Hydrogels are a unique class of polymeric materials that possess an interconnected porous
network across various length scales from nano-to macroscopic dimensions and exhibit …

Spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) and preterm pre-labor rupture of the membranes (pPROM)
are major pregnancy complications. Although PTB and pPROM have common etiologies …

Polymer adhesives play an important role in many medical, consumer, and industrial
products. Polymers of α-lipoic acid (αLA) have the potential to fulfill the need for versatile …

Background Fetal endocrine signals are generally considered to contribute to the timing of
birth and the initiation of labor. Fetal tissues under oxidative stress release inflammatory …

Diseases in pregnancy endanger millions of fetuses worldwide every year. The onset of
these diseases can be early warned by the dynamic abnormalities of biochemicals in …

Human fetal membrane and maternal decidua parietalis form one of the major feto-maternal
interfaces during pregnancy. Studies on this feto-maternal interface is limited as several …

The idea that cellular stress (including that precipitated by stretch), plays a significant role in
the mechanisms initiating parturition, has gained considerable traction over the last decade …

Amnion epithelial cell (AEC) shedding causes microfractures in human placental
membranes during gestation. However, microfractures are healed to maintain membrane …

Intra-amniotic infection and inflammation (IAI) affect fetal development and are highly
associated with preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes, which often lead to …

Pro-pregnancy hormone progesterone (P4) helps to maintain a quiescent status of uterine
tissues during gestation. However, P4's functional role in maintaining fetal membrane …