(6lg) Optoelectronic Devices and Smart Biomaterials

My work involves the development of active biomaterials and bioelectronic devices to understand and promote tissue repair and introduce interfaces between biological tissues and electronics. I aim to build a laboratory that presents tools and platforms that can be shared with and be accessible to researchers of diverse specialties. Our work will also overcome the inherent limitations of electrical stimulation for tissue modulation, which has limited the development of closed loop systems by utilizing optical stimulation and smart biomaterials when necessary.

I have established myself in the field of nerve guidance scaffolds (8 papers, 2 patents). I have also developed optoelectronic devices in the last 3 years of my training as a postdoctoral fellow at MIT’s bioelectronics laboratory. More specifically, my work led to the development of an easily reproducible device to enable studying optical stimulation in the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves.

I aim to bridge the gap between biomaterials and optical/electronic devices with 3 main research areas:

1. Study the effects of optically stimulating selective neuron types on nerve repair in combination with nerve guidance scaffolds. Pursue a combinatorial approach to spinal cord repair through a collaborative effor
2. Develop a neural interface to connect amputated limbs with active prosthetics. Nerves from the amputed limb will grow into an active nerve guidance scaffold consisting of multiple electrodes to provide dense neural recording and stimulation. The recordings are communicated to and from robotic limbs to enable closed-loop motions.
3. Bioelectronic device design for bladder control after spinal cord injury. Closed-loop actuators with integration of smart biomaterials for closed-loop monitoring and control.

Experiences related to each proposed research area:

1) At MIT, we developed fully implantable LED-embedded neural probes. With the aid of an implanted programmed microcontroller, the LED turns on and off based on pre-determined parameters. This invention enables the transformation of using genetically-precise optical stimulation to the peripheral nerves and spinal cord.

I see a future where we have understood the role of major if not all neuronal types in the spinal circuitry. We will have also built strong collaborations in which different promising approaches currently explored in isolation from one another including cell grafts, pharmacology and closed loop systems are combined to find a combinatorial therapy for spinal cord injury.

2) I have developed nerve guidance scaffolds at unprecedented open volume percentage and introduced a technique to mass-produce scaffolds from a variety of materials that can mimic the complex outer geometry of a targeted nerve without limitation in size. We will develop the next generation of microchannel scaffolds consisting of electrodes that interface with active prosthetics.

3) Bladder control is one of the main obstacles individuals with paralysis live with. Most research has focused on electrical stimulation of innervated nerves to functionalize the organs through a feedback mechanism. However, electrical stimulation leads to pain and eventually becomes ineffective. The delivery of biochemicals to excite and inhibit neurons suffers from shortcomings of no adequate local drug delivery approach and side effects caused by the biochemicals. I will develop smart biomaterials that cause the relaxation and contraction of the involved muscles through a feedback system to enable voiding on-demand.

Selected Publications/Patents:

• Dena Shahriari, Gabriel Zi Loke, Ian Tafel, PoHan Chiang, Yoel Fink, Polina Anikeeva. Scalable Fabrication of Porous Microchannel Nerve Guidance Scaffolds with Complex Geometries. Advanced Materials. 1902021. (2019).
• Polina Anikeeva, Dena Shahriari, Yoel Fink, Gabriel Loke, Ian Tafel. “Structures with Complex Geometries and Controlled Porosity in Micrometer to Meter Dimensions Produced at Large Scale”. US Provisional patent. 62/772968. 2018.

• Jeff Sakamoto, Dena Shahriari, Mark Tuszynski, Wendy Campana, Jacob Koffler. "High microchannel volume scaffolds for nerve repair". US patent. 62/238,506. 2017.
• Kendell Pawelec*, Jacob Koffler*, Dena Shahriari, Angelica Galvan, Mark Tuszynski, Jeff Sakamoto. “Microstructure and in vivo Characterization of Multi-channel Nerve Guidance Scaffolds”. Biomedical Materials. 13 (4), 044104. (2018).
• Dena Shahriari, Masataka Shibayama, Daniel Lynam, Kayla Wolf, Go Kubota, Jacob Koffler, Mark Tuszynski, Wendy Campana, Jeff Sakamoto. “Peripheral nerve growth within a hydrogel microchannel scaffold supported by a kink-resistant conduit”. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 105 (12), 3392. (2017).
• Dena Shahriari, Jacob Koffler, Wendy Campana, Mark Tuszynski, Jeff Sakamoto. “Hierarchically ordered porous and high volume poly caprolactone (PCL) microchannel scaffolds enhanced axon growth in transected spinal cords”. Tissue Engineering Part A. 23 (9-10), 415. (2017).
• Dena Shahriari, Jacob Koffler, Daniel Lynam, Mark Tuszynski, Jeff Sakamoto. "Multichannel alginate scaffolds for spinal cord repair: An in vitro and in vivo assessment". Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 104 (3), 611. (2015).
• Daniel Lynam, Dena Shahriari, Kayla Wolf, Phil Angart, Jacob Koffler, Mark Tuszynski, Christina Chan, Patrick Walton, Jeff Sakamoto, "Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Release from Layer-by-Layer Coated Agarose Nerve Guidance Scaffolds". Acta Biomaterialia. 18, 128. (2015).

Proposals:

K99 Pathway to Independence. Not awarded. Role: PI

Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant. Not awarded. Role: co-PI Craig Neilsen Spinal Cord Injury Postdoctoral Fellowship. Awarded. Role: PI Hanna Grey Postdoctoral Fellowship. Not awarded. 2018. Role: PI

Selected Awards:

2018 Craig Neilsen Spinal Cord Injury postdoctoral fellowship

2017 MIT’s Materials Day best poster award

2016 Biomaterials Innovation Research Center award for scientific excellence

2015 Univ. of Michigan best poster award in polymer engineering

2014 Univ. of Michigan/Michigan State Univ. chemical engineering blue/green seminar best poster award

2010 NSF graduate student fellowship

Teaching Interests

I would be interested in teaching core chemical engineering courses as well as courses related to materials science and neural engineering both at the graduate and undergraduate level. The courses I would be particularly enthusiastic about teaching are chemical reaction engineering, transport processes, biomaterials and biosurfaces, polymer science, biological processing, soft materials and chemical products. I would also like to develop courses about optical, electrical and magnetic properties of materials and neuroelectronic interfaces.