Arkansas EPSCoR RII Track-1 Awards Funding Successes

Arkansas Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (AR-CURE) Model Leads to Education Collaboration

Faculty members from institutions across the United States are collaborating to expand the EPSCoR-funded pilot program “Arkansas Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience” (AR-CURE), through the NSF Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) program. The team was awarded a 5-year grant to establish the Cell Biology Consortium (CBEC) which will provide startup funding for colleges to implement CUREs in a variety of topics.

The CURE approach addresses the challenge of broadening participation in STEM and scientific research by providing resources to campus that do not or are unable to participate in traditional research. Arkansas implemented a new faculty workshop to teach faculty at 2-year, minority serving, and primarily undergraduate institutions how to incorporate research-based learning in the classroom. The CURE approach is gaining steam across the country.

The CBEC creates a network of faculty, students, and resources that will provide infrastructure to facilitate implementation of student-driven research experiences following the CURE model. The CBEC contributes to equity and inclusion in stem by enabling cell-culture-based research projects to be implemented at smaller primarily undergraduate institutions and community colleges.

Material Shows Promise for Neuron Growth and Possible Restoration of Brain Function for Stroke and Brain Trauma Patients

Researchers have demonstrated a robust differentiation and growth of neurons on a lab-created Barium titanite crystal surface. The neurons grow and differentiate without the addition of any other modification or growth factor which are typically needed to foster such growth.

Neural stem cells typically grow well on un-coated surfaces made from a single crystal of Barium titanate surfaces, which influence the stem cells to differentiate into neurons. Barium titanate is commonly used in capacitors and transducers for its electric and optical properties. In initial experiments, some 70-80% of the cells differentiated into neurons, with 33% of these being mature neurons. Researchers refined the process and now can produce 80-90% neurons with 40-48% mature.

Researchers have been working on ways to grow neurons from neural stem cells that could be implanted into a patient that has suffered stroke or brain trauma to help them regain brain function. The challenge is that neural stem cells can differentiate into three types of cells. Researchers are working on understanding the best surfaces and growth factors that result in the highest number of neuron cells and the lowest number of the other two undesired cell types. The Arkansas researchers believe that the barium titanate surface influences the molecular polarization of the cellular plasma membrane which then promotes stem cell differentiation into neurons.

Developing Novel Material to Overcome Friction and Wear at Micro and Nano Scale

Tribologists are working worldwide to develop new materials that can make parts and machines last longer. The goal is to reduce the billions of dollars and energy expended each year to combat friction and wear in manufacturing. In this study researchers have developed a new approach to make core-shell nanostructures using a nano-scale 3D printing technique combined with atomic layer deposition. The nanostructure-textured surfaces have significantly lower pull-off adhesion and friction forces compared to flat surfaces while also having higher resistance to permanent deformation.