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Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent pediatric spine disorder, affecting 3-4% of children worldwide. It develops in the absence of obvious congenital or physiological defects. While some evidence suggests a genetic correlation, the underlying biological causes remain largely unknown. Without a comprehensive understanding of AIS at a biological or physiological level, treatments...

Staining of collagen in multiple organs with Biotin-conjugated Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (B-CHPs). The black and white panels are an extraction of the fluorescent peptide signal, used for quantification of collagen damage.        The universal process of aging involves the dysregulation of a wide spectrum of biological mechanisms. Using mouse models, DeLano et....

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) occurs during prolonged exposure to sunlight and is associated with a variety of negative physiological effects, including skin damage, inflammation, and cancer. Many of these effects are due to the formation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which damage the extracellular matrix and impair cellular functioning. Fibroblasts are the...

Subretinal fibrosis, the formation of disorganized collagen scar tissue underneath the retina, is often associated with neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (nAMD). Current nAMD diagnostic methods rely on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which provides structural imaging, but lacks the sensitivity to distinguish collagen from other subretinal ECM components.  This limitation leaves a gap in evaluating...