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Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Shape Memory Polymer Foaming With Tunable Interconnectivity Using Off-The-Shelf Foaming Components, Natalie Marie Petryk
Shape Memory Polymer Foaming With Tunable Interconnectivity Using Off-The-Shelf Foaming Components, Natalie Marie Petryk
Theses - ALL
The ability to tune pore structures of gas-blown polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foams easily and safely could improve their outcomes as hemostatic dressings or tissue engineering scaffolds and overall commercialization efforts. Incorporating physical blowing agents into the polymer mix can be used to tune pore size and interconnectivity without altering foam chemistry. Enovate (HFC-254fa) is a commonly used physical blowing agent in gas-blown foams, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers its use unacceptable because it is a hydrofluorocarbon that contributes to global warming. Here, off-the-shelf solvents accepted for use by the EPA, acetone, dimethyoxymethane (methylal), and methyl formate, …
Computational Investigation Of Biological Membranes, Allyson Karmazyn
Computational Investigation Of Biological Membranes, Allyson Karmazyn
Theses - ALL
Lipids are the building blocks of biological membranes, and the types of lipids that compose these cellular envelopes influence the physicochemical properties of the chemicals that can enter or exit the cell across the membrane. This work focuses on the lipid membrane compositions of eukaryotic (red blood cells) and prokaryotic (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) membranes. By analyzing the lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions results of the computational simulations, insights into lipid aggregation, bilayer leaflet behavior, membrane asymmetry, and small molecule transport through protein channels were obtained. The differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell membranes are qualitative known; however, this work provides these concepts …
Predicting Tight Junction Formation Via Claudin Chimeras, Patrick Matthew Marsch
Predicting Tight Junction Formation Via Claudin Chimeras, Patrick Matthew Marsch
Theses - ALL
Tight junctions are vital to epithelial and endothelial barrier functions aiding in ion transport and preventing toxins from crossing into paracellular space. Claudins, made of four transmembrane helices and two extracellular loops, are a major part of the assembly of tight junctions along with other transmembrane proteins. The dimer interactions of two members of the 27-known members of the claudin family—claudin-2 and claudin-4—were analyzed. We created claudin chimera by switching claudin 2’s extracellular loops with claudin 4’s. The chimeras were analyzed using molecular dynamic simulations by comparing them to the natural claudins. This analysis provided new insight into the assembly …
Development Of An Inflammatory Joint Fluid Corrosion Assessment Method For Metallic Biomaterials, Kathleen Pieri
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 …