This study shows that piezoelectric nanofiber scaffolds promote faster spheroid formation and support intestinal organoid development without adverse effects.

Tissue Engineering Part A · Nov 22, 2025Peer-reviewedBioengineering

Enhanced Piezoelectric Performance of PVDF-TrFE Nanofibers through Annealing for Tissue Engineering Applications

Maksym Krutko, Holly M. Poling, Maulee Sheth, Supasek Kongsomros, Andrew E. Bryan, Manju Sharma, Akaljot Singh, Hasan Al Reza, Kathryn A. Wikenheiser‐Brokamp, Takanori Takebe, Michael A. Helmrath, Greg M. Harris, Leyla Esfandiari

This study enhances the piezoelectric properties of PVDF-TrFE nanofibers through annealing, showing improved mechanical and biological responses for tissue engineering.

Advanced Materials Technologies · Jul 9, 2025Peer-reviewedBioengineering

Engineering Large-Scale and Innervated Functional Human Gut for Transplantation

Holly M. Poling, Théo Noël, Akaljot Singh, Garrett W. Fisher, Konrad Thorner, Praneet Chaturvedi, Kalpana Nattamai, Kalpana Srivastava, Matthew R. Batie, Taylor A. Hausfeld, Amy L. Pitstick, Séverine Ménoret, Ignacio Anegón, Riccardo Barrile, Christopher N. Mayhew, , Maxime M. Mahé

This paper introduces a confined culture system to generate innervated human gut organoids that mature faster and support transplantation, enhancing engraftment and function.

bioRxiv · May 22, 2025 · PreprintBioengineering

Mesenchymal WNT2B is Required for the Development and Function of the Human Intestine

Akaljot Singh, Holly M. Poling, Jennifer D. Foulke-Abel, Nambirajan Sundaram, Abid A. Reza, Sarah Joseph, Abrahim ElSeht, Kalpana Srivasta, Maksym Krutko, Christopher N. Mayhew, David T. Breault, James M. Wells, Jay R. Thiagarajah, Amy E. O’Connell, Olga N. Kovbasnjuk, Michael A. Helmrath

This study identifies mesenchymal WNT2B as critical for human intestinal epithelial development and function using patient-derived organoids and transcriptomic analysis.

bioRxiv · May 1, 2025 · PreprintDevelopmental Biology

Engineering functional human gastrointestinal organoid tissues using the three primary germ layers separately derived from pluripotent stem cells

Alexandra K. Eicher, Daniel O. Kechele, Nambirajan Sundaram, H. Matthew Berns, Holly M. Poling, Lauren E. Haines, Jefferson G. Sanchez, Keishi Kishimoto, Mansa Krishnamurthy, Lu Han, Aaron M. Zorn, Michael A. Helmrath, James M. Wells

The paper develops a method to engineer functional human gastrointestinal organoids by assembling cells from the three primary germ layers, revealing the role of the enteric nervous system in tissue development.

Cell stem cell · Dec 1, 2021Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology