Leipzig Bioengineering Group

Dr. Nic D Leipzig

nl21@uakron.edu

x6881

Biography

I originally hail from Fairbanks, Alaska and have crisscrossed North America for my graduate and post-graduate work. Outside of my academic and scholarly interests, it should be no surprise that I enjoy both traveling and the outdoors. I am a fly fisherman by birth and enjoy fishing fresh flowing water. It is a family rite to fish the Au Sable river in Northern Michigan each May. I enjoy any time working on my 1969 Plymouth GTX and hope to one day be able to do a full restoration, but who knows if I’ll ever have the time to do it myself! I very much enjoy the pursuit and acquirement of new knowledge and look forward to the many challenges that lay ahead.

Education

Ph.D. Bioengineering

Rice University, Houston, TX, May 2006

Thesis title: “Growth factor effects on single chondrocyte biomechanics and gene expression”

Advisor: Dr. Kyriacos Athanasiou

B. Eng. Chemical Engineering

McGill University, Montreal, QC, June 2001

Postdoctoral Work

Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, 2006-2009

Supervisor: Dr. Molly Shoichet

Appointments

  • The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA 2024-present Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Robert Iredell Chair
  • The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA 2009-2024 Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Robert Iredell Chair
  • The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA 2010-present Adjunct Faculty, Biomedical Engineering
  • The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA 2010-present Adjunct Faculty, Integrated Biosciences Program
  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA 2011-present Adjunct Faculty, Faculty of Medicine

Honors and Awards

  • University of Akron, College of Engineering, Outstanding Researcher Award, 2018
  • Acta Biomaterialia Outstanding Reviewer Award, 2016
  • Rising Star Award, CMBE-BMES young investigator award, 2015
  • Iwao Yasuda Award, CMBE-BMES service award, 2014
  • University of Akron Faculty Research Summer Fellowship, 2011
  • Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2007-2009
  • NIH Biotechnology Training Grant, 2002-2004
  • All Canadian Honours and McGill Principal’s Award 1999-2001
  • James McGill Scholarship, 1997-2000

Publications/Book Chapters

University of Akron

  1. Bradshaw K, Leipzig ND. Applications of Regenerative Tissue Engineered Scaffolds for Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury. Invited Review to Tissue Engineering. 2024. Submitted.
  2. Qureshi AA, Wehrle C Ferreira-Gonzalez S, Jiao C, Hong H, Dadgar N, Jorge Arpi-Palacios, Phong YP, Kim J, Sun K, Hashimoto K, Kwon DCH, Miller C, Leipzig N, Ma WW, Melenhorst J, Aucejo F, Schlegel A. Tumor Organoids for Primary Liver Cancers: A Systematic Review of Current Applications in Diagnostics, Disease Modeling, and Drug Screening. JHEP Reports. 2024. In Press. doi:1016/j.jhepr.2024.101164
  3. McClain A, Jindal A, Durr H, Puskas J, Leipzig ND. In vivo Release of Zafirlukast from Electrospun Polyisobutylene-based Fiber Mats to Reduce Capsular Contracture of Silicone Breast Prostheses. 2024. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2024 Jul 15;7(7):4442-4453. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00341.
  4. Abri S, Durr H, Barton HA, Adkins-Travis K, Shriver LP, Pukale DD, Fulton JA, Leipzig ND. Multifunctional Antibacterial Oxygenating Hydrogels for Managing Chronic, Infected Diabetic Wounds. 2024. Biomaterials Science . 2024. Jun 25;12(13):3458-3470. doi: 10.1039/d4b.
  5. Pukale DD, Adkins-Travis K, Aryal SR, Shriver LP, Patti GJ, Leipzig ND. Investigating post-traumatic syringomyelia and local fluid osmoregulation via a rat model. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. Accepted. 2024. preprint doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3243600/v1, publisher doi: 10.1186/s12987-024-00514-y
  6. Mansouri M, Lamichhane A, Das D, Aucejo F, Tavana H, Leipzig ND. Comparison of engineered liver 3D models and the role of oxygenation for patient-derived tumor cells and immortalized cell lines cocultured with tumor stroma in the detection of hepatotoxins. 2023. Advanced Biology. 2023 Oct 16:e2300386. doi: 10.1002/adbi.202300386
  7. Mansouri M, Imes WD*, Roberts OS, Leipzig ND. Fabrication of oxygen carrying microparticles functionalized with liver ECM-proteins to improve phenotypic three-dimensional in vitro liver assembly, function, and responses. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 1–14.2023. doi: 10.1002.bit.28456
  8. Pukale DD, Farrag M, Leipzig ND. Detection of Locomotion Deficit in a Post-Traumatic Syringomyelia Rat Model Using Automated Gait Analysis Technique. 2021. Submitted. Preprint in bioRxiv doi:10.1101/2021.05.19.444781.
  9. Mona Mansouri and Nic D. Leipzig , “Advances in removing mass transport limitations for more physiologically relevant in vitro 3D cell constructs”, Biophysics Reviews 2, 021305 (2021). doi: 10.1063/5.0048837. LINK
  10. Pukale DD, Gudneppanwar R, Farrag M, Baumann HJ, Konopka M, Shriver L, Leipzig ND. Osmoregulatory role of betaine and betaine/?-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 in syringomyelia. 2021. Submitted.
  11. Farrag M, Pukale DD, Leipzig ND. Micro-computed tomography utility for estimation of intraparenchymal spinal cord cystic lesions in small animals. Neural Regeneration Research. 2021. Nov;16(11):2293-2298. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.310690
  12. Baumann HJ, Betonio P*, Abeywickrama C, Shriver LP+, Leipzig ND+. Metabolomic and signaling programs induced by immobilized versus soluble IFN ? in neural stem cells. Bioconjug Chem. 2020 LINK
  13. Nun N, Cruz M, Jain T, Tseng YM, Menefee J, Jatana S, Patil P, Leipzig N, McDonald C, Maytin E, Joy A. Thread Size and Polymer Composition of 3D Printed and Electrospun Wound Dressings Affect Wound Healing Outcomes in an Excisional Wound Rat Model. Biomacromolecules. Oct 12;21(10):4030-4042. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00801. LINK
  14. Patil PS, Monsouri MS, Leipzig ND. Fluorinated Chitosan Microgels to Overcome Internal Oxygen Transport Deficiencies in Microtissue Culture Systems. Advanced Biosystems. 2020. In Press. doi: 10.1002/adbi.201900250. LINK
  15.  Baumann HJ+, Mahajan G+, Ham TR, Betonio P*, Kothapalli C, Shriver LP, Leipzig ND. Softening of the chronic hemi-section spinal cord injury scar parallels dysregulation of cellular and extracellular matrix content. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2020. In Press. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103953.  LINK
  16. Christie SM+, Ham TR+, Gilmore GT, Toth PD, Leipzig ND+, Smith AW+. Covalently Immobilizing Interferon-? Drives Filopodia Production through Specific Receptor-Ligand Interactions Independently of Canonical Downstream Signaling. Bioconjug Chem. 2020;31(5):1362-1369. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00105.   LINK
  17. Ham TR, Pukale DD, Hamrangsekachaee M, Leipzig ND. Subcutaneous priming of protein-functionalized chitosan scaffolds improves function following spinal cord injury. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2020;110:110656. doi:10.1016/j.msec.2020.110656 . LINK
  18.  TR Ham, DD Pukale, M Hamrangsekachaee, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous priming of neural stem cell-seeded scaffolds improves function following spinal cord injury”. Submitted. 2019.
  19. PS Patil, S Fathollahipour, A Inmann, Anup Pant, R Amini, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogel Dressings Improve Diabetic Wound Healing”. Submitted. 2018.
  20. TR Ham, M Farrag, AM Soltisz, EH Lakes, KD Allen, ND Leipzig. “Automated Gait Analysis Detects Improvements after Intracellular ? Peptide Administration in a Rat Hemisection Model of Spinal Cord Injury”. Ann Biomed Eng. 2019 Jan 9. DOI: 10.1007/s10439-019-02198-0. LINK
  21. M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous Maturation of Neural Stem Cell-Loaded Hydrogels Forms Region-Specific Neuroepithelium”. Cells. 2018 Oct 17;7(10). DOI: 10.3390/cells7100173. LINK
  22. S Fathollahipour, PS Patil, ND Leipzig. “Oxygen Regulation in Development: Lessons from Embryogenesis towards Tissue Engineering.” Invited review to Cells, Tissues, Organs. October 1, 2018. DOI: 10.1159/00049316. LINK
  23. AE Mohrman, MA Farrag, ND Leipzig. Evaluation of in situ gelling chitosan-PEG copolymer for use in the spinal cord” Journal of Biomaterials Applications. Aug 15. 2018. LINK
  24. PS Patil, MM Evancho-Chapman, H Huang, RL George, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenating Hydrogels Enhance Healing in Acute Porcine Wound Model.” PLoS One. 13(9): e0203371. LINK
  25. BY Jacobs, EH Lakes, A. Reiter, SP Lake, TR Ham, ND Leipzig, SL Porvasnik, CE Schmidt, RA Wachs, KD Allen. “The Open Source GAITOR Suite for Preclinical Gait Analysis.” Scientific Reports. 8, Article number: 9797. 2018. LINK
  26. H Li, J Zheng, H Wang, ML Becker, ND Leipzig. “Neural stem cell encapsulation and differentiation in strain promoted crosslinked PEG-based hydrogels.”  Journal of Biomaterials Applications. 32(9):1222–1230. 2018. LINK
  27. TR Ham, ND Leipzig. “Biomaterial strategies for limiting the impact of secondary events following spinal cord injury.” Invited review to Biomedical Materials.13(2):024105. 2018. LINK
  28. JE Puskas, A Jindal, K Nedica, MT Luebbers, JR Baker, A McClain, B Paiva dos Santos, M Camassol, W Jennings, RL Einsporn, ND Leipzig. “Encapsulation and release of Zafirlukast from electrospun polyisobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomeric fiber mat.” European Polymer Journal. 98:254-261. 2018. LINK
  29. A Sridhar, I Brosch, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogels Improve Cellular Wound Healing Processes.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 45(11):2693-2701. 2017. LINK
  30. PS Patil, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan for Sequestering Reactive Oxygen Species to Relieve Oxidative Stress and Deliver Oxygen in Wound Healing.” JBMR Part A. 105A: 2368–2374. 2017. LINK
  31. T Ham, MA Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Covalent Growth Factor Tethering to Direct Neural Stem Cell Differentiation.” Acta Biomaterialia. 53:140-151 2017. LINK
  32. AE Mohrman, MA Farrag. H Huang, S Ossowski, S Haft, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal injury environment of cervical syringomyelia.” J Neurotrauma. February 2017, 34(3): 720-733. LINK
  33. PS Patil, N Fountas-Davis, H Huang, MM Evancho-Chapman, JA Fulton, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogels Enhances Collagen Synthesis in Wound Healing through Increased Oxygen Availability”. Acta Biomaterialia. 36: 164-74. 2016. LINK
  34. PG Lawrence, PS Patil, ND Leipzig, Y Lapitsky, “Ionically Crosslinked Polymer Networks for the Multiple-Month Release of Small Molecules.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 8(7): 4323-4335. 2016. LINK
  35.  H Li+, TR Ham+, N Neill*, AE Morhman, MA Farag. A Koenig*, ND Leipzig. “A hydrogel bridge incorporating immobilized growth factors and neural stem/progenitor cells to treat spinal cord injury.” Advanced Healthcare Materials. 5(7):802-12. 2016. 2016. LINK
  36.  AM McCormick, NA Jarmusik*, ND Leipzig. “Co-immobilization of semaphorin 3A and nerve growth factor to guide and pattern axons.” Acta Biomaterialia. 28: 33-44. 2015. LINK
  37. AM McCormick, MVSN Maddipatla, S Shi, H Yokoyama, A Joy+, ND Leipzig+. “Micropatterned coumarin polyester thin films direct neurite orientation.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 6(22): 19655–19667. 2014. LINK
  38. H Li, A Koenig*, P Sloan, ND Leipzig. “In vivo assessment of guided neural stem cell differentiation in growth factor immobilized chitosan hydrogel scaffolds.” Biomaterials. 35(33): 9049-9057. 2014. LINK
  39. LJ Kobelt*, AE Wilkinson, AM McCormick, RK Willits, ND Leipzig. “Short duration electrical stimulation to enhance neurite outgrowth and maturation of adult neural stem progenitor cells.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 42(10):2164-76. 2014. LINK
  40. H Li, DP Visco, ND Leipzig. “Confirmation of predicted activity for factor XIa inhibitors from a virtual high-throughput-screening Approach.”AIChE Journal. 60(8):2741–2746. 2014. LINK
  41.  AE Wilkinson, LJ Kobelt*, ND Leipzig. “The effects of ECM ligand type and concentration on neural stem cell differentiation.” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A.102(10): 3419-3428. 2014. LINK
  42. H Li, A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “Tethering of perfluorocarbons to photopolymerizable chitosan enhances 3D survival and differentiation of neural stem cells.”  Annals of Biomedical Engineering.42(7):1456-69, 2014. 2014. LINK
  43. AM McCormick, NA Jarmusik*, EJ Edrizzi*, ND Leipzig. “Expression, isolation and purification of soluble and insoluble biotinylated protein for nerve tissue regeneration.” JoVE. 2014. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (83), e51295, 2014. LINK
  44. AM McCormick, A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “Specific immobilization of biotinylated fusion proteins NGF and Sema3A utilizing a photocrosslinkable diazirine compound for controlling neurite extension.” Bioconjugate Chemistry. (9): p. 1515-26. 2013. LINK
  45. A Wijekoon, N Fountas Davis, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan hydrogel systems as adaptable oxygen carriers for wound healing.” Acta Biomaterialia. 9(3): 5653-5664. 2013. LINK
  46. H Li, A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “3D differentiation of neural stem cells in macroporous photopolymerizable hydrogel scaffolds.” PLoS ONE. 7(11): e48824. 2012. LINK
  47. AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Neural regenerative strategies incorporating biomolecular axon guidance signals.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 40(3):578-597, 2012. Selected for Cover Art. LINK
  48. AE Wilkinson, AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Central Nervous System Tissue Engineering: Current Considerations and Strategies.” Synthesis Lectures on Tissue Engineering. KA Athanasiou and JK Leach Eds, Morgan & Claypool Publishers, p. 1-120, 2011. LINK

Previous Institutions

  1. ND Leipzig, RG Wylie, H Kim, MS Shoichet. “Differentiation of neural stem cells in three-dimensional growth factor-immobilized chitosan hydrogel scaffolds.” Biomaterials. 32(1):57-64, 2011. LINK
  2. ND Leipzig, C Xu*, T Zahir, MS Shoichet. “Functional immobilization of interferon-gamma induces neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells.” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 93A(2):625-633, 2010. LINK
  3. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “The effect of substrate stiffness on adult neural stem cell behavior.” Biomaterials. 30(36):6867-6878, 2009. LINK
  4.  T Zahir, YF Chen, JF MacDonald, N Leipzig, CH Tator, MS Shoichet. “Neural stem/progenitor cells differentiate to neurons by the combined action of dibutyryl cAMP and interferon-gamma.” Stem Cells and Development. 2009. In Press. LINK
  5.  Y Aizawa, ND Leipzig, T Zahir, MS Shoichet. “The effect of immobilized platelet derived growth factor AA on neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation on cell-adhesive hydrogels.” Biomaterials. 29(35):4676-83, 2008. LINK
  6. LMY Yu, ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Promoting neuron adhesion and growth.” Materials Today. 11(5):36-43, 2008. LINK
  7. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Static compression of single chondrocytes catabolically modifies single cell gene expression.” Biophysical Journal. 94(6):2412-2422, 2008. LINK
  8. SV Eleswarapu*, ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Gene expression of single chondrocytes.” Cell and Tissue Research. 327(1):43-54, 2007. LINK
  9. ND Leipzig, SV Eleswarapu, KA Athanasiou. “Growth factor effects on the biomechanical properties of single chondrocytes.” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 14(12):1227-1236, 2006. LINK
  10.  ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Unconfined creep compression of single chondrocytes.” Journal of Biomechanics. 38(1):77-85, 2005. LINK
  11. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Cartilage regeneration.” The Encyclopedia of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. G. Wnek, G. Bowlin Eds. 2008, 2nd Ed, Informa Healthcare USA Inc: New York. Vol. 1, p. 552-560. LINK

Patents

  1. Leipzig ND, Patil PS. “MULTI-FUNCTIONAL OXYGENATING MICROPARTICLE LOADED CELL AGGREGATES”. Filed 4/11/19 as PCT.
  2. Leipzig ND, Wijekoon A. “Hydrogel for wound dressing, comprises crosslinked polymer having pendant fluorine group.” WO2013112863-A1. (Filed EU, Canada, India 7/25/14)
  3. Leipzig ND, Wijekoon A. Fluorinated polymerizable hydrogels for wound dressings and methods of making same, USA, 10,335,490, 2019-7-2.
  4. Leipzig ND, Wijekoon A. “Hydrogel for wound dressing, comprises crosslinked polymer having pendant fluorine group.” CN107522880A, China, 2017-12-29.

Conference Proceedings and Presentations

  1. Abri S, Durr HA, Leipzig ND. Oxygenating and antibacterial MACF hydrogel dressings reduce infection on an infected diabetic wound model. Society for Biomaterials 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. April 27-30 Baltimore, MD. Oral Presentation. (Travel Award)
  2. Mansouri M, Imes, W*, Leipzig ND. ECM protein-decorated microparticles to maintain cell survival and liver-specific function. Society for Biomaterials 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. April 27-30 Baltimore, MD. Oral Presentation.
  3. DD Pukale, ND Leipzig. Osmoregulatory role of betaine and betaine/?-aminobutyric acid Transporter 1 in post-traumatic syringomyelia. 262nd ACS National Meeting & Exposition. Aug 22- Aug 26, 2021. Atlanta, Georgia. Oral presentation.
  4. M Hamrangsekachaee, HJ Baumann, DD Pukale, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. Understanding the role of subcutaneous priming for improving tissue engineered scaffolds for spinal cord injury treatment. Society For Biomaterials 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition, virtual, April 20 – 23, 2021. Oral presentation.
  5. M Hamrangsekachaee, HJ Baumann, DD Pukale, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. Quantification of Foreign Body Response to Subcutaneously Primed Neural Stem Cell Seeded Chitosan Scaffolds for Application to Spinal Cord Injury. 2020 Virtual AIChE Annual Meeting. November 16-20, 2021. Poster.
  6. M Mansouri, N Leipzig.  “Regulation of the Liver Spheroid Microenvironment Using Engineered Oxygenating Microparticles”. BMES Annual Meeting, October 14-17, 2020. Poster and short video.
  7. DD Pukale, TR Ham, M Hamrangsekachaee, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous Priming of Neural Stem Cell-Seeded Scaffolds Improves Function Following Spinal Cord Injury”. Biomaterials Day Conference organized by Society for Biomaterials and CWRU, Cleveland, OH, 26th October 2019. Oral presentation.
  8. DD Pukale, TR Ham, M Hamrangsekachaee, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous Priming of Neural Stem Cell-Seeded Scaffolds Improves Function Following Spinal Cord Injury”. Biomedical Forum organized by CMU, Pittsburgh, PA, 19 – 20th September 2019. Poster Presentation.
  9. DD Pukale, M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Quantitative evaluation techniques for syrinx size and functional deficits in a rat model” Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (CSF Flow) Conference, Buffalo, NY, 25-28th June 2019. Oral presentation.
  10. DD Pukale, M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Investigating the Role of Betaine Regulation in Syringomyelia”. Engineering Design Day Symposium, Akron, OH, 26th April 2019. Poster Presentation. – Best Graduate Poster Award.
  11. DD Pukale, M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Investigating the Role of Betaine Regulation in Syringomyelia”. UA Interdisciplinary Symposium, Akron, OH, 9th April 2019. Poster Presentation. – EXL Center Community Engagement Award.
  12. TR Ham, D Pukale, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous maturation of neural stem cell-seeded scaffolds to treat spinal cord injury”. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. November 3-7, 2018, San Diego, CA,USA. Poster. 
  13. ND Leipzig. TR Ham, M Farrag, HJ Bauman. L Shriver. “Tethered IFN-gamma signaling to direct adult neural stem cell central nervous system organogenesis.” Signal Transduction by Engineered Extracellular Matrices Gordon Research Conference. July 22 -27, 2018 Proctor Academy in Andover, NH USA. Poster.
  14. H Baumann. Shriver, N Leipzig “Adult Neural Stem Cell Differentiation In IFN? Immobilized Chitosan Hydrogel Conduits.”SFB 2018 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. April 13, 2018. Presentation.
  15. TR Ham, SM Christie, AW Smith, N Leipzig. “Investigation of Covalently Tethered Interferon-? Receptor-Ligand Signaling.” SFB 2018 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. April 11-13, 2018. Poster.
  16. PS Patil, N Leipzig. “Oxygenating Microparticles for Localized Oxygenation to 3D Tissue Environments.” SFB 2018 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. April 12, 2018. Presentation.
  17. S Fathollahipour, N Leipzig. “Heparin-chitosan Based Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Antibiotic Delivery.” SFB 2018 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. April 11-13, 2018. Poster.
  18. M Farrag, N Leipzig. “Subcutaneous maturation of adult NSC-loaded biomaterial scaffolds to spinal cord regionalized neuro epithelium.” SFB 2018 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. April 11-13, 2018. Poster and Presentation.
  19.  PS Patil, A Inmann, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenating Hydrogel Dressings Improve Diabetic Wound Healing.” UM SFB Biomaterials Day, October 2017, Ann Arbor, MI, USA October 2017. Presentation.
  20. M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Subcutaneous maturation of adult NSC-loaded biomaterial scaffolds to spinal cord regionalized neuro epithelium.” UM SFB Biomaterials Day, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. October 2017. Poster.
  21. AE Mohrman, MA Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Injectable chitosan-PEG based hydrogels for CNS local delivery in syringomyelia models” SFB 2019 Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. April 2017. Poster.
  22. PS Patil, A Inmann, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenating Hydrogel Dressings Improve Diabetic Wound Healing.” 30th Annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring/Wound Healing Society. San Diego, CA. April, 2017. Poster.
  23. TR Ham, DG Cox, ND Leipzig. “Recruitment and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells Using Soluble and Immobilized Growth Factors.” TERMIS-AM. San Diego, CA. December, 2016. Poster.
  24. PS Patil, EM Chapman, H Huang, RL George, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenated Hydrogels Enhance Wound Healing.” Heal Ohio. Akron, OH. October 28, 2016. Poster.
  25. A Sridhar, ND Leipzig. “Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogels Improve Cellular Wound Healing Processes.” Heal Ohio. Akron, OH. October 28, 2016. Poster.
  26. PS Patil, H Huang, LPShriver, EM Chapman, RL George, J Weaver, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenated fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan hydrogel dressings enhance wound healing through improvement in targeted metabolic processes.” World Biomaterials Conference. Montreal, QC, Canada. May 21, 2016. Podium Presentation.
  27. TR Ham, M Farrag, ND Leipzig. “Covalent Immobilization of Azide-Tagged Interferon-? for the Generation of Adult Stem Cell-Derived Neuroepithelium.” World Biomaterials Conference. Montreal, QC, Canada. May 20, 2016. Podium Presentation.
  28. PS Patil, H Huang, LP Shriver, EM Chapman, RL George, J Weaver, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenated Fluorinated Methacrylamide Chitosan Hydrogel Dressings Enhance Wound Healing through Improvement in Targeted Metabolic Processes.” 9th Annual Translational to Clinical (T2C) Regenerative Medicine Wound Care Conference. Columbus, OH. March 16, 2016. Poster.
  29. PS Patil, N Fountas-Davis, P Joshi P, H Huang, LP Shriver, JA Fulton, ND Leipzig. “Chitosan Based Hydrogels for Delivering Oxygen and Sequestering Reactive Oxygen Species in Wound Healing.” SFB Annual Fall Meeting, Charlotte, NC. April 18, 2015. Podium Presentation. (Travel Award)
  30. N Fountas-Davis, PS Patil, ND Leipzig. “Oxygenating Chitosan-Perfluorocarbon Hydrogel Dressings for Accelerated Wound Healing.” TERMIS-AM. Washington, DC. December 5, 2014. Podium Presentation.
  31. H Li, T Ham, A Wilkinson, A Koenig, ND Leipzig. “Spinal cord injury treatments tested in vivo integrating neural stem cell delivery and lineage specification via immobilized growth factors.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2014 Annual Fall Meeting. October 24, 2012. San Antonio, TX. Poster.
  32. A Wilkinson, M Farrag, S Haft, P. Joshi, H Huang, LP Shriver, ND Leipzig. “Transcriptomics and metabolomics of surgically-induced cervical syringomyelia.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2014 Annual Fall Meeting. October 24, 2012. San Antonio, TX.
  33. H Li, P Sloan, K Bondor, A Koenig, N Leipzig. “In vivo Assessment of Guided Neural Stem Cell Differentiation in Growth Factor Immobilized Hydrogel Scaffolds.” SFB Annual Fall Meeting, Denver, CO. April 19, 2014. Podium Presentation.
  34. P Alayamini, J Jernigan, R McMillen; G Chen, N Leipzig, Y Yun, K Cavicchi. “From the lab-bench to the classroom: Three RET experiences at the University of Akron” 45th National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society. New Orleans, LA. Apr 7-11, 2013. Podium Presentation.
  35. EA Evans, JR Elliot, ND Leipzig. “Project Management and Teamwork: A Vertically Integrated Team Design Project for All Students in Chemical Engineering.” AIChE Annual Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. November 6, 2013. Podium Presentation.
  36. N Fountas-Davis, ND Leipzig. “Enhancing healing of chronic wounds using chitosan-based, oxygen-enhanced, fluorinated hydrogels.” UASIS, The University of Akron, April 11, 2013. Podium Presentation.
  37. AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Immobilization scheme utilizing a photopolymerizable crosslinker and biotinylated fusion proteins for neural tissue engineering applications.” AIChE Annual Fall Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. November 1, 2012. Podium Presentation.
  38. H Li, A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “Neural stem cell 3D neuronal differentiation in fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan hydrogels.” AIChE Annual Fall Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. October 31, 2012. Podium Presentation.
  39. LJ Kobelt*, A Wilkinson, ND Leipzig. “Electrical stimulation to enhance neurite outgrowth and differentiation of neural stem cells.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2012 Annual Fall Meeting. October 27, 2012. Atlanta, GA. Podium Presentation. (Travel award)
  40. H Li, K Stakleff, P Sloan, ND Leipzig. “Spatial differentiation of neural stem cells in 3-D grow factor immobilized photopolymerizable hydrogel scaffolds Neuroscience 2012 Annual Fall Meeting. October 16, 2012. New Orleans, LA. Poster.AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Precise immobilized patterning of fusion proteins nerve growth factor and semaphorin3A facilitate DRG axon guidance.” Neuroscience 2012 Annual Fall Meeting. October 16, 2012. New Orleans, LA. Poster.
  41. AE Wilkinson, ND Leipzig. “Axonal strain as a regulator of neural stem cell differentiation.” Neuroscience 2012 Annual Fall Meeting. October 16, 2012. New Orleans, LA. Poster.
  42. L Kobelt*, A Antonas*, A Wilkinson, ND Leipzig. “Electrical stimulation to enhance neurite outgrowth and differentiation in neural stem cells.” AIChE Regional Conference 2012. University of Akron, Akron, OH. April 21, 2012. Presentation.
  43. EJ Endrizzi*, AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Methacrylamide chitosan aids in neuronal differentiation in 2D and 3D environments.” AIChE Regional Conference 2012. University of Akron, Akron, OH. April 21, 2012. Poster.
  44. L Kobelt*, A Antonas*, A Wilkinson, ND Leipzig. “Electrical stimulation to enhance neurite outgrowth in neural stem cells.” 121st meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science. Ashland University, Ashland, OH. April 14, 2012. Poster.
  45. EJ Endrizzi*, AM McCormick, ND Leipzig. “Methacrylamide chitosan aids in neuronal differentiation in 2D and 3D environments.” 121st meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science. Ashland University, Ashland, OH. April 14, 2012. Poster.
  46. A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “Oxygen rich hydrogel scaffolds for tissue regeneration and deep wound healing. BMES-SPRBM meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico.” Jan 6, 2011. Podium Presentation. (Travel award)
  47. AM McCormick, EJ Endrizzi*, ND Leipzig. “Spatial axon guidance utilizing covalently bound attractive and repulsive fusion proteins.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2011 Annual Fall Meeting. Hartford, CT. Poster. (Travel award)
  48. H Li, ND Leipzig. “Differentiation of neural stem cells in 3-D fast-macroporous photopolymerizable hydrogel scaffolds.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2011 Annual Fall Meeting. Hartford, CT. Poster. (Travel award)
  49. AE Wilkinson, LJ Kobelt*, ND Leipzig. “Differentiation and Tensile Elongation of Neural Stem Cells for Neural Tissue Engineering.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2011 Annual Fall Meeting. Hartford, CT. Poster. (Travel award)
  50. A Wijekoon, ND Leipzig. “Novel fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan hydrogels as oxygen carriers for clinical application.” Summa Research Forum 2011. Akron, OH. Sept 23, 2011. Poster.
  51. AM McCormick, EJ Endrizzi, ND Leipzig. “Immobilized attractive and repulsive fusion proteins facilitate axon guidance.” Summa Research Forum 2011. Akron, OH. Sept 23, 2011. Poster.
  52. H Li, ND Leipzig. “3-D differentiation of neural stem cells in fast-macroporous photopolymerizable hydrogel scaffolds for spinal cord repair.” Summa Research Forum 2011. Akron, OH. Sept 23, 2011. Poster.
  53. AE Wilkinson, LJ Kobelt*, ND Leipzig. “Defined neural progenitor cell differentiation strategies for generating neuron and oligodendrocyte populations.” Summa Research Forum 2011. Akron, OH. Sept 23, 2011. Poster.
  54. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Immobilization of Interferon-Gamma Guides Neuronal Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2009 Annual Fall Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. October 9, 2009. Podium Presentation.
  55. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Neural progenitor/stem cell differentiation using cues from the stem cell niche.” Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Symposium. Toronto, ON, Canada. October 6, 2008. Poster.
  56. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Neural stem cell 2D and 3D responses to substrate stiffness.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2008 Annual Fall Meeting. St. Louis, MO, USA. October 2, 2008. Podium Presentation.
  57. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Photopolymerizable chitosan for studying the effects of substrate stiffness on neural stem cell differentiation.” World Biomaterials Congress 2008. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. May 29, 2008. Podium Presentation.
  58. D Saro, ND Leipzig, A Hsieh, BG Amsden, S Waldman, MS Shoichet. “Tissue engineering of neural stem progenitor cells on a biodegradable electrospun polymeric scaffold.” Advanced Foods and Materials Network Annual Conference. Vancouver, BC, Canada. June 1, 2008. Poster.
  59. ND Leipzig, MS Shoichet. “Neural progenitor cell differentiation and the effects of substrate stiffness.” Stem Cell Network 2007 Annual General Meeting. Toronto, ON, Canada. November 7-8, 2007. Poster.
  60. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Biomechanics of single chondrocytes and osteoarthritis.” Arthritis Foundation-Segal Osteoarthritis Symposium. Evanston, IL, USA. September 9, 2006. Podium Presentation.
  61. SV Eleswarapu*, ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Factors influencing the gene expression of single chondrocytes.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2005 Annual Fall Meeting. Baltimore, MD, USA. September 30, 2005. Poster.
  62.  ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Biomechanical response of single chondrocytes to growth factors.” Biomedical Engineering Society 2004 Annual Fall Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, USA. October 15, 2004. Podium Presentation.
  63. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Compression of single chondrocytes and biomechanical response to TGF-b1.” NIH Symposium. Houston, TX, USA. May 4, 2004. Poster.
  64. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Material properties of single chondrocytes under unconfined compression.” The 50th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. San Francisco, CA, USA. March 7, 2004. Podium Presentation.
  65. ND Leipzig, AC Shieh, KA Athanasiou. “Gene expression in bovine articular chondrocytes.” NIH IGERT Symposium. Houston, TX, USA. January 11, 2003. Poster.
  66. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Basic issues of articular cartilage healing.” Edward T. Smith Orthopaedic Lectureship: Articular Cartilage. G.P. Harvey, Chair. Houston, TX, USA. November 8, 2002.

Invited Talks

  1. ND Leipzig. “Hydrogel systems for delivering and controlling local oxygenation” University of Pittsburgh Oral Biology Seminar Series. Virtual. October 27, 2020.
  2. ND Leipzig, D Pukale, M Farrag, AE. Mohrmon, LP Shriver. “Investigation of the role of betaine synthesis and transport in syrinx.” Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (CSF Flow) Conference, Buffalo, NY, 25-28th June 2019. Talk.
  3. ND Leipzig. Priming neural stem cells to functionally regenerate the spinal cord after injury via a biomaterial-based subcutaneous maturation approach. 6th Annual Midwest Conference on Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine. Kansas City, MO, USA. September 14, 2018.
  4. ND Leipzig. Understanding and Targeting the Molecular Pathology of Syringomyelia. Conquer Chiari Research Center Open House. Akron, Ohio, USA. July 21, 2018.
  5. ND Leipzig. Regenerative Medicine Approaches for the Central Nervous System. Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA.  October 18, 2017.
  6. ND Leipzig.  All I know: an Alaskan’s Biomedical Journey.  Special session to honor Kerry and Kiley Athanasiou. BMES annual conference. Phoenix, AZ, USA October 13, 2017.
  7. ND Leipzig. Oxygenating biomaterial-based hydrogel dressings for accelerated wound healing. Heal Ohio. Akron, OH. October 28, 2016.
  8. ND Leipzig. Fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan: biobased and biologically derived materials for accelerated wound healing. Lubrizol Learn Seminar. Brecksville, OH, USA. August 20, 2015.
  9. ND Leipzig. Fluorinated methacrylamide chitosan: biobased and biologically derived materials for accelerated wound healing. Lake Erie Chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1st Quarter Meeting. Akron, OH, USA. March 17, 2015. Main speaker.
  10. ND Leipzig. “Central nervous system tissue organogenesis via precise growth factor tethering” 2015 NRCM retreat. Cleveland, OH, USA. March 6, 2015.
  11. ND Leipzig. “Central nervous system tissue organogenesis via precise growth factor tethering” 2015 Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Conference. St. Thomas, USVI, USA. January 7, 2015. Rising Star Award talk.
  12. ND Leipzig, A.E. Wilkinson, M. Farrag1, S. Haft, P. Joshi, H. Huang, L. P. Shriver “Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses to reveal the syrinx biochemical environment in a rat model of cervical syringomyelia.” Conquer Chiari Research Conference 2014, Akron Ohio Nov 7, 2014.
  13.  ND Leipzig, “Guided regeneration via oxygenated biomaterial-growth factor platforms.” Ohio State Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Based Therapies (CRMCBT) 2nd Annual Retreat, Mohican State Park Lodge, OH, July 26 – 27, 2013. 
  14. ND Leipzig, “Guided regeneration via oxygenated biomaterial-growth factor platforms.” Ohio State Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Based Therapies (CRMCBT) 2nd Annual Retreat, Mohican State Park Lodge, OH, July 26 – 27, 2013.
  15. ND Leipzig, “Guiding neuronal differentiation and extension via engineered cues.” Biomedical Engineering Lecture Series. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. May 3, 2013.
  16. ND Leipzig, LJ Kobelt*, AM McCormick, RK Willits. “Uncovering the role of applied electrical fields in neurogenesis.” 2013 Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Conference. Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Waimea, HI. January 4, 2013.
  17. ND Leipzig. “Guiding neuronal differentiation via biomaterial-growth factor platforms.” National Center for Regenerative Medicine Annual Retreat. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. November 12, 2012.
  18. ND Leipzig. “Engineered Environments for Nervous System Regeneration.” Anatomy and Neurobiology Lecture series. North East Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH. June 14, 2012.
  19. ND Leipzig. “Engineered Environments for Nervous System Regeneration.” Center for Biomedical Engineering Lecture series. Brown University, Providence, RI. March 23, 2012.
  20. ND Leipzig. “Engineered Environments for Central Nervous System Regeneration.” Biomaterials Symposium. University of Akron, Akron, OH. October 26, 2011.
  21. ND Leipzig. “Tissue engineering the nervous system.” Biomedical Engineering Lecture Series. Ohio University, Athens, OH. May 10, 2011.
  22. ND Leipzig. “Tissue engineering the nervous system.” Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Lecture Series. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. April 26, 2011.
  23. ND Leipzig. “The role of mechanobiology and the microenvironment in cell and stem cell function.” Biomedical Engineering Lecture Series. University of Akron, Akron, OH. Jan. 22, 2010.
  24. ND Leipzig, KA Athanasiou. “Biomechanics of single chondrocytes and osteoarthritis.” Arthritis Foundation-Segal Osteoarthritis Symposium. Evanston, IL. Sept. 9, 2006.

(* denotes undergrad)