Biological Engineering Commons^™

Calcium Phosphate-Based Resorbable Biomaterials For Bone Regeneration, Daniel O. Costa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Bone defects are a prevalent problem in orthopedics and dentistry. Calcium phosphate-based coatings and nanocomposites offer unique solutions towards producing scaffolds with suitable physical, mechanical and biological properties for bone regeneration.

We developed a novel method to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HA) particles with high aspect ratio using sol-gel chemistry and hydrothermal treatment. We obtained tunable pure-phase carbonated-HA in the form of micro/nanorods and nanowires (diameters 25-800 nm). To mimic the structure of bone, HA nanowires were homogenously mixed within poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) to produce nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties as determined by uniaxial tensile testing.

Surface chemistry and topography of biomaterials play …

Mox/Cnts Hetero-Structures For Gas Sensing Applications: Role Of Cnts Defects, G. Neri, S. G. Leonardi, N. Donato, C. Marichy, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, M.-G. Willinger, Kyeong-Hwan Lee, N. Pinna

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

The preparation, characterization and sensing properties of CNT composites with a thin metal oxide (MOx) surface layer is presented. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was applied for the coating of the inner and outer CNTs walls with thin films of ZnO and SnO2 of precisely controlled thicknesses. Differently treated CNTs with different degree of surface functionalization were used as support for the oxide films. The sensing properties of the obtained composite materials towards NO2 were investigated and related to the morphological and microstructural characteristics of both the coating and support. SnO2-based composites on CNTs treated at 700 °C show enhanced performance …

Labeling And Monitoring The Distribution Of Anchoring Sites On Functionalized Cnts By Atomic Layer Deposition, Catherine Marichy, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Marta C. Ferro, Kyeong-Hwan Lee, Robert Schlogl, Nicola Pinna, Marc-Georg Willinger

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

The chemical inertness of graphite and, in the case of tubes, of rolled up few layer graphene sheets, requires some degree of "defect engineering" for the fabrication of carbon based heterostructured materials. It is shown that atomic layer deposition provides a means to specifically label anchoring sites and can be used to characterize the surface functionality of differently treated carbon nanotubes. Direct observation of deposited titania by analytical transmission electron microscopy reveals the location and density of anchoring sites as well as structure related concentrations of functional groups on the surface of the tubes. Controlled functionalization of the tubes therefore …

Direct Pore‐Level Observation Of Permeability Increase In Two‐Phase Flow By Shaking, Igor A. Beresnev, William Gaul, R. Dennis Vigil

R. Dennis Vigil

Increases in permeability of natural reservoirs and aquifers by passing seismic waves have been well documented. If the physical causes of this phenomenon can be understood, technological applications would be possible for controlling the flow in hydrologic systems or enhancing production from oil reservoirs. The explanation of the dynamically increased mobility of underground fluids must lie at the pore level. The natural fluids can be viewed as two-phase systems, composed of water as the wetting phase and of dispersed non-wetting globules of gas or organic fluids, flowing through tortuous constricted channels. Capillary forces prevent free motion of the suspended non-wetting …

Thickness Of Residual Wetting Film In Liquid-Liquid Displacement, Igor A. Beresnev, William Gaul, R .Dennis Vigil

R. Dennis Vigil

Core-annular flow is common in nature, representing, for example, how streams of oil, surrounded by water, move in petroleum reservoirs. Oil, typically a nonwetting fluid, tends to occupy the middle (core) part of a channel, while water forms a surrounding wall-wetting film. What is the thickness of the wetting film? A classic theory has been in existence for nearly 50 years offering a solution, although in a controversial manner, for moving gas bubbles. On the other hand, an acceptable, experimentally verified theory for a body of one liquid flowing in another has not been available. Here we develop a hydrodynamic, …

Forced Instability Of Core-Annular Flow In Capillary Constrictions, Igor A. Beresnev, William Gaul, R. Dennis Vigil

R. Dennis Vigil

Instability of fluid cylinders and jets, a highly nonlinear hydrodynamic phenomenon, has fascinated researchers for nearly 150 years. A subset of the phenomenon is the core-annular flow, in which a non-wetting core fluid and a surrounding wall-wetting annulus flow through a solid channel. The model, for example, represents the flow of oil in petroleum reservoirs. The flow may be forced to break up when passing through a channel’s constriction. Although it has long been observed that the breakup occurs near the neck of the constriction, the exact conditions for the occurrence of the forced breakup and its dynamic theory have …

The Feasibility Of Using Bifidobacteria Bifidum (Atcc 700541) For The Production Of Prebiotic Oligosaccharides, Candice Marie Luehrs

Masters Theses

"Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics that are being used to influence intestinal microbiota towards health promoting, beneficial bacteria like bifidobacteria. Natural sources of GOS are not found in suitable levels to achieve the desired health effects so economically viable commercial production methods are important. Enzymatic conversion of lactose to GOS through transgalactosylation is a preferred method since the starting material is inexpensive and readily available. Enzymes used in batch production are purified from fungal or bacterial sources or remain in whole cells cultured for GOS production. Purified or unbound enzymes are single use whereas enzymes retained within whole cells can potentially …

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of Fractal Aggregate Diffusion, Gaurav Pranami, Monica H. Lamm, R. Dennis Vigil

R. Dennis Vigil

The diffusion of fractal aggregates constructed with the method by Thouy and Jullien [J. Phys. A 27, 2953 (1994)] comprised of Np spherical primary particles was studied as a function of the aggregate mass and fractal dimension using molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that finite-size effects have a strong impact on the apparent value of the diffusion coefficient (D), but these can be corrected by carrying out simulations using different simulation box sizes. Specifically, the diffusion coefficient is inversely proportional to the length of a cubic simulation box, and the constant of proportionality appears to be independent of …

Reversible Addition - Fragmentation Chain Transfer In Microemulsions: Effect Of Chain Transfer Agent Aqueous Solubility, Jennifer M. O'Donnell, Eric W. Kaler

Jennifer M. Heinen

Microemulsion polymerizations are attractive for investigating compartmentalization effects in heterogeneous reversible addition - fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations because the propagating radicals are segregated into surfactant stabilized polymer particles, which drastically reduces the effects of biradical termination, Also, microemulsion polymerizations do not involve the large monomer droplets that are present in emulsion and miniemulsion polymerizations. RAFT microemulsion polymerizations of butyl aery late with a high water solubility chain transfer agent, methyl-2-(O-ethylxanthyl)propionate (MOEP), and a low water solubility chain transfer agent, methyl-2-(O-dodecylxanthyl)propionate (MODP), were investigated to determine the effect of chain transfer agent compartmentalization on the control of the polymerization. The …

Influence Of The Graphitisation Of Hollow Carbon Nanofibers On Their Functionalisation And Subsequent Filling With Metal Nanoparticles, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Dirk Rosenthal, Frank Girgsdies, Julien Amadou, Dominique Begin, Cuong Pham-Huu, Dang Sheng Su, Robert Schlogl

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

The functionalisation of carbon nanomaterials with the standard nitric acid treatment is greatly influenced by their graphitic character. The structural order directs the density as well as the nature of the created functional groups and, as a consequence, influences the efficiency of their filling with metal nanoparticles.

Amino-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes As Solid Basic Catalysts For The Transesterification Of Triglycerides, Alberto Villa, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Olivier Majoulet, Dang Shen Su, Robert Schlogl

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes grafted with various amino groups show high activity and stability when used as basic catalysts for the transesterification of triglycerides.

Selective Deposition Of Metal Nanoparticles Inside Or Outside Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Ovidiu Ersen, Gisela Weinberg, Cuong Pham-Huu, Dang Sheng Su, Robert Schlogl

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

A general method is described for the deposition of metal nanoparticles selectively either inside or outside of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The method is based on the difference in the interface energies of organic and aqueous solutions with the CNT surface. Because of their lipophilic character, the organic solvent better wets the surface of the nanotubes compared to water and penetrates into the inner volume. The precise control of the volume of each phase allows filling the CNT with the organic phase and covering its outer surface with the aqueous one. Hence, metal nanoparticles can be put with high selectivity either …

Dna Assembler, An In Vivo Genetic Method For Rapid Construction Of Biochemical Pathways, Zengyi Shao, Hua Zhao, Huimin Zhao

Zengyi Shao

The assembly of large recombinant DNA encoding a whole biochemical pathway or genome represents a significant challenge. Here, we report a new method, DNA assembler, which allows the assembly of an entire biochemical pathway in a single step via in vivo homologous recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that DNA assembler can rapidly assemble a functional d-xylose utilization pathway (∼9 kb DNA consisting of three genes), a functional zeaxanthin biosynthesis pathway (∼11 kb DNA consisting of five genes) and a functional combined d-xylose utilization and zeaxanthin biosynthesis pathway (∼19 kb consisting of eight genes) with high efficiencies (70 - 100%) …

An Explicit Method For The Packing Limit Management In Dense Gas-Solid Flow Cfd Simulations On Both Structured And Unstructured Grids, Alberto Passalacqua, Luca Marmo

Alberto Passalacqua

An explicit method for limiting the volume fraction of the dispersed phase in the CFD simulations of dense gas-solid flows is described and validated both on structured and unstructured computational grids. The procedure is based on the excess solids volume correction method proposed by Lettieri et al. (2003), which has been extended in this work to non-uniform grids made of cells having different shape and size. The method has been implemented in OpenFOAM and validated through the simulation of a fludised bed in which the superficial gas velocity has been reduced to a value close to zero.

Zsm-5 Coatings On β-Sic Monoliths: Possible New Structured Catalyst For The Methanol-To-Olefins Process, B. Madani, S. Ivanova, B. Louis, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, M. J. Ledoux, C. Pham-Huu

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

Structured zeolite/silicon carbide composites were succesfully synthesized by ZSM-5 coatings deposited on macroscopic â-SiC foams with medium surface area. A homogeneous coverage of the support (30 wt % zeolite) by ZSM-5 crystals, having 1 ím average size, was reached after a double-coating procedure. The ZSM-5/â-SiC composite materials were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, and H/D exchange methods. 27Al MAS NMR analysis revealed that all aluminum was present in a tetrahedral coordination, thus sitting in the zeolite framework. The existence of a nanoscopic layer of silica and silicon oxycarbide on the surface of the support ensures the strong anchoring of the …

Quantitative Measurement Of The Brã¶Nsted Acid Sites In Solid Acids: Toward A Single-Site Design Of Mo-Modified Zsm-5 Zeolite, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Benoit Louis, Stephane Walspurger, Jean Sommer, Marc-Jacques Ledoux, Cuong Pham-Huu

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

On the basis of our previous H/D exchange studies devoted to the quantification of the number of Bro¨nsted acid sites in solid acids, we report here an innovative approach to determine both the amount and the localization of Mo atoms inside the Mo/ZSM-5 catalyst, commonly used for the methane dehydroaromatization reaction. The influence of Mo introduction in the MFI framework was studied by means of BET, X-ray diffraction, 27Al magic angle spinning NMR, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, and H/D isotopic exchange techniques. A dependence was found between the decrease of acidic OH groups and the Mo content. Depending on the Si/Al …

Intracellular Signaling Networks In The Immune Response: Pathways Activated By Interleukin-2 And-4 Receptors And Their Roles In T Cell Proliferation, Kristen K. Comfort

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Cells sense and respond to chemical and physical stimuli through signal transduction pathways, which mediate cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. The cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) are key regulators of the adaptive immune system, particularly influencing the clonal expansion and differentiation of T cells. At least in culture, both synergistic and antagonistic effects of IL-2 and -4 co-stimulation have been reported; the antagonism, when observed, is thought to arise from the utilization of a common subunit shared by IL-2 and IL-4 receptors. We have sought to characterize IL-2 and IL-4 signaling at the level of intracellular pathways activated …

Quantitative Elucidation Of A Distinct Spatial Gradient-Sensing Mechanism In Fibroblasts, Ian C. Schneider, Jason M. Haugh

Ian C. Schneider

Migration of eukaryotic cells toward a chemoattractant often relies on their ability to distinguish receptor-mediated signaling at different subcellular locations, a phenomenon known as spatial sensing. A prominent example that is seen during wound healing is fibroblast migration in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) gradients. As in the well-characterized chemotactic cells Dictyostelium discoideum and neutrophils, signaling to the cytoskeleton via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway in fibroblasts is spatially polarized by a PDGF gradient; however, the sensitivity of this process and how it is regulated are unknown. Through a quantitative analysis of mathematical models and live cell total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy …

Spatial Analysis Of 3′ Phosphoinositide Signaling In Living Fibroblasts, Iii: Influence Of Cell Morphology And Morphological Polarity, Ian C. Schneider, Elizabeth M. Parrish, Jason M. Haugh

Ian C. Schneider

Activation of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase is a required signaling pathway in fibroblast migration directed by platelet-derived growth factor. The pattern of 3′ PI lipids in the plasma membrane, integrating local Pl 3-kinase activity as well as 3′ PI diffusion and turnover, influences the spatiotemporal regulation of the cytoskeleton. In fibroblasts stimulated uniformly with platelet-derived growth factor, visualized using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we consistently observed localized regions with significantly higher or lower 3′ PI levels than adjacent regions (hot and cold spots, respectively). A typical cell contained multiple hot spots, coinciding with apparent leading edge structures, and at most …

Elastic Waves Push Organic Fluids From Reservoir Rock, Igor A. Beresnev, R. Dennis Vigil, Wenqing Li, Wayne D. Pennington, Roger M. Turpening, Pavel P. Iassonov, Robert P. Ewing

R. Dennis Vigil

Elastic waves have been observed to increase productivity of oil wells, although the reason for the vibratory mobilization of the residual organic fluids has remained unclear. Residual oil is entrapped as ganglia in pore constrictions because of resisting capillary forces. An external pressure gradient exceeding an ‘‘unplugging’’ threshold is needed to carry the ganglia through. The vibrations help overcome this resistance by adding an oscillatory inertial forcing to the external gradient; when the vibratory forcing acts along the gradient and the threshold is exceeded, instant ‘‘unplugging’’ occurs. The mobilization effect is proportional to the amplitude and inversely proportional to the …

Rational Pathway Engineering Of Type I Fatty Acid Synthase Allows The Biosynthesis Of Triacetic Acid Lactone From D-Glucose In Vivo, Wenjuan Zha, Zengyi Shao, John W. Frost, Huimin Zhao

Zengyi Shao

Metabolic pathway engineering is a powerful tool to synthesize structurally diverse and complex chemicals via genetic manipulation of multistep catalytic systems involved in cell metabolism. Here, we report the rational design of a fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes fatty acid synthase B (FAS-B), that allows the microbial synthesis of triacetic acid lactone (TAL) from an inexpensive feedstock, D-glucose. TAL can be chemically converted to phloroglucinol, which is a core structure for the synthesis of various high value bioactive compounds and energetic compounds such as 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). Synthesis of phloroglucinol from d-glucose using this combined biological and chemical synthesis may …

Spatial Analysis Of 3′ Phosphoinositide Signaling In Living Fibroblasts: Ii. Parameter Estimates For Individual Cells From Experiments, Ian C. Schneider, Jason M. Haugh

Ian C. Schneider

Fibroblast migration is directed by gradients of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) during wound healing. As in other chemotactic systems, it has been shown recently that localized stimulation of intracellular phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase activity and production of 3′ PI lipids in the plasma membrane are important events in the signaling of spatially biased motility processes. In turn, 3′ PI localization depends on the effective diffusion coefficient, D, and turnover rate constant, k, of these lipids. Here we present a systematic and direct comparison of mathematical model calculations and experimental measurements to estimate the values of the effective 3′ PI diffusion coefficient, …

Beta Zeolite Supported On Silicon Carbide For Friedel–Crafts Fixed-Bed Reactions, Gauthier Wine, Joseph Matta, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Cuong Pham-Huu, Marc-Jacques Ledoux

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

Beta zeolite supported on silicon carbide, with high thermal conductivity and high mechanical strength, was successfully used as an active and stable catalyst for Friedel-Crafts reactions in a fixed bed configuration.

Beta Zeolite Supported On A Macroscopic Pre-Shaped Sic As A High Performance Catalyst For Liquid-Phase Benzoylation, G. Wine, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, C. Pham-Huu, M. J. Ledoux

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

Preparation and characterisation of a highly active and stable beta zeolite supported on a pre-shaped silicon carbide catalyst for the benzoylation reaction in liquid phase.

Transformation Of Tnt By Aquatic Plants And Plant Tissue Cultures, Joseph B. Hughes, Jacqueline V. Shanks, Mindy Vanderford, John Lauritzen, Rajiv Bhadra

Jacqueline V. Shanks

The ability of plants to uptake and transform 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was investigated using the aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum, axenic Myriophyllum aquaticum, and Catharanthus roseus hairy root cultures. Studies demonstrate that Myriophyllum, with or without its periphyton, and C. roseus transform TNT. Low concentrations of aminated nitrotoluenes (2-amino-4,6- dinitrotoluene and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene) were observed in the extracellular medium and tissue extracts. Primary products of transformation were not identified, and mineralization was not observed. Mass balances demonstrate that a large percentage of the unknown TNT transformation products were associated with the plant. This fraction could be at least partially recovered from the plant …