Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Molecular Investigation Of The Intestinal Barrier In Health And Disease, Santita Ebangwese

Honors Capstone Projects - All

The intestinal epithelial barrier contributes to the absorption of nutrients and in maintaining homeostasis. Several intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis show common pathological features corresponding to a decreased intestinal epithelial barrier function, which makes it imperative to investigate the functional units of the intestinal barriers formed by complex protein interfaces called the tight junctions. Among the diverse set of transmembrane proteins involved in the formation of tight junctions, the mal-distribution of claudin family of proteins show direct correlation to compromised barrier functioning. Interestingly, claudin-3 expression reduces drastically in compromised barriers, while an increased expression of claudin-23 …

Development Of An Inflammatory Joint Fluid Corrosion Assessment Method For Metallic Biomaterials, Kathleen Pieri

Honors Capstone Projects - All

There is currently no systematic way to analyze the corrosion response of orthopedic alloys in contact with human joint fluid. The goal of this project was to design and test a small device that can successfully run electrochemical tests on retrieved inflamed joint fluids. Methods of fluid testing analysis were also explored. The a small electrochemical cell was created using polypropylene for the body and an electrode cartridge that could be disposed of after each test. In total the device could hold 4 mL of liquid. Testes were preformed using titanium, stainless steel, and CoCrMo alloys as the working electrodes …

Investigating The Shelf Life Of Benzoyl Peroxide Coated Nozzles For Bone Cement Application, Alysen Leigh Demzik

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Two-solution bone cements (TSBC) were developed to address the limitations of current powder-liquid bone cements, however are characterized by a limited shelf life due to spontaneous free radical polymerization. As a solution to pre-polymerization concerns, the initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was removed from the cement solution and incorporated into a thin film coating within the static mixing nozzle, allowing the BPO to integrate with the TSBC as it is mixed for use. Only short-term storage of BPO-coated nozzles and the subsequent effects on bone cement properties is known. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of time, …

A Study Of Ciliary Beating In Chlamydomonas, Xin Li

Honors Capstone Projects - All

The goal of this research is to understand how a unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas-reinhardtii, responds to red light (670nm) and sound waves, by monitoring the beating frequency of its two cilia, which control cell motility. Ciliary beating frequency (BF) is proportional to the production of ATP, mainly generated by photosynthesis. A photosynthesis inhibitor, 3-(3-, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU) decreases ATP production by photosynthesis. I used DCMU as a tool to analyze the red light effect on BF.

In the process of studying the effect of red light, I unexpectedly discovered experimental conditions for unstable ciliary beating (as shown in the video). …

Controlling Bacterial Persister Cells With Low Level Electric Currents, Henry Lars Peterson

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Bacterial persister cells present a growing concern as they inherit the ability to tolerate high concentrations of antibiotics and repopulate after an antibiotic treatment leading to chronic diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes many human infections including skin infections and those associated with burn injuries, and implanted medical devices, and are associated with Cystic Fibrosis. Recently, the Ren Lab developed a novel approach to eliminate persister cells of P. aeruginosa, including those in biofilms, using low level electric currents. To evaluate the safety of this method and to better understand how the underlying elements, this study focused on the cytotoxicity of …

Design And Implementation Of A Shoulder Simulator, Chelsea Lynn Kowal

Honors Capstone Projects - All

The main objective of this thesis project is to build a shoulder simulator to be able to understand the mechanics of the shoulder, specifically the rotator cuff and deltoid muscles. The shoulder simulator should be able to mimic the important motions of the human shoulder by pulling on tendons of cadaver shoulders and moving the shoulder in various specified motions. In my thesis project, I worked on creating a shoulder simulator that would control the rotator cuff muscles along with the three deltoid muscles. In order to do this, I needed to design and test the shoulder simulator using cadaver …

Escherichia Coli Hm22 Biofilm Viability When In Contact With Implant-Grade, Titanium-6aluminum-4-Vanadium Alloy Under Varied Electrochemical Conditions, Alexander Ross Weiss

Honors Capstone Projects - All

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Maternal Diet On Fetal Development, Catherine Wilcox

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Using mice as a model system, this study aimed to compare the effect of a high fat diet (HFD), high sugar diet (HSD) and a control diet (CD) on fetal growth and development at the time of birth (post-natal day 0 or PND 0), post-natal day 7 (PND 7) and post-natal day 14 (PND 14). Published literature has documented the effects of a negative in-utero environment on fetal development, but currently there is limited research regarding the continued effects on development after birth. Mouse pups were harvested and then imaged in 3-D using a high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system. Total …

Liquid Crystalline Elastomers: Effects Of Substrate Anisotropy On Cell Behavior, Christine Depompeo

Honors Capstone Projects - All

One of the major challenges in tissue engineering today is inducing organization at the cellular level in vitro. Most biological tissues exhibit anisotropic behavior. They perform differently and have different mechanical properties in different directions. This environment is difficult to mimic with traditional cell culturing methods. The development of anisotropic cell substrates may have the potential to encourage the organization required at the cellular level to induce in vitro tissue formation, an exciting prospect for the advancement of the field of tissue engineering.

It is well known that liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are highly organized polymers with temperature-dependent properties. …

Waste To Work Using Eccrine Sweat Battery Modules To Enhance Pedestrian Safety, Lauren J. Vesty

Honors Capstone Projects - All

There is a need for increased pedestrian visibility. Improved athletic clothing with built in visibility features would enhance a roadside athlete’s safety. This experiment aims to create such an athletic shirt, while incorporating wearable biotechnology. A sweat battery that produced a voltage of 0.49 V and a current of 5.16 mA was created to power the visibility aspects of the shirt. The battery uses an aluminum anode, a carbon cathode, a sponge block as the container and semi-permeable membrane, and the body’s eccrine sweat as the electrolyte solution. The battery cells were arranged into blocks to produce an optimal current …

Analysis Of The Performance Of Iodinated Contrast X-Ray Attenuator Under Physiologically Relevant Conditions, Peter Frey

Honors Capstone Projects - All

X-ray is a radiological tool utilized in healthcare institutions around the world to diagnose abnormalities such as bone fractures or the presence of foreign material within patients. The ability for healthcare providers to properly diagnose a problem is improved with advancements in the quality of radiological images. One way to improve image quality is to optimize the contrast range within a single image created by different attenuating characteristics in various types of tissue. In this study, I used a proof-of-concept prototype model of an x-ray attenuation system and an experimental protocol to examine its capacity to equalize x-ray beam signal …

Loss Of Visual Function In Light-Stressed Mice, Ana Stachowiak

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Because of the highly devastating effects of retinal degenerative diseases, the study of mechanisms of vision loss is imperative. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading causes of blindness in the elderly. In this study I examined how extreme light exposure, which causes light stress in rodents, affects the visual and retinal function of 3 strains of mice. I hypothesized that, three strains of mice, C57BL/6J, ALR/Lj and BALB/c, would all show significant changes in visual and retinal function. I used behavior testing to assess visual acuity and contrast sensitivity as well as electroretinogram (ERG) recordings to assess retinal function. …

Possibilities Of Glutamate-Mediated Synaptic Like Activity In Somatosensory Mechanoreceptors Such As Pacinian Corpuscles?, Kevin Kopko

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Pacinian Corpuscles (PCs) are somatosensory mechanoreceptors, composed of a central neurite, surrounded by layers of lamellae that make up the inner core, which are specialized glial cells, and fibroblast derived outer-core lamellae of the surrounding capsule. Several components specific to a chemical synapse (Vglut1, Vamp1, SNAP-23) were localized to both the neurite and the inner-core cells in feline mesenteric PCs using immunocytochemistry. However, it has long been postulated that the first synapse of the PC occurs at the dorsal column nuclei, or spinal cord, and that no classical synapse is present in the distal ending of the capsulated receptor. While …

Predictive Measures Of Tooth/Tooth Contact In Mastication, Elizabeth Klodd

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Understanding the process of mastication, or chewing, is very important in humans. Understanding the way people chew can help craniofacial repair to victims of accidents or other conditions. Stages of chewing and swallowing have been categorized; however, it is currently unknown when exactly the teeth meet during mastication. Vertical motion data were obtained from seven subjects while chewing food of different consistencies. A videofluorograph collected the data and they were manipulated in Excel to be plotted as time vs. vertical displacement for the upper incisor tooth. The first and second derivatives of these motion-time charts were taken in order to …