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Konisky H, Balazic E, Kobets K. Characterization of alopecia clinical trials: an analysis of trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Arch Dermatol Res 2024; 316:116. [PMID: 38558185 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-02850-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Eliza Balazic
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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Konisky H, Sharma K, Suvarnakar A, Huho H, Gregory AN, Huho A. Unusual Occupational Eczematous Dermatitis in a Fish Tank Cleaner: Nitrofurantoin Contact Allergy Unveiled. Dermatitis 2024. [PMID: 38466947 DOI: 10.1089/derm.2023.0392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- From the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, , Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Krishna Sharma
- Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Hubert Huho
- Upstate Dermatology, Clinical and MOH's Services, Castleton on Hudson, New York, USA
| | - A Neal Gregory
- Upstate Dermatology, Clinical and MOH's Services, Castleton on Hudson, New York, USA
| | - Albert Huho
- Upstate Dermatology, Clinical and MOH's Services, Castleton on Hudson, New York, USA
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Konisky H, Huho H, Suvarnakar A, Krishna S, Huho A. Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy findings in palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN): report of two histologically confirmed cases. Oxf Med Case Reports 2024; 2024:omae003. [PMID: 38370506 PMCID: PMC10873705 DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
These medical case reports discuss the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of palisaded encapsulated neuromas (PEN), a relatively uncommon benign neural tumor that predominantly manifests in middle-aged females, most notably on the facial cheek. These reports feature two middle-aged females who both presented with concern for progressively enlarging cheek papules. Dermoscopy revealed the presence of symmetrical, dome-shaped papules with arborizing blood vessels that were not in sharp focus. RCM images revealed a honeycomb pattern, replete with follicular openings and slight papillary dermal fibrosis. Horizontally oriented blood vessels and vellus hair follicles, as well as prominent vellus hair bulbs were noted. The findings were initially perplexing and collectively raised the possibility of a skin adnexal neoplasm. However, subsequent biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of PEN in both cases. In retrospect, the neoplastic cells were beyond the imaging depths of RCM but the observed changes, including alterations in hair follicles on confocal microscopy, were likely due to pressure from the underlying tumor. Consideration of these features aids in diagnosing this unique yet benign neoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hubert Huho
- Upstate Dermatology, Clinical and MOH’s Services, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Albert Huho
- Upstate Dermatology, Clinical and MOH’s Services, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, USA
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Konisky H, Klinger R, Coe L, Jaller JA, Cohen JL, Kobets K. A focused review on laser- and energy-assisted drug delivery for nail disorders. Lasers Med Sci 2024; 39:39. [PMID: 38240827 PMCID: PMC10799127 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-024-03992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to consolidate and summarize laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) for nail diseases, particularly onychomycosis and psoriasis. A PubMed search was conducted in June 2023 using search terms (1) "laser assisted drug delivery" AND "nail," (2) "laser" AND "nail," and (3) "nail disorder" AND "laser treatment." References of papers were also reviewed, yielding 15 papers for this review. Fractional ablative CO2 laser (FACL) and Er:YAG laser can be used for LADD of topical medications such as amorolfine, terbinafine, and tioconazole to treat onychomycosis. A fungal culture should be performed to determine the type of dermatophyte, which will help determine which topical will be most effective. Laser settings varied between studies, but overall LADD tended to be more effective than topical treatments alone. Laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) was also found to be effective in treating onychomycosis. For psoriatic nails, LADD was used to deliver calcipotriol-betamethasone dipropionate foam, tazarotene, triamcinolone, or methotrexate into the nail. Again, LADD was found to be significantly more effective than topical treatment alone. FACL was the only laser noted for use for LADD in both diseases. Laser-assisted drug delivery for nail disease is a newer approach for onychomycosis and nail psoriasis with several benefits and drawbacks. Dermatologists should discuss the option of LADD with their patients who have recalcitrant onychomycosis or nail psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Raquel Klinger
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Lesley Coe
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Jose A Jaller
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Joel L Cohen
- AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery, Greenwood Village, CO, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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Balazic E, Chen A, Konisky H, Hawkins K, Choi J, Mhaimeed N, Kindred C, Kobets K. A retrospective chart review of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia patients at a single urban institution. JAAD Int 2023; 13:60-62. [PMID: 37700804 PMCID: PMC10494455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2023.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Balazic
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Anna Chen
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Hailey Konisky
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Kelly Hawkins
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Janet Choi
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | | | - Chesahna Kindred
- Kindred Hair and Skin Center, Columbia, Maryland
- Department of Dermatology, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
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Konisky H, Bowe WP, Yang P, Kobets K. A clinical evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of a novel topical antioxidant formulation featuring vitamin C, astaxanthin, and fermented turmeric. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:3088-3094. [PMID: 37608511 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, and pollution are a few examples of environmental factors that exacerbate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause damage to skin cells' DNA, proteins, and lipids. By supplementing the skin with antioxidants, we can help neutralize ROS formed by these extrinsic factors before they can damage the skin. AIMS This prospective open-label study explores the safety and efficacy of this novel topical formulation of antioxidants (vitamin C, astaxanthin, fermented turmeric, and vitamin E) designed to fight free radical damage and improve overall skin quality, as well as the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. PATIENTS/METHODS This single-center clinical study evaluated the efficacy of twice-daily application of the test article (Asta C™ Vitamin C Age Defense Serum, Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty) in 32 subjects for 12 weeks. Healthy female subjects aged 35-60 with mild to moderate fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation/uneven skin tone were enrolled in this study. Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI, all skin types (dry, normal, combination, oily), and subjects with sensitive skin were included. RESULTS All subjects demonstrated improvement in overall skin quality (face, neck, and chest) by the end of the 12-week study period. One hundred percent of subjects demonstrated improvement in the appearance of fine lines at Week 12. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the current clinical study demonstrates that Asta C™ is safe, well-tolerated, and effective in improving overall skin quality, as well as the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and hyperpigmentation of the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Whitney P Bowe
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty, Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
| | - Pada Yang
- Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty, Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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Balazic E, Hawkins K, Choi J, Konisky H, Chen A, Kobets K. Traction alopecia: assessing the presentation, management and outcomes in a diverse urban population. Clin Exp Dermatol 2023; 48:1030-1031. [PMID: 37098178 DOI: 10.1093/ced/llad154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Traction alopecia (TA) is a type of hair loss caused by repetitive tension placed on the hair follicle. An institutional review board-approved retrospective study was conducted at a single institution located in the Bronx, New York. The review identified 216 unique patients with TA and collected information on demographics, patient presentation, history, physical exam, treatment, follow-up and disease improvement. Almost all patients identified as female (98.6%), and most were Black or African American (72.7%). Mean (SD) age was 41.3 (17.1) years (median 40 years; range 1-88). Patients reported hair loss for a mean duration of 35 (51.1) months (median 18 months; range 1-264) prior to presentation. Most patients experienced asymptomatic hair loss. Around half (49.1%) of the patients attended a follow-up, with 42.5% of these patients noting improvement in hair loss or symptoms across all visits. Duration of hair loss was not associated with improvement in hair loss at follow-up visit (P = 0.23).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Balazic
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Hawkins
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janet Choi
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
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Balazic E, Axler E, Konisky H, Khanna U, Kobets K. Pentoxifylline in dermatology. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:410-417. [PMID: 36208009 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pentoxifylline was initially marketed for use in patients with intermittent claudication due to chronic occlusive arterial disease of the extremities but has since been shown to have several off-label uses in dermatology. AIMS The aim of this review is to increase awareness of the several applications of pentoxifylline in the field of dermatology. METHODS A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted in May 2022 using the following phrases "dermatology" AND "pentoxifylline." Our search period spanned 34 years from 1988 to 2022. All available literature was reviewed. Reference lists of identified articles were included. Studies were excluded if they were not in English and if the study was out of scope. Eighty-one articles were included in this review. RESULTS Pentoxifylline has been used to treat various dermatological conditions including peripheral vascular disease, vasculitis and vasculopathies, chilblains, pigmented purpuric dermatosis, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis, keloids, lichen sclerosis et atrophicus, scars, radiation-induced fibrosis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, leishmaniasis, and leprosy. CONCLUSIONS Pentoxifylline's use in dermatology is growing. However, there are limited larger studies and randomized control trials on the use of pentoxifylline in dermatology and more investigation is needed to evaluate its use for many dermatologic conditions. Pentoxifylline's unique mechanism of action as well as its good tolerability, cost-effectiveness, and minimal drug interactions make it a convenient primary or adjunctive option in many dermatological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Balazic
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Eden Axler
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Urmi Khanna
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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Konisky H, Balazic E, Jaller JA, Khanna U, Kobets K. Tranexamic acid in melasma: A focused review on drug administration routes. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:1197-1206. [PMID: 36606378 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melasma is a disorder of hyperpigmentation and vascularization often found in women between the ages of 20 and 40. The pathogenesis is unknown, but melasma often occurs in sun-exposed areas of the face, forearms, and back. Risk factors include family history, increased estrogen/progesterone, certain medications, and UV exposure. Melasma is typically treated with topical hydroquinone (HQ); however, it is often refractory to treatment. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a plasmin inhibitor used off-label in the treatment of melasma. TXA can be administered orally, topically, or intralesionally. AIMS The purpose of this review is to characterize the wide variety of TXA delivery methods for melasma treatment and the efficacy of these methods compared with traditional treatments. PATIENTS/METHODS A comprehensive PubMed and Embase search was conducted in May 2022 using the phrases tranexamic acid and melasma. Forty-six articles were included in this review. RESULTS Oral, intralesional, and topical TXA is safe and effective treatments for melasma. They have been studied in a variety of randomized controlled trials and have been compared with several traditional treatments. Overall, MASI scores in patients using TXA in any form improved. CONCLUSIONS Oral TXA was found to be the most effective, especially in cases of refractory melasma; however, it caused GI upset and menstrual irregularities in many patients. The pro-thrombotic nature of this drug must be considered before safely prescribing to patients. Intralesional injections and microneedling with topical TXA were found to be effective alternatives to oral treatment. Lastly, topical TXA alone was found to be the least effective method but can be combined with other cosmeceuticals to improve outcomes. Topical TXA was also found to be better tolerated than hydroquinone, a traditional topical melasma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Eliza Balazic
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Jose A Jaller
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Urmi Khanna
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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Moghanian A, Portillo-Lara R, Shirzaei Sani E, Konisky H, Bassir SH, Annabi N. Synthesis and characterization of osteoinductive visible light-activated adhesive composites with antimicrobial properties. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 14:66-81. [PMID: 31850689 PMCID: PMC6992487 DOI: 10.1002/term.2964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Orthopedic surgical procedures based on the use of conventional biological graft tissues are often associated with serious post-operative complications such as immune rejection, bacterial infection, and poor osseointegration. Bioresorbable bone graft substitutes have emerged as attractive alternatives to conventional strategies because they can mimic the composition and mechanical properties of the native bone. Among these, bioactive glasses (BGs) hold great potential to be used as biomaterials for bone tissue engineering owing to their biomimetic composition and high biocompatibility and osteoinductivity. Here, we report the development of a novel composite biomaterial for bone tissue engineering based on the incorporation of a modified strontium- and lithium-doped 58S BG (i.e., BG-5/5) into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. We characterized the physicochemical properties of the BG formulation via different analytical techniques. Composite hydrogels were then prepared by directly adding BG-5/5 to the GelMA hydrogel precursor, followed by photocrosslinking of the polymeric network via visible light. We characterized the physical, mechanical, and adhesive properties of GelMA/BG-5/5 composites, as well as their in vitro cytocompatibility and osteoinductivity. In addition, we evaluated the antimicrobial properties of these composites in vitro, using a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. GelMA/BG-5/5 composites combined the functional characteristics of the inorganic BG component, with the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and biomimetic composition of the hydrogel network. This novel biomaterial could be used for developing osteoinductive scaffolds or implant surface coatings with intrinsic antimicrobial properties and higher therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Moghanian
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Materials Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Roberto Portillo-Lara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Zapopan, Mexico
| | - Ehsan Shirzaei Sani
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hailey Konisky
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seyed Hossein Bassir
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Nasim Annabi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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