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Suspension Near-Field Electrospinning: A Nanofabrication Method Of Polymer Nanoarray Architectures For Tissue Engineering, Alexander R. Nagle

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Chapter 1. This chapter is divided into six sections. The first will discuss the issue of nerve tissue loss, and the strategies of therapy (1.1). The second describes the role of nanofabrication in tissue engineering (1.2). The third section details the theoretical background of electrospinning in terms of solution and process parameters (1.3). The fourth section introduces near-field electrospinning (NFES), recent advances in this field and the principles of NFES techniques (1.4). The fifth section details objectives for a tissue engineered construct for neural cell therapy, and presents possible viable solutions (1.5). The sixth summarizes the aims and structure of …

Optimizing The Bioinks For Islet Tissue Engineering By Using A Customized Coaxial Bioprinter, Narangerel Gantumur

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic metabolic autoimmune disease where the patient's immune system destroys insulin-producing β-cells in the islet of Langerhans. The current treatment option is through frequent administration of exogenous insulin, where the patients must closely monitor the dosage. Patients often need islet transplantation when the β-cell destruction worsens, and the body cannot utilize exogenously administrated insulin. Islet transplantation is a form of cell therapy that could restore endogenous insulin production. However, this method has several drawbacks, including low survival of functional islets and allograft tissue immunogenicity. A recently emerging tissue engineering approach can offer a possible solution …

Parameter Optimisation Of Coaxial Melt Electrowriting, Anne-Katrin Gruska

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an additive manufacturing technique that combines the advantages of both, solution electrospinning and fused filament fabrication by allowing the deposition of ultra-fine fibres in a controlled way without the necessity for dispersion of the material being prepared in toxic solvents. This approach is promising for the research field of tissue engineering that requires not only different types of materials but also different manufacturing techniques for scaffolds that are supposed to provide robust but flexible support, which facilitates cell growth without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

Recent advances in MEW technology (Mar 2018) that allow the …

Development Of P-Type Dye Sensitized Electrodes Decorated With Silver For Photoelectrochemical Reduction Of Carbon Dioxide, Mehmood Irfan

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis is based on the development of p-type dye-sensitized semiconductor electrodes decorated with silver particles for use in the photoelectrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. The major achievement of my work was to deposit silver particles onto the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode through a photoelectrochemical reduction process and to study the effects of different conditions of concentration and time on silver deposition. The deposition of silver particles onto a dye sensitized semi conductor electrode has been done for the first time to our knowledge unlike the metal particle deposition on bare semiconductors in the past. The use of the dye reduces …

Development Of A Platform For The Biofabrication Of Endocrine Pancreatic Tissue Constructs Through Co-Axial Micro-Extrusion, Max Jurie Renes

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) is an auto-immune disease in which the insulin-producing β-cells in the islets of Langerhans are destroyed, affecting over 20 million patients worldwide. Islet transplantation may offer a viable treatment strategy, but transplanted islet lifespan is limited by auto- and allo-immune responses and poor engraftment upon transplantation. Biofabrication of tissue engineered constructs encapsulating islets may offer a viable strategy, as this encapsulation may allow for immune-protection of the islets and circumvent issues associated with engraftment. Here, we describe for the first time a single-step fabrication procedure for tissue constructs incorporating isolated mouse islets with supporting endothelial progenitor cells. …

Hydrogel Based Braided Artificial Muscles, Bidita Binte Salahuddin

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Artificial muscles are devices or materials which can contract, expand, or rotate when acted upon by an external stimulus (such as electricity, pH, pressure, magnetic field, or temperature). The applications of artificial muscles are versatile because they can exhibit linear actuation as in hydraulic rams, torsional actuation like electric motors, and bending actuation as seen in nature. Artificial muscles have also exhibited great potential in robot fabrication and in surgery tools due to their resemblance to biological muscles along with high actuation force per unit mass. One successful type of artificial muscle uses a braided bladder that generates muscle-like contractions …