With support from a $72,419 grant, University of Arkansas at Little Rock researcher Dr. Sujan Ghosh is working to make that possible by developing a three-dimensional tissue scaffold that more closely mimics the microscopic architecture of the human small intestine.

Ghosh, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, received the grant through the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) to develop the bio-inspired model.

The small intestine contains tiny finger-like projections called villi and pockets between them called crypts. These structures play important roles in nutrient absorption, stem cell maintenance, and tissue regeneration, but they are difficult to accurately reproduce for laboratory models.

鈥淎 tissue scaffold is essentially a three-dimensional framework that provides cells with a structure to grow on, much like the framework of a building supports its construction,鈥� Ghosh said.

In this project, the scaffold will recreate the villi and crypts to provide intestinal cells with an environment that more closely resembles the one found in the human body. Researchers will then use the scaffolds to support the growth of intestinal organoids, miniature versions of intestinal tissue grown from cells.

Traditional cell cultures are generally grown on flat surfaces, which do not capture the complex three-dimensional structure of the intestine. Animal models can provide greater biological complexity but can be costly, present ethical concerns, and do not always accurately represent human biology.

鈥淏etter models will allow researchers to understand how intestinal tissue develops, responds to injury, and regenerates after treatments such as radiation therapy,鈥� Ghosh said. 鈥淯ltimately, this work could accelerate discoveries in regenerative medicine and improve how new therapies are developed and tested.鈥�

The grant will support the design, fabrication, and testing of the scaffolds using stereolithography-based 3D printing. As part of the project, Ghosh will optimize the printing process to reproduce the microscopic villus-crypt structures and characterize the scaffolds’ surface morphology, mechanical properties, and structural accuracy.

Researchers will then culture human intestinal organoids on the scaffolds and evaluate how the engineered tissue responds to radiation exposure and how well it is able to regenerate.

Beyond radiation injury, the model could eventually help scientists study conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, as well as evaluate potential drugs and treatments.

More realistic laboratory models could also reduce researchers’ reliance on animal experiments by providing another way to study how human intestinal tissue responds to disease, drugs, and injury.

While the current project focuses on developing and validating the scaffold, the technology could eventually have applications in personalized medicine. Patient-derived cells could potentially be grown on customized scaffolds, allowing researchers to study how an individual’s tissue responds to different treatments.

Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School, said the project reflects both the interdisciplinary nature of research at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the opportunities that research creates for students.

鈥淭his project is a great example of how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock researchers are bringing together expertise across disciplines to address complex problems with real-world implications,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淒r. Ghosh鈥檚 work not only has the potential to contribute to advances in biomedical research, but it also creates valuable opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies and research methods.鈥�

Ben Anderson and William Heap, both mechanical engineering seniors, are already contributing to the project, and they will gain experience in areas such as computer-aided design, high-resolution 3D printing, materials characterization, microscopy, mechanical testing, and biomaterials research.

Anderson is focusing primarily on materials science and additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. While the researchers have successfully reproduced the villus-crypt structures using stereolithography, Anderson is working to create the model through extrusion-based bioprinting. The technique uses organic hydrogel-based materials that can more easily support living cells, an important step toward creating a more biologically realistic tissue model.

For Anderson, the project has also provided an opportunity to explore the intersection of mechanical engineering, biology, and chemistry.

鈥淚t is particularly exciting for me to not just use these advanced additive manufacturing techniques, but to learn how to do so competently,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淧erforming biomedical engineering work as a mechanical engineer has also been good experience as someone who already has secondary interests in biology and chemistry. Additionally, it allows me to explore interdisciplinary work that I have not done before.鈥�

Heap is approaching the project from a different angle, using computational modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study blood flow through the tissue scaffold. His work includes developing simulations and analyzing factors such as velocity and pressure to better understand how the scaffold could perform in a biological environment.

鈥淲hat excites me the most is being able to apply CFD, an area of mechanical engineering that I have become very interested in, to a research environment like this,鈥� Heap said. 鈥淭issue scaffolds have complex geometries and flow conditions, which makes modeling them a challenging engineering problem.鈥�

Heap said the experience will also help him develop a stronger understanding of computational modeling and fluid dynamics as he prepares for future opportunities in those areas.

Anderson and Heap will also work with biomedical researchers to learn tissue engineering techniques, organoid culture methods, and data analysis, preparing them for careers and graduate study in engineering and biomedical fields.

Ghosh said the opportunity to combine engineering, materials science, and biology is one of the most exciting aspects of the project.

鈥淎dvances in additive manufacturing now allow us to recreate biological structures with unprecedented precision, opening new possibilities for developing laboratory models that closely resemble native human tissues,鈥� Ghosh said.

Looking ahead, Ghosh hopes to eventually incorporate additional cell types and biological cues to create increasingly sophisticated intestinal models.

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Working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (糖心Vlog传媒MS), Walker’s project focuses on creating and studying derivatives of prodigiosin, a naturally occurring compound that has shown promising anticancer properties.

鈥淥ur goal is to synthesize and characterize prodigiosin analogs and evaluate their biological activity against cancer cell lines,鈥� Walker said. 

Although the research is still in its early stages, Walker said the project could help lay the groundwork for future cancer therapies. By developing and testing how new analogs interact with cancer cells, the research will help determine which chemical structures are most promising for future drug development. The findings could eventually contribute to the development of more targeted cancer treatments that improve patient outcomes.

The collaboration combines expertise from both institutions to strengthen the research. While Walker’s laboratory specializes in designing and synthesizing new chemical compounds, Dr. Robert Griffin and his team at 糖心Vlog传媒MS bring expertise in cancer biology to evaluate how the compounds perform against cancer cells. Together, the teams can more thoroughly evaluate how well the compounds work and how they affect cancer cells, helping researchers identify the most promising candidates for further study. 

鈥淭he INBRE funding supports student stipends, laboratory supplies, and access to analytical instrumentation,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淭hese resources allow us to carry out the synthesis and purification of analogs and identify their structure using techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).鈥�

In addition to advancing cancer research, the project is designed to prepare the next generation of scientists by providing students with meaningful research experiences and opportunities to present their work at conferences and contribute to scientific publications.

鈥淥ne of the most exciting aspects of this project is the opportunity to bridge fundamental chemistry with meaningful biomedical applications,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淭he potential to discover new compounds with real therapeutic relevance is highly motivating. Equally exciting is the role this project plays in student development, providing hands-on research experiences that prepare them for careers in science and healthcare.鈥�

Through the collaboration with 糖心Vlog传媒MS, Walker and his team hope to advance the search for more effective, targeted cancer treatments while providing 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students with transformative, hands-on research experiences.

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The professors have used the grant to acquire an ultra-speed centrifuge for biomedical research. This instrument will augment a wide array of chemistry research and teaching applications, such as drug development, proteomics, and metabolomics research. They will be able to use the centrifuge for many experiments, including drug design, nanomaterials preparation, cell culture, molecular biology, and biochemical analyses.

鈥淚 think having such high-end equipment at the university is unbelievable, and I am so thankful to INBRE because they gave us this opportunity,鈥� said Dr. Mohammad Goodarzi, assistant professor of biochemistry. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have an ultra-speed centrifuge for our students and for our research. This is a boost for us and working with Dr. Noureen Siraj on this project has been an amazing experience for me. I am also thankful to Dean Brian Berry and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for all their help with this grant.鈥�

Goodarzi鈥檚 research team investigates the intersection of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and immunology, working to craft pharmaceuticals that respond to infection and cancer. His group is dedicated to the advancement of novel drug development that addresses pathogenic infection scenarios.

The new ultra-speed centrifuge is located in the Department of Chemistry in the Science Laboratory Building. Dr. Noureen Siraj, associate professor of chemistry, said that having the equipment will also help students have opportunities to conduct more research.

鈥淭his equipment will offer both undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience as well as enhance scientific research and collaboration among different departments at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淯ndergraduate students gain practical experience in using various instruments to reinforce the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom. Our students will get hands-on experience using the ultra-speed centrifuge, and these skills will be in high demand when they graduate.鈥�

Additionally, the ultra-speed centrifuge is essential for the synthesis of gold nanomaterials. Siraj鈥檚 research group is developing different shapes of gold nanomaterials that will be used as a photothermal therapy drug and is also planning to incorporate other chemotherapeutic drugs in gold nanoparticles.

The INBRE grant will also help 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock form collaborations with other universities. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as well as Philander Smith University both wrote letters of support for the grant.

鈥淯nfortunately, not many higher education institutions in Arkansas have an ultra-speed centrifuge,鈥� Goodarzi said. 鈥淲e are happy to partner with institutions that do not have access to such equipment who want to use it for research and education. This will lead to multiple cross-institutional research collaborations.鈥�

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