Imperial College London

Professor C. Ross Ethier

Faculty of EngineeringDepartment of Bioengineering

Visiting Professor
 
 
 
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Contact

 

r.ethier

 
 
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Location

 

Royal School of MinesSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
Year
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350 results found

Bahrani Fard MR, Chan J, Sanchez Rodriguez G, Yonk M, Kuturu SR, Read AT, Emelianov SY, Kuehn MH, Ethier CRet al., 2023, Improved magnetic delivery of cells to the trabecular meshwork in mice., Exp Eye Res, Vol: 234

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and its most prevalent subtype is primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). One pathological change in POAG is loss of cells in the trabecular meshwork (TM), which is thought to contribute to ocular hypertension and has thus motivated development of cell-based therapies to refunctionalize the TM. TM cell therapy has shown promise in intraocular pressure (IOP) control, but existing cell delivery techniques suffer from poor delivery efficiency. We employed a novel magnetic delivery technique to reduce the unwanted side effects of off-target cell delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and after intracameral injection were magnetically steered towards the TM using a focused magnetic apparatus ("point magnet"). This technique delivered the cells significantly closer to the TM at higher quantities and with more circumferential uniformity compared to either unlabeled cells or those delivered using a "ring magnet" technique. We conclude that our point magnet cell delivery technique can improve the efficiency of TM cell therapy and in doing so, potentially increase the therapeutic benefits and lower the risk of complications such as tumorigenicity and immunogenicity.

Journal article

Ross Ethier C, Nguyen TV, 2023, Annual Special Issue: Journal of Biomechanical Engineering-2022 in Review., J Biomech Eng, Vol: 145

Journal article

Safa BN, Bahrani Fard MR, Ethier CR, 2022, In vivo biomechanical assessment of iridial deformations and muscle contractions in human eyes (vol 19, 20220108, 2022), JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1742-5689

Journal article

Coulon SJ, Schuman JS, Du Y, Fard MRB, Ethier CR, Stamer WDet al., 2022, A novel glaucoma approach: Stem cell regeneration of the trabecular meshwork, PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH, Vol: 90, ISSN: 1350-9462

Journal article

Safa BN, Bahrani Fard MR, Ethier CR, 2022, In vivo biomechanical assessment of iridial deformations and muscle contractions in human eyes, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1742-5689

Journal article

Ethier CR, Nguyen TV, 2022, ANNUAL SPECIAL ISSUE: Journal of Biomechanical Engineering-Year(s) in Review, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, Vol: 144, ISSN: 0148-0731

Journal article

Gerberich BG, Hannon BG, Brown DM, Read AT, Ritch MD, Schrader Echeverri E, Nichols L, Potnis C, Sridhar S, Toothman MG, Schwaner SA, Winger EJ, Huang H, Gershon GS, Feola AJ, Pardue MT, Prausnitz MR, Ethier CRet al., 2022, Evaluation of Spatially Targeted Scleral Stiffening on Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Glaucoma., Transl Vis Sci Technol, Vol: 11

PURPOSE: Scleral stiffening may protect against glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss or dysfunction associated with ocular hypertension. Here, we assess the potential neuroprotective effects of two treatments designed to stiffen either the entire posterior sclera or only the sclera adjacent to the peripapillary sclera in an experimental model of glaucoma. METHODS: Rat sclerae were stiffened in vivo using either genipin (crosslinking the entire posterior sclera) or a regionally selective photosensitizer, methylene blue (stiffening only the juxtaperipapillary region surrounding the optic nerve). Ocular hypertension was induced using magnetic microbeads delivered to the anterior chamber. Morphological and functional outcomes, including optic nerve axon count and appearance, retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography, optomotor response, and electroretinography traces, were assessed. RESULTS: Both local (juxtaperipapillary) and global (whole posterior) scleral stiffening treatments were successful at increasing scleral stiffness, but neither provided demonstrable neuroprotection in hypertensive eyes as assessed by RGC axon counts and appearance, optomotor response, or electroretinography. There was a weak indication that scleral crosslinking protected against retinal thinning as assessed by optical coherence tomography. CONCLUSIONS: Scleral stiffening was not demonstrated to be neuroprotective in ocular hypertensive rats. We hypothesize that the absence of benefit may in part be due to RGC loss associated with the scleral stiffening agents themselves (mild in the case of genipin, and moderate in the case of methylene blue), negating any potential benefit of scleral stiffening. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The development of scleral stiffening as a neuroprotective treatment will require the identification of better tolerated stiffening protocols and further preclinical testing.

Journal article

Feola AJ, Girkin CA, Ethier CR, Samuels BCet al., 2022, A Potential Role of Acute Choroidal Expansion in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol: 63, ISSN: 0146-0404

Journal article

Safa BN, Wong CA, Ha J, Ethier CRet al., 2022, Glaucoma and biomechanics, CURRENT OPINION IN OPHTHALMOLOGY, Vol: 33, Pages: 80-90, ISSN: 1040-8738

Journal article

McDowell CM, Kizhatil K, Elliott MH, Overby DR, Van Batenburg-Sherwood J, Millar JC, Kuehn MH, Zode G, Acott TS, Anderson MG, Bhattacharya SK, Bertrand JA, Borras T, Bovenkamp DE, Cheng L, Danias J, De Ieso ML, Du Y, Faralli JA, Fuchshofer R, Ganapathy PS, Gong H, Herberg S, Hernandez H, Humphries P, John SWM, Kaufman PL, Keller KE, Kelley MJ, Kelly RA, Krizaj D, Kumar A, Leonard BC, Lieberman RL, Liton P, Liu Y, Liu KC, Lopez NN, Mao W, Mavlyutov T, McDonnell F, McLellan GJ, Mzyk P, Nartey A, Pasquale LR, Patel GC, Pattabiraman PP, Peters DM, Raghunathan V, Rao PV, Rayana N, Raychaudhuri U, Reina-Torres E, Ren R, Rhee D, Chowdhury UR, Samples JR, Samples EG, Sharif N, Schuman JS, Sheffield VC, Stevenson CH, Soundararajan A, Subramanian P, Sugali CK, Sun Y, Toris CB, Torrejon KY, Vahabikashi A, Vranka JA, Wang T, Willoughby CE, Xin C, Yun H, Zhang HF, Fautsch MP, Tamm ER, Clark AF, Ethier CR, Stamer WDet al., 2022, Consensus recommendation for mouse models of ocular hypertension to study aqueous humor outflow and its mechanisms, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol: 63, ISSN: 0146-0404

Due to their similarities in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to humans, mice are a valuable model system to study the generation and mechanisms modulating conventional outflow resistance and thus intraocular pressure. In addition, mouse models are critical for understanding the complex nature of conventional outflow homeostasis and dysfunction that results in ocular hypertension. In this review, we describe a set of minimum acceptable standards for developing, characterizing, and utilizing mouse models of open-angle ocular hypertension. We expect that this set of standard practices will increase scientific rigor when using mouse models and will better enable researchers to replicate and build upon previous findings.

Journal article

Chan D, Won GJ, Read AT, Ethier CR, Thackaberry E, Crowell SR, Booler H, Bantseev V, Sivak JMet al., 2022, Application of an organotypic ocular perfusion model to assess intravitreal drug distribution in human and animal eyes, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1742-5689

Journal article

Jasien J, Read AT, Van Batenburg-Sherwood J, Perkumas KM, Ethier CR, Stamer WD, Samuels BCet al., 2022, Correspondence: Brian C. Samuels, ; bsamuels@uab.edu. PURPOSE. both model anatomy, anatomy purpose, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol: 63, ISSN: 0146-0404

Journal article

Safa BN, Read AT, Ethier CR, 2021, Assessment of the viscoelastic mechanical properties of the porcine optic nerve head using micromechanical testing and finite element modeling, ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, Vol: 134, Pages: 379-387, ISSN: 1742-7061

Journal article

Hannon BG, Feola AJ, Gerberich BG, Read AT, Prausnitz MR, Ethier CR, Pardue MTet al., 2021, Using retinal function to define ischemic exclusion criteria for animal models of glaucoma (vol 202, 108354, 2021), EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH, Vol: 210, ISSN: 0014-4835

Journal article

Allen RS, Motz CT, Singh A, Feola A, Hutson L, Douglass A, Rao SR, Skelton LA, Cardelle L, Bales KL, Chesler K, Gudapati K, Ethier CR, Harper MM, Fliesler SJ, Pardue MTet al., 2021, Dependence of visual and cognitive outcomes on animal holder configuration in a rodent model of blast overpressure exposure, VISION RESEARCH, Vol: 188, Pages: 162-173, ISSN: 0042-6989

Journal article

Ethier CR, 2021, Editorial: A Message From C. Ross Ethier, the New JBME Co-Editor, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, Vol: 143, ISSN: 0148-0731

Journal article

Sater SH, Sass AM, Seiner A, Natividad GC, Shrestha D, Fu AQ, Oshinski JN, Ethier CR, Martin BAet al., 2021, MRI-based quantification of ophthalmic changes in healthy volunteers during acute 15 degrees head-down tilt as an analogue to microgravity, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, Vol: 18, ISSN: 1742-5689

Journal article

Safa BN, Read AT, Ethier CR, 2021, Assessment of the Viscoelastic Mechanical Properties of the Porcine Optic Nerve Head using Micromechanical Testing and Finite Element Modeling

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Optic nerve head (ONH) biomechanics is centrally involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, a blinding ocular condition often characterized by elevation and fluctuation of the intraocular pressure and resulting loads on the ONH. Further, tissue viscoelasticity is expected to strongly influence the mechanical response of the ONH to mechanical loading, yet the viscoelastic mechanical properties of the ONH remain unknown. To determine these properties, we conducted micromechanical testing on porcine ONH tissue samples, coupled with finite element modeling based on a mixture model consisting of a biphasic material with a viscoelastic solid matrix. Our results provide a detailed description of the viscoelastic properties of the porcine ONH at each of its four anatomical quadrants (i.e., nasal, superior, temporal, and inferior). We showed that the ONH’s viscoelastic mechanical response can be explained by a dual mechanism of fluid flow and solid matrix viscoelasticity, as is common in other soft tissues. We obtained porcine ONH properties as follows: matrix Young’s modulus <jats:italic>E</jats:italic>=1.895 [1.056,2 .391] kPa (median [min., max.]), Poisson’s ratio <jats:italic>ν</jats:italic>=0.142 [0.060,0 .312], kinetic time-constant <jats:italic>τ</jats:italic>=214 [89,921] sec, and hydraulic permeability <jats:italic>k</jats:italic>=3.854 × 10<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> [3.457 × 10<jats:sup>−2</jats:sup>,9.994 × 10<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>] mm<jats:sup>4</jats:sup>/(N sec). These values can be used to design and fabricate physiologically appropriate <jats:italic>ex vivo</jats:italic> test environments (e.g., 3D cell culture) to further understand glaucoma pathophysiology.</jats:p>

Journal article

Yun H, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Kumar A, Wang K, Sun M, Stolz DB, Xia X, Ethier CR, Du Yet al., 2021, Human stem cells home to and repair laser-damaged trabecular meshwork in a mouse model (vol 6, 216, 2018), COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, Vol: 4

Journal article

Yun H, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Wang K, Sun M, Stolz DB, Xia X, Ethier CR, Du Yet al., 2021, Human stem cells home to and repair laser-damaged trabecular meshwork in a mouse model (vol 6, 216, 2018), COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, Vol: 4

Journal article

Schwaner SA, Perry RN, Kight AM, Winder E, Yang H, Morrison JC, Burgoyne CF, Ethier CRet al., 2021, Individual-Specific Modeling of Rat Optic Nerve Head Biomechanics in Glaucoma, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, Vol: 143, ISSN: 0148-0731

Journal article

Li G, Lee C, Read AT, Wang K, Ha J, Kuhn M, Navarro I, Cui J, Young K, Gorijavolu R, Sulchek T, Kopczynski C, Farsiu S, Samples J, Challa P, Ethier CR, Stamer WDet al., 2021, Anti-fibrotic activity of a rho-kinase inhibitor restores outflow function and intraocular pressure homeostasis, ELIFE, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2050-084X

Journal article

Gerberich BG, Hannon BG, Hejri A, Winger EJ, Echeverri ES, Nichols LM, Gersch HG, MacLeod NA, Gupta S, Read AT, Ritch MD, Sridhar S, Toothman MG, Gershon GS, Schwaner SA, Sanchez-Rodriguez G, Goyal V, Toporek AM, Feola AJ, Grossniklaus HE, Pardue MT, Ethier CR, Prausnitz MRet al., 2021, Transpupillary collagen photocrosslinking for targeted modulation of ocular biomechanics, BIOMATERIALS, Vol: 271, ISSN: 0142-9612

Journal article

Snider EJ, Hardie BA, Li Y, Gao K, Splaine F, Kim RK, Vannatta RT, Read AT, Ethier CRet al., 2021, A Porcine Organ-Culture Glaucoma Model Mimicking Trabecular Meshwork Damage Using Oxidative Stress, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol: 62, ISSN: 0146-0404

Journal article

Safa BN, Santare MH, Ethier CR, Elliott DMet al., 2021, Identifiability of tissue material parameters from uniaxial tests using multi-start optimization, ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, Vol: 123, Pages: 197-207, ISSN: 1742-7061

Journal article

Zhu W, Hou F, Fang J, Fard MRB, Liu Y, Ren S, Wu S, Qi Y, Sui S, Read AT, Sherwood JM, Zou W, Yu H, Zhang J, Overby DR, Wang N, Ethier CR, Wang Ket al., 2021, The role of Piezo1 in conventional aqueous humor outflow dynamics, iScience, Vol: 24, Pages: 1-32, ISSN: 2589-0042

Controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the mainstay of glaucoma therapy. The trabecular meshwork (TM), the key tissue responsible for aqueous humor (AH) outflow and IOP maintenance, is very sensitive to mechanical forces. However, it is not understood whether Piezo channels, very sensitive mechanosensors, functionally influence AH outflow. Here, we characterize the role of Piezo1 in conventional AH outflow. Immunostaining and western blot analysis showed that Piezo1 is widely expressed by TM. Patch-clamp recordings in TM cells confirmed the activation of Piezo1-derived mechanosensitive currents. Importantly, the antagonist GsMTx4 for mechanosensitive channels significantly decreased steady-state facility, yet activation of Piezo1 by the specific agonist Yoda1 did not lead to a facility change. Furthermore, GsMTx4, but not Yoda1, caused a significant increase in ocular compliance, a measure of the eye's transient response to IOP perturbation. Our findings demonstrate a potential role for Piezo1 in conventional outflow, likely under pathological and rapid transient conditions.

Journal article

Zahid AM, Martin B, Collins S, Oshinski JN, Ethier CRet al., 2021, Quantification of arterial, venous, and cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics by magnetic resonance imaging under simulated micro-gravity conditions: a prospective cohort study, FLUIDS AND BARRIERS OF THE CNS, Vol: 18, ISSN: 2045-8118

Journal article

Boazak EM, King R, Wang J, Chu CM, Toporek AM, Sherwood JM, Overby DR, Geisert EE, Ethier CRet al., 2021, Smarce1 and Tensin 4 are putative modulators of corneoscleral stiffness, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol: 9, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 2296-4185

The biomechanical properties of the cornea and sclera are important in the onset and progression of multiple ocular pathologies and vary substantially between individuals, yet the source of this variation remains unknown. Here we identify genes putatively regulating corneoscleral biomechanical tissue properties by conducting high-fidelity ocular compliance measurements across the BXD recombinant inbred mouse set and performing quantitative trait analysis. We find seven cis-eQTLs and non-synonymous SNPs associating with ocular compliance, and show by RT-qPCR and immunolabeling that only two of the candidate genes, Smarce1 and Tns4, showed significant expression in corneal and scleral tissues. Both have mechanistic potential to influence the development and/or regulation of tissue material properties. This work motivates further study of Smarce1 and Tns4 for their role(s) in ocular pathology involving the corneoscleral envelope as well as the development of novel mouse models of ocular pathophysiology, such as myopia and glaucoma.

Journal article

Sater SH, Sass AM, Rohr JJ, Marshall-Goebel K, Ploutz-Snyder RJ, Ethier CR, Stenger MB, Kramer LA, Martin BA, Macias BRet al., 2021, Automated MRI-based quantification of posterior ocular globe flattening and recovery after long-duration spaceflight, EYE, Vol: 35, Pages: 1869-1878, ISSN: 0950-222X

Journal article

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