Miscellaneous projects

Shock waves for molecular delivery into cells. Pressure impulses will transiently permeabilize cells in order to deliver macromolecules into the cytoplasm. These pressure impulses are conveniently generated by a gas-filled shock tube, and the macromolecules may include plasmids or oligonucleotides for gene therapy, enzymes, or protein toxins for treating cancer.

Kodama T, Hamblin MR, Doukas, AG.  Cytoplasmic molecular delivery with shock waves: importance of impulse.  Biophysical J 2000;79(4):1821-32.

Kodama T, Doukas, AG, Hamblin MR.  Shock wave-mediated molecular  delivery into cells. Biochem Biophys Acta 2002;1542(1-3):186-94

Kodama T, Doukas, AG, Hamblin MR.  Delivery of ribosome-inactivating protein toxin into cancer cells with shock waves.  Cancer Lett 2003;189(1):69-75.

---

Photodynamically activated solders composed of various combinations of dyes and proteins, either covalently conjugated or mixed together can act as biocompatible tissue sealants or glues for closing incisions in the eye or cartilage. These glues may also act as slow release depots for growth factors or other bioactive proteins.

Khadem J, Veloso Jr. AA, Tolentino F, Hasan T, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic tissue adhesion with chlorin(e6) protein conjugates.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1999;40(13):3132-7.

Khadem JJ, Martino M, Anatelli F, Dana MR, Hamblin MR. Healing of perforating rat corneal incisions closed with photodynamic laser-activated tissue glue. Lasers Surg Med 2004; 35(4):304-11.

---

We are assessing the anti-infection properties of the HemCon battlefield hemostatic bandage constructed from engineered chitosan acetate fibers. We are studying wounds and burns in mice infected with bioluminescent bacteria.

Burkatovskaya B, Tegos GP, Swietlik E, Demidova TN, Castano AP and Hamblin MR. The use of chitosan bandage to prevent fatal infections developing from highly contaminated wounds in mice. Biomaterials in press 2006.