معرفی
Lauryn Samelko is an Assistant Professor at Rush University's Rush Medical College, affiliated with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Her research focuses on biomaterial-tissue interactions, particularly the immunological and inflammatory responses to orthopedic implants. She investigates how metallic debris from implants induces hypersensitivity reactions, osteolysis, and systemic inflammation through mechanisms involving Toll-like receptors, inflammasomes, and sex-dependent immune responses.
- Primary Affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush Medical College
- Key Collaborators: Nadim Hallab, Joshua Jacobs, Markus Wimmer
Her work examines immunogenicity of materials like CoCrMo alloys and UHMWPE, studying macrophage responses to wear particles, metal allergy mechanisms, and how battlefield metal fragments affect immune systems. She uses in vivo murine models and clinical data from vaccinated populations to establish diagnostic criteria for metal hypersensitivity in surgical patients.
Recent contributions include linking NLRP3 inflammasome activity to Th17-mediated osteolysis and revealing sex-dependent differences in inflammatory responses to implant debris. She also explores the role of danger signaling pathways independent of TLR4 activation in implant-related bone loss.
- Key Research Themes: Biomaterial biocompatibility, implant failure mechanisms, immunotoxicology
