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Related Research Units

Urology Research

Research Overview

Over the past four decades, significant progress has been made in the field of Tissue Engineering; however, the field still lacks physiologically relevant and functionally engineered constructs and models of living tissues and organs. These human-relevant engineered tissues are crucial for modeling and understanding the complex pathophysiology of diseases to develop more effective therapeutics, as well as restoring the functionality of damaged or lost tissues. Dr. Izadifar's laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach based on advanced engineering, cell biology, biofabrication, biomaterials, and life science technologies to reconstitute the structural, physiological, and functional aspects of human urogenital and reproductive tissues and organs in vitro.
Urogenital and reproductive conditions, such as chronic infections (i.e., UTI, BV, STDs), and metabolic and phenotypic abnormalities of the tissues of urinary and reproductive tracts, are common and clinically challenging conditions. They are difficult to treat and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as children, women, and the elderly. The lack of understanding of the complex physiology and pathophysiology of the urogenital and reproductive tissue microenvironment has hindered the development of effective treatments, diagnostics, and preventive strategies. Consequently, this has resulted in a significant economic burden on the healthcare system and poor life quality for patients.

Dr. Izadifar's lab utilizes advanced in vitro culture systems, such as Organ-on-Chip, to create microphysiological models of human urinary and reproductive tract mucosa. These models enable studying the complex interactions of host, microbiome, pathogens, and risk factors in human urogenital health and diseases that have significant clinical relevance for improving the current knowledge gap in the field as well as development and pre-clinical screening of novel and more effective therapeutics. The lab also employs advanced biofabrication techniques, such as 3D bioprinting, as well as stem cells and tissue engineering methods to engineer physiologically and structurally functional tissues of the urinary and reproductive tracts. The goal is to restore the functionality of damaged hollow organs in patients suffering from traumatic, congenital, or chronic disease organ defects.

Research Background

Dr. Izadifar has over 10 years of multidisciplinary research experience and expertise in the fields of Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, in vitro tissue models, and non-invasive monitoring techniques. Throughout her PhD, she pioneered a novel 3D-bioprinting method enabling the fabrication of biomimetically-designed, cell-embedded cartilage, and osteochondral tissue constructs. These constructs mimic the native articular cartilage biology, structure, and mechanical functionality, aiming to repair tissues and translate applications to clinical therapies. Her work also advanced the field by introducing synchrotron X-ray imaging-based assessment methods that enable non-invasive visualization and longitudinal monitoring of engineered soft (cartilage) and hard (bone) tissues in situ after transplantation and throughout the engraftment and repair process to evaluate the success of the engineered constructs.

During her postdoctoral training at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Dr. Izadifar led the development and application of Organ-on-a-Chip in vitro models of human cervical mucosa (Cervix Chip) to study host-microbiome interactions in symbiotic and dysbiotic states. The Cervix Chip offers an unprecedented recapitulation of in vivo cervical tissue, considering structural, biochemical, functional, and physiological aspects in response to environmental, hormonal, and bacterial stimuli. Dr. Izadifar also led development of Organ Chips integrating multiple analytical sensors that enables non-invasive and continuous monitoring of different metabolic functions on-chip, significantly improving the efficacy and reliability of Organ Chip models for more accurate pre-clinical drug screening.

Dr. Izadifar is also affiliated with Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University

 

Publications

  1. Identification of pharmacological inducers of a reversible hypometabolic state for whole organ preservation. Elife. 2024 Sep 24; 13. View Abstract
  2. Organ chips with integrated multifunctional sensors enable continuous metabolic monitoring at controlled oxygen levels. Biosens Bioelectron. 2024 Dec 01; 265:116683. View Abstract
  3. Mucus production, host-microbiome interactions, hormone sensitivity, and innate immune responses modeled in human cervix chips. Nat Commun. 2024 May 29; 15(1):4578. View Abstract
  4. Immune-privileged tissues formed from immunologically cloaked mouse embryonic stem cells survive long term in allogeneic hosts. Nat Biomed Eng. 2024 Apr; 8(4):427-442. View Abstract
  5. Cytocentric measurement for regenerative medicine. Front Med Technol. 2023; 5:1154653. View Abstract
  6. Vaginal microbiome-host interactions modeled in a human vagina-on-a-chip. Microbiome. 2022 11 26; 10(1):201. View Abstract
  7. Modeling mucus physiology and pathophysiology in human organs-on-chips. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2022 12; 191:114542. View Abstract
  8. Tannic acid: a versatile polyphenol for design of biomedical hydrogels. J Mater Chem B. 2022 08 10; 10(31):5873-5912. View Abstract
  9. Modeling pulmonary cystic fibrosis in a human lung airway-on-a-chip. J Cyst Fibros. 2022 07; 21(4):606-615. View Abstract
  10. An Introduction to High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Systematic Review on Principles, Devices, and Clinical Applications. J Clin Med. 2020 Feb 07; 9(2). View Abstract
  11. Polyphenol uses in biomaterials engineering. Biomaterials. 2018 06; 167:91-106. View Abstract
  12. Traditional Invasive and Synchrotron-Based Noninvasive Assessments of Three-Dimensional-Printed Hybrid Cartilage Constructs In Situ. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2017 03; 23(3):156-168. View Abstract
  13. Modulating mechanical behaviour of 3D-printed cartilage-mimetic PCL scaffolds: influence of molecular weight and pore geometry. Biofabrication. 2016 Jun 22; 8(2):025020. View Abstract
  14. Using synchrotron radiation inline phase-contrast imaging computed tomography to visualize three-dimensional printed hybrid constructs for cartilage tissue engineering. J Synchrotron Radiat. 2016 05; 23(Pt 3):802-12. View Abstract
  15. Analyzing Biological Performance of 3D-Printed, Cell-Impregnated Hybrid Constructs for Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2016 Mar; 22(3):173-88. View Abstract
  16. Data of low-dose phase-based X-ray imaging for in situ soft tissue engineering assessments. Data Brief. 2016 Mar; 6:644-51. View Abstract
  17. Low-dose phase-based X-ray imaging techniques for in situ soft tissue engineering assessments. Biomaterials. 2016 Mar; 82:151-67. View Abstract
  18. Visualization of ultrasound induced cavitation bubbles using the synchrotron x-ray Analyzer Based Imaging technique. Phys Med Biol. 2014 Dec 07; 59(23):7541-55. View Abstract
  19. Synchrotron imaging techniques for bone and cartilage tissue engineering: potential, current trends, and future directions. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2014 Oct; 20(5):503-22. View Abstract
  20. Computed tomography diffraction-enhanced imaging for in situ visualization of tissue scaffolds implanted in cartilage. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2014 Feb; 20(2):140-8. View Abstract
  21. Strategic design and fabrication of engineered scaffolds for articular cartilage repair. J Funct Biomater. 2012 Nov 14; 3(4):799-838. View Abstract

Contact Zohreh Izadifar

Phone: 617-919-6402
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