofluids, such as albumin and immunoglobulins, improves the depth of MS analysis but can be time-consuming and low-throughput. Here, we evaluated the Nanotrap (NT) PEAK sample preparation  workflow  (Ceres  Nanosciences),  which  uses  magnetic  hydrogel nanoparticles, functionalized with chemical affinity baits, to capture low-abundant proteins. We compared the performance of the NT workflow to a common workflow for clinical proteomics of serum, spin-column depletion of albumin and IgG, and a high-throughput workflow for clinical proteomics of expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in urine, MStern. All methods showed high processing-replicate reproducibility and quantitative accuracy in spike-in experiments. In serum, the NT method was faster and yielded greater immunoglobulin depletion and 9% more unique protein IDs than the spin-column method, though the spin-column approach yielded greater albumin reduction compared to neat serum. In EPS-urine, the NT method had 3-fold lower albumin intensity and 64-fold lower uromodulin intensity compared to the MStern method, while retaining several prostate proteins of interest. However, MStern yielded 5% more unique protein IDs. The results help inform methodology choice, which depends on throughput, reproducibility, accuracy, processing time, volume requirements, and other factors.

Keywords: Nanotrap particles, hydrogel nanoparticles, proteomics, mass spectrometry, biofluids

Poster Number: NBT3.38

Liam A. Babcock^1,2, Maddie Gunawardena³, Michael Taylor¹, Sara M. Herz¹, Rudra Pangeni³, Saniya Chethan¹, Dayna Adeso¹, Leah Zarlenga¹, Payton E Lowrey⁴, Neelesh C. Reddy⁴, Olivia L. Murtagh⁴, Qingguo Xu³, Ku-Lung Hsu⁴, and Aron H. Lichtman¹

¹Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA

²Department of Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA

³Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Richmond, VA

⁴Department of Chemistry, 91����Ƶ of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Diacylglycerol lipase-beta (DAGLβ), the biosynthetic endocannabinoid enzyme, is highly expressed in macrophages contributing to inflammatory responses. DAGLβ inhibitors produce anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in various rodent pain models. Here we test whether a liposome formulation of the DAGLβ inhibitor KT109 elicits increased potency compared to its conventional drug suspension in a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) mouse model. Liposomal KT109 were ~1.23 nm (+/- 0.69 nm) in size, -10.4 mV (+/- 1.43 mV) surface charge, and had a PDI of 0.09 (+/- 0.03). Mixed-sex C57BL/6J mice were given an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of paclitaxel (8 mg/kg) every other day for a total of four injections. The von Frey assay was used to assess mechanical hypersensitivity. One week after final paclitaxel injections, subjects received an injection of the conventional or liposomal KT109 formulation. In a second experiment, subjects received daily injections of liposomal KT109 for seven days to assess tolerance. Both KT109 formulations dose-dependently reversed paclitaxel-induced nociceptive response, with the liposomal formulation 164 (+/- 88-314) fold more potent than its conventional drug suspension. Repeated dosing of liposomal KT109 retained its antinociceptive effects. These data demonstrate that liposomal formulation of KT109 markedly increases its antinociception irrespective of repeated administration.

Keywords: particles, microparticles, lung disease, extracellular matrix.

Poster Number: NBT3.39

Erem Ujah^1,2, Sri Ramulu Torati¹, and Gymama Slaughter^1,2

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA. 

²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.

Optical fiber–based biosensors are compact, flexible, chemically stable, and well-suited for remote and in situ clinical sensing. In this study, gold-sputtered tapered optical fiber (Au-TOF) sensors were fabricated and evaluated for refractive-index sensing using aqueous glucose solutions ranging from 1.33 to 1.41 RIU (0–50% glucose). Tapered fibers were prepared using a flame-brushing system, plasma cleaned and coated with gold by magnetron sputtering. Two sputtering durations (24 s and 30 s) were investigated to assess their effects on plasmonic coupling, sensitivity, and  reproducibility.  Transmission  spectra  were  recorded  with  a  broadband supercontinuum source and optical spectrum analyzer using less than 20 μL of analyte per measurement. Increasing glucose concentration induced a monotonic decrease in transmitted intensity and a plasmonic red shift, confirming enhanced evanescent-field interaction at the gold–dielectric interface. Signal processing methods, including Savitzky–Golay smoothing and Fourier filtering, were applied to preserve the SPR response. Across four trials, the 24 s sensor achieved sensitivities up to 984 nm/RIU (R² = 0.98), while the 30 s sensor reached 1590 nm/RIU with improved linearity (R² = 0.99), attributed to better gold film continuity. This linker-free, sputtering-based approach enables reproducible and scalable fabrication of highly sensitive plasmonic fiber sensors.

Keywords: Tapered fiber, glucose, sensors

Poster Number: NBT3.40

Sri Ramulu Torati¹ and Gymama Slaughter^1,2*

¹Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA. ²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.

Early and accurate detection of disease-specific biomarkers is critical for improving clinical outcomes in cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Oncogenic microRNA-141 (miRNA-141) is strongly associated with prostate cancer progression and metastasis, while C-reactive protein (CRP) serves as a key indicator of systemic inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. In this context, laser-induced graphene (LIG) has emerged as a promising platform for electrochemical biosensing due to its high conductivity, hierarchical porosity, and large electroactive surface area. Herein, we report the development of LIG-based hybrid nanostructured electrodes for the ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-141 and CRP. For nucleic acid sensing, AuNP-functionalized LIG electrodes were employed to immobilize thiolated single-stranded DNA probes, enabling specific hybridization with miRNA-141. The biosensor exhibited a wide linear range (10 fM–10 nM) and an ultra-low detection limit of 0.67 fM. For CRP detection, a LIG/MXene–AuNP nanocomposite immunosensor was developed, where

anti-CRP antibodies were immobilized via a cysteamine linker, achieving a broad detection range (10 pg mL⁻¹–10 µg mL⁻¹) with a detection limit of 1.45 pg mL⁻¹. These results highlight the potential of LIG-based platforms for sensitive, selective detection, offering a promising route toward early diagnosis and point-of-care monitoring of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Laser-induced graphene, C-Reactive Protein, miRNA-141

Poster Number: NBT3.41

Hannah Peterson^1,2, Balaji Nagarajan³, Matthew Halquist^1,2

¹Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

²Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ.

³Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

Psilocybin, a major compound present in hallucinogenic mushrooms, has been found in unregulated mushroom drug products, like mushroom-containing gummies and chocolates. As these products have been linked to numerous hospitalizations and deaths, it is necessary to quantify the psilocybin in these products and identify any potential adulterants. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) can be developed to selectively  bind  to  and  separate  psilocybin  from  other  potential  adulterants. Additionally, the implementation of computational modeling using quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics (QM/MD) can improve the selection of MIP components and solvents, thereby limiting solvent consumption and lab waste produced during MIP development. Methods: Preliminary QM results indicate that the monomer acrylamide may be most optimal for MIP synthesis compared to other monomers like methacrylic acid and 4-vinylpyridine. Preliminary MD simulations have also been successfully performed using methacrylic acid in a solvated system. Further QM/MD simulations will need to be performed to validate these results and investigate solvent interactions. Conclusions: The manufacturing of this novel MIP will advance the selectively of psilocybin  detection  in  various  products,  provide  further  information  on  the implementation of QM/MD in MIP development, and display valuable information on the risks attributed to consuming unregulated drug products.

Keywords: molecularly imprinted polymer, quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, psilocybin

Poster Number: NBT3.42

Cameron Moody, Emerald Hood, Briana Cassagnol, Krishnan Prabhakaran, and Aylin Marz

Norfolk 91����Ƶ 91����Ƶ, Norfolk VA 23504

Background: HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive subtype characterized by gene amplification or protein overexpression, leading to uncontrolled cell growth via HER2 signaling. Diagnosis is typically performed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)  or  immunohistochemistry  (IHC).  However,  HER2-positive  tumors  are heterogeneous in HER2 expression, and the progression of HER2-low tumors remains poorly understood, limiting insight into how varying HER2 levels influence tumor biology. Aims: We hypothesized that the HER2-positive SKBR3 breast cancer cell line contains distinct subpopulations modeling HER2-high and HER2-low cells. Methods:  Immunocytochemistry  identified  heterogeneous  HER2  expression  in SKBR3 cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) isolated three independent HER2-high and HER2-low subpopulations. HER2 gene expression was quantified by qRT-PCR and confirmed at the protein level by immunocytochemistry. Clonogenic survival, viability, and motility were assessed using clonogenic assays, MTS assays, transwell migration, and wound-healing assays. Results: HER2-low cells showed greater long-term clonogenic survival, whereas HER2-high cells exhibited increased short-term viability and enhanced migratory capacity in both wound-healing and transwell  assays.  Conclusion:  These  findings  demonstrate  distinct  functional differences between HER2-high and HER2-low subpopulations, highlighting the impact of HER2 heterogeneity in breast cancer and providing a model to study HER2-low tumor biology and therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: HER2, heterogeneity, SKBR3, breast cancer

Poster Number: NBT3.43

Ajay Kumar Yagati^1-4 and Cesar de la Fuente^1-4

¹Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, 91����Ƶ of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United 91����Ƶs of America.

²Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 91����Ƶ of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United 91����Ƶs of America.

³Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, 91����Ƶ of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United 91����Ƶs of America.

⁴Penn Institute for Computational Science, 91����Ƶ of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United 91����Ƶs of America.

Rapid and multiplexed detection of oral pathogens remains a critical challenge for point-of-care diagnostics and real-time monitoring of oral health. Here, we present a miniaturized  bioelectronic  sensing  platform  that  integrates  nanostructured electrochemical electrodes with wireless electronics for simultaneous detection of pathogen-associated metabolites. The system employs a multiplexed electrochemical sensing interface coupled to a compact Bluetooth-enabled potentiostat, enabling real-time signal acquisition and portable data analysis. Nanostructured electrode surfaces were engineered to increase electroactive surface area and improve electron transfer kinetics, thereby enhancing signal transduction for clinically relevant biomarkers associated with microbial dysbiosis. Using representative metabolites produced by oral  pathogens,  the  platform  demonstrated  sensitive  and  reproducible electrochemical responses across physiologically relevant concentration ranges in both buffer and complex biological matrices. The multiplexed configuration enables simultaneous monitoring of multiple biomarkers, allowing discrimination between distinct microbial metabolic signatures. Integration with wireless electronics enables portable operation and rapid data transmission, supporting decentralized diagnostic applications. This nanomaterial-enabled bioelectronic sensing framework provides a scalable  strategy  for  rapid  oral  pathogen  screening  and  may  facilitate  the development of next-generation point-of-care diagnostics for oral and systemic health monitoring.

Keywords: Nanobiosensors, electrochemical sensing, oral pathogen biomarkers

Poster Number: NBT3.44

Nathaniel T. Quirion¹, Bridget R. Alber¹, Chenghe Dong¹, Amy Fehr¹, Qinai Zhao^2,3, Nora Shields¹, Ze Yang¹, Hangbo Zhao^2,3,4, Matthew W. Kay¹, and Luyao Lu¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington 91����Ƶ, Washington, DC 20052.

²Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, 91����Ƶ of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

³Center for Advanced Manufacturing, 91����Ƶ of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA.

⁴Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, 91����Ƶ of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

Simultaneous interrogation of cardiac electrophysiological and metabolic processes is essential for investigating and treating heart disease. Key challenges remain in creating stretchable multimodal bioelectronic devices capable of organ-scale, label-free probing of electrophysiology and metabolism in vivo. Here, we present stretchable, scalable, large-area transparent microelectrode arrays integrating up to 144 microelectrodes and interconnects within a centimeter-scale field of view to tackle these challenges. The microelectrodes consist of conductive polymer-coated metal nanowire composites with outstanding optical transparency and electrochemical performance for both electrophysiological sensing and electrical pacing. These large-area arrays exhibit excellent yield, uniformity, biocompatibility, and mechanical deformability  like  native  cardiac  tissue.  They  successfully  achieve  in  vivo spatiotemporal mapping of electrophysiological activity together with co-localized label-free autofluorescence imaging of metabolism across all four beating heart chambers under clinically relevant conditions in small animals, including ischemia, arrhythmia,  and  device-delivered  electrotherapy.  The  platform  offers  new methodological  opportunities  to  advance  basic  and  clinical  cardiology.

Keywords: Stretchable, transparent, microelectrode, label-free, large-area

Poster Number: NBT3.45

Casie E. Slaybaugh*¹, Jessica Nguyen¹, P. Worth Longest², Michael Hindle³, and Rebecca L. Heise¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, College of Engineering; Richmond, VA

²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, College of Engineering; Richmond, VA

³Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, School of Pharmacy; Richmond, VA

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe form of lung injury characterized by pulmonary edema, disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier, and impaired surfactant production. Even in mechanically ventilated ARDS patients, the prevalence of hypoxemia approaches 54%, with an overall mortality rate exceeding 27% 1,2. Currently, no inhaled therapies are available to improve surfactant dysfunction in adults. Loss of functional surfactant promotes alveolar collapse, worsened edema, and heightened inflammatory signaling 3–5. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a synthetic surfactant dry powder aerosol in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced model of ARDS and hypoxemia. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized and administered 2.5 mg/kg LPS in 0.5 mL/kg saline or saline alone. After 24 hours, animals were re-anesthetized and either sham intubated or treated with 5 mg of a novel surfactant dry powder aerosol. This procedure was repeated after an additional 24 hours. Samples were collected 24 hours later for analysis. Fluorescent ex vivo imaging (570–620 nm), arterial blood gas measurements, bronchoalveolar lavage analysis, and lung histology were performed. Conclusion:  Surfactant  dry  powder  aerosol  demonstrates  effective  pulmonary deposition and represents a promising inhaled therapeutic strategy for improving oxygenation in ARDS.

Keywords: Surfactant, pulmonary, ARDS, surfactant dysfunction

Poster Number: NBT3.46

Phuc Long Duong and Xiaolong Luo

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing, The Catholic 91����Ƶ of America

Bacterial imbalance in the body causes many diseases, including acute urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sepsis. Prescriptions for acute bacterial infections are empiric, using broad-spectrum antibiotics at high doses, because urgent care is needed before conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results are available, which take hours or days. However, this practice risks ineffective treatments, disruption of normal bacterial balance, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Recently, researchers have developed microfluidic AST platforms with great potential. However, these methods mainly rely on bacterial growth or genetic screening, which can take hours or fail to provide complete phenotypic susceptibility profiles. Rapid, inexpensive, and accurate AST is urgently needed to inform effective, individualized treatments. This research aims to conduct rapid AST within 60 minutes for acute UTIs by quantifying bacterial motility changes and growth dynamics in two-stage multiplex antibiotic gradients. Our solution recognizes that motile bacteria, the primary source of acute UTIs, swim away from effective antibiotic gradients and quickly lose their motility over survival doses of effective drugs. By integrating one well-established flow-based gradient generator with six static gradient generators that we have recently demonstrated, we can conduct rapid AST in multiplex static antibiotic gradients to inform effective treatment plans.

Keywords: Antibiotic susceptibility testing, sepsis, microfluidics

Poster Number: NBT3.47

Navid Mohammad Sium, Phuc Long Duong, and Xiaolong Luo

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic 91����Ƶ of America, 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064

Dental caries is a common disease caused by several oral microbes whose biofilm structure is influenced by spatial arrangements and pH, glucose, and oxygen gradients. Many laboratory models do not reflect these changing conditions, which limits our understanding of cary development. This study simulates and optimizes a spatially  structured  oral  microbiome  consisting  of  Streptococcus  mutans, Streptococcus oralis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. COMSOL Multiphysics is used to model the diffusion, convection, and gas permeability in a central channel containing microbial populations embedded in alginate hydrogels that are assembled via fluitrodes. The fluitrodes are semipermeable chitosan membranes flanked between the central channel and side channels, so that nutrients (e.g., glucose at 10 mM) can diffuse from the flows in side channels and, when needed, gas (N2/CO2) surrounding the microbes can be purged through the gas-permeable polymer walls made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Computational models simulate the time-dependent gradient profiles in single-species, co-culture, and mixed community settings at various channel dimensions, flow rates, and microbial metabolisms. Simulations will be compared with fluorescence sensor data (phenol red for pH, Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green for oxygen, Fura-4 for ions) and will guide the design of organ-on-chip systems exploring oral microbiota dynamics and targeted oral health therapies.

Keywords: Microfluidics, Oral microbiome, Biofilm simulation

Poster Number: NBT3.48

Jessica Nguyen¹, Keera Rhoads¹, Michael Hindle², Jason Kang³, and Rebecca L. Heise¹

¹Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

²Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics

³Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ, Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease & Metabolic Health

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe form of lung injury with a high mortality rate and no cure. ARDS is characterized by pulmonary edema, gap formation in endothelial tissue, and an exaggerated immune response. Patients with ARDS who receive mechanical ventilation are at a much higher risk of developing ventilator-associated  pneumonia.  Rising  rates  of  antibiotic  resistance  among  ESKAPE pathogens and the lack of targeted treatments for ARDS emphasize the need for novel therapies and drug delivery carriers that not only prevent lung infection but also address the pathologic immune response and attempt to reverse structural changes in injured lung tissue. This study aims to develop extracellular matrix (ECM) microparticles that have bacteriostatic, pro-regenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties when tested in bacterial and in vivo models of ARDS. Decellularized lung ECM was combined with excipients DPPC and L-leucine to mimic lung surfactants and enhance the dispersibility of delivered aerosols. This novel formulation was then spray dried to yield particles with diameters of 1-5μm. Preliminary data indicate that the current formulation is effective in reducing growth of E.coli and P.aeruginosa. Ongoing studies will determine the consistency of this across varying concentrations and bacterial strains.

Keywords: Particles, microparticles, lung disease, extracellular matrix

Poster Number: NBT3.49

Johanna Tsala Ebode¹, Katherine Czyszczon², Nastassja Lewinski¹

¹Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

²Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth 91����Ƶ

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers widely used in nanomedicine due to their ability to encapsulate therapeutic agents, improve circulation stability, and enable controlled release while reducing systemic side effects. There is increasing interest in non-hormonal treatment strategies for endometriosis, and methotrexate is an anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drug that has shown promising results in early clinical  trials.  However,  when  administered  systemically,  the  drug  distributes preferentially to eutopic endometrium and peritoneal tissues rather than ectopic lesions, limiting therapeutic accumulation at disease sites. In this context, we are designing PLGA nanoparticles functionalized with a heptapeptide as a targeted delivery platform to encapsulate methotrexate and an IKK inhibitor for the treatment of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE), the most aggressive form of the disease. Particle physicochemical characteristics being measured include primary particle size and  morphology,  hydrodynamic  diameter  and  polydispersity,  zeta  potential, encapsulation  efficiency,  and  drug  loading.  Evaluation  of  how  nanoparticle encapsulation changes the cell specificity and cytotoxic response is ongoing.

Keywords: Endometriosis, polymer, targeted delivery

Poster Number: NBT3.50