Browsing by Author "Navara, Adam M."
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Item Evaluating the physicochemical effects of conjugating peptides into thermogelling hydrogels for regenerative biomaterials applications(Oxford University Press, 2021) Pearce, Hannah A.; Jiang, Emily Y.; Swain, Joseph W.R.; Navara, Adam M.; Guo, Jason L.; Kim, Yu Seon; Woehr, Andrew; Hartgerink, Jeffrey D.; Mikos, Antonios G.Thermogelling hydrogels, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [P(NiPAAm)], provide tunable constructs leveraged in many regenerative biomaterial applications. Recently, our lab developed the crosslinker poly(glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(glycolic acid)-di(but-2-yne-1,4-dithiol), which crosslinks P(NiPAAm-co-glycidyl methacrylate) via thiol-epoxy reaction and can be functionalized with azide-terminated peptides via alkyne-azide click chemistry. This study’s aim was to evaluate the impact of peptides on the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels. The physicochemical properties of the hydrogels including the lower critical solution temperature, crosslinking times, swelling, degradation, peptide release and cytocompatibility were evaluated. The gels bearing peptides increased equilibrium swelling indicating hydrophilicity of the hydrogel components. Comparable sol fractions were found for all groups, indicating that inclusion of peptides does not impact crosslinking. Moreover, the inclusion of a matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive peptide allowed elucidation of whether release of peptides from the network was driven by hydrolysis or enzymatic cleavage. The hydrophilicity of the network determined by the swelling behavior was demonstrated to be the most important factor in dictating hydrogel behavior over time. This study demonstrates the importance of characterizing the impact of additives on the physicochemical properties of hydrogels. These characteristics are key in determining design considerations for future in vitro and in vivo studies for tissue regeneration.Item Failures in COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Data Collection Complicated Efforts to Ensure Vaccine Equity in TexasLaroche, Robert A.S.; Llinas, Roxanna J.; Navara, Adam M.; Tan, Melody T.; Lakshmanan, Rekha; Matthews, Kirstin R.W.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public PolicyThe equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines is a critical issue due to the stark differences in health care outcomes between individuals who have received a vaccine and those who have not.1,2 Several demographic groups have historically faced barriers to accessing health care services such as vaccinations, including the elderly, rural populations, lower income groups, and communities of color.3-6 Overcoming these disadvantages and ensuring easy and affordable access are critical components of health care. Moreover, as part of an effective government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary for members of all demographic groups to reach high rates of vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity within a region.7 In this paper, we discuss the steps taken by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TX DSHS) to ensure equitable vaccine access and to assess how shortfalls in data collection led to vaccine inequities. We recommend changes to the Texas immunization registry that will improve data collection, allow for more effective monitoring of vaccine distribution, and better prepare Texas for future public health crises.