Engineering Commons^™

Influence Of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness And Topography On Neuronal Cell Behavior And Neurite Outgrowth, Mohan Yasodharababu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The focus of regeneration therapy for traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease is on the promotion and growth of neuronal cells. In vitro research attempts to improve this by modifying the stiffness and topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the limitations of in vitro experiments make it difficult to control the individual factors influencing neuronal cell growth. A computational model can be used to decouple individual factors and study them individually to gain a better understanding of the mechanics between the neuronal cell and ECM, which will aid in the design of in vitro experimental studies.

This study develops …

A Numerical Investigation Of Bio-Inspired Scaffolds And Surface Textures, Yucong Gu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic scaffolds are widely used as implants to repair bone fracture. Without a proper design, scaffolds could pose significant health risks to the patient and fail to heal the bone properly. A good synthetic scaffold needs to have high porosity and large pore size to allow new bone cells to form on it. However, a scaffold with higher porosity and larger pore size tends to have reduced mechanical strength. Thus, it is important to find a structural design which allows the implant to have a high porosity and large pore size while retaining high strength. In this research, a 3D-printable …