Wound healing is a complex process comprised of overlapping phases and events that work to construct a new, functioning tissue. Mathematical models describe these events and yield understanding about the overall process of wound healing. Generally, these models are focused on only one phase (or a few phases) to explain healing for a specific system. A review of the literature reveals insights as reported on herein regarding the variety of overlapping inputs and outputs for any given type of model. Specifically, these models have been characterized with respect to the phases of healing and their mathematical/physical basis in an effort to shed light on new opportunities for model development. Though all phases of wound healing have been modeled, previous work has focused mostly on the proliferation and related contraction phases of healing with fewer results presented regarding other phases. As an example, a gap in the literature has been identified regarding models to describe facilitated wound closure techniques (e.g., suturing and its effect on resultant scarring). Thus, an opportunity exists to create models that tie the transient processes of wound healing, such as cell migration, to resultant scarring when considering tension applied to skin with given suturing techniques.

Separation processes are routinely used worldwide in biotechnology, chemical processing, wastewater treatment, and myriad other areas. Gel electrophoresis has been used for decades as a standard technique to separate charged biopolymers, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. In this research, polyacrylamide hydrogels were synthesized in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles as nanotemplating agents in an effort to modify the internal porous microstructure of the gels. After removing these agents via a combination of passive and facilitated means, the gels were used during electrophoresis in order to assess the effects of its modified porous microstructure on protein separations. The results revealed that hydrogels containing 9% acrylamide and templated with SDS micelles in a 5–15% concentration range were the most effective materials in separating proteins in a range of 10–250 kDa. As expected, standard, nontemplated gels also resulted in separation of the proteins but not to the same extent as with the templated hydrogels. In summary, this research highlights the important role of the templating agent as possible useful tuning factors for achieving electrophoresis‐based separation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44063.

Steady-state lymph-to-plasma concentration ratios (L/Ps) of neutral dextrans, cationic DEAE dextrans, and endogenous proteins were determined under normal and increased permeability conditions in six unanesthetized yearling sheep prepared with chronic lung lymph fistulas. Fluorescent dextrans with radii ranging from 1 to 30 nm were intravenously infused, and after 24 h, perilla ketone (PK) was given to alter permeability while the dextran infusion was maintained. Plasma and lymph samples were collected before and after PK administration and analyzed for dextran and protein concentrations after high-performance liquid chromatography size separation. Under both baseline and increased permeability conditions, DEAE dextrans had higher L/Ps than neutral dextrans of similar size but lower L/Ps than proteins of similar size. Comparison of L/Ps before and after PK revealed that the percentage change in permeability for neutral and DEAE dextrans was significantly larger than that for proteins. These results suggest that 1) the pulmonary microvascular barrier behaves as a net negative barrier, 2) some transport mechanisms for proteins and dextrans are different, and 3) neutral and cationic dextrans are more sensitive markers than proteins of the same size for assessing changes in pulmonary capillary permeability.

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