Characterization Of Tight Junction Formation In An In-Vitro Model Of The Blood-Brain Barrier,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Characterization Of Tight Junction Formation In An In-Vitro Model Of The Blood-Brain Barrier, Michael Robert Machado
Master's Theses
Active and passive transport of substances between the microcirculation in the brain and the central nervous system is regulated by the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). This barrier allows for chronic and acute modulation of the CNS microenvironment, and protects the brain from potentially noxious compounds carried in the circulatory system. In-vitro modeling of the BBB has become the target of much research over the past decade, as there are many unanswered questions regarding modulations in the permeability of this barrier. Additionally, the development of a practical and inexpensive model of the BBB would facilitate a much more efficient drug development process. …
Development And Characterization Of An In-House Custom Bioreactor For The Cultivation Of A Tissue Engineered Blood-Brain Barrier,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Development And Characterization Of An In-House Custom Bioreactor For The Cultivation Of A Tissue Engineered Blood-Brain Barrier, Amin Hadi Mirzaaghaeian
Master's Theses
The development of treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease begins by understanding what these diseases affect and the consequences of further manifestation. One particular region where these diseases can produce substantial problems is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is the selective diffusion barrier between the circulating blood and the brain. The barrier’s main function is to maintain CNS homeostasis and protect the brain from the extracellular environment. The progression of BBB research has advanced to the point where many have modeled the BBB in vitro with aims of further characterizing and testing the barrier. Particularly, …
Viscoelastic Anisotropic Finite Element Mixture Model Of Articular Cartilage Using Viscoelastic Collagen Fibers And Validation With Stress Relaxation Data,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Viscoelastic Anisotropic Finite Element Mixture Model Of Articular Cartilage Using Viscoelastic Collagen Fibers And Validation With Stress Relaxation Data, Matthew Alexander Griebel
Master's Theses
Experimental results show that collagen fibers exhibit stress relaxation under tension and a highly anisotropic distribution. To further develop the earlier model of Stender [1], the collagen constituent was updated to reflect its intrinsic viscoelasticity and anisotropic distribution, and integrated with an existing mixture model with glycosaminoglycans and ground substance matrix. A two-term Prony series expansion of the quasi-linear viscoelastic model was chosen to model the viscoelastic properties of the collagen fibers. Material parameters were determined by using the simplex method to minimize the sum of squared errors between model results and experimental stress relaxation data of tissue in tension. …
Design Of Experimentation To Systematically Determine The Interaction Between Electrospinning Variables And To Optimize The Fiber Diameter Of Electrospun Poly (D, L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Scaffolds For Tissue Engineered Constructs,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Design Of Experimentation To Systematically Determine The Interaction Between Electrospinning Variables And To Optimize The Fiber Diameter Of Electrospun Poly (D, L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Scaffolds For Tissue Engineered Constructs, Yvette S. Castillo
Master's Theses
Cardiac disease causes approximately a third of the deaths in the United States. Furthermore, most of these deaths are due to a condition termed atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, leading to occlusion of normal blood flow to the cardiac muscle. Among the methods to treat the condition, stents are devices that are used to restore normal blood flow in the atherosclerotic arteries. Before advancement can be made to these devices and changes can be tested in live models, a reliable testing method that mimics the environment of the native blood vessel is needed. Dr. …
Development Of A Protocol To Measure Gene Expression In The Mouse Tibia,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Development Of A Protocol To Measure Gene Expression In The Mouse Tibia, Daniel Hoover
Biomedical Engineering
Numerous molecular factors active in bone tissue direct fracture repair and remodeling which can be altered by disease conditions such as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Osteoporosis. Methods of molecular biology are commonly applied to investigate the expression and role of these molecular factors. This project presents a robust three-step protocol for examining gene expression in the mouse tibia. The protocol begins with isolating RNA from a flash frozen tibia sample. The isolated RNA is reverse transcribed into cDNA. Finally, PCR is performed to indentify expressed genes. Establishing this protocol will allow further research into the mechanisms of bone remodeling …
Development And Characterization Of Plga And Eptfe Blood Vessel Mimics Using Gene Expression Analysis,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Development And Characterization Of Plga And Eptfe Blood Vessel Mimics Using Gene Expression Analysis, Michael Gibbons, Sarah Ur
Biomedical Engineering
Tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBV’s) have the potential to act not only as a replacement for diseased vessels, but also as a testing platform for intravascular devices such as stents. To this end, the goal of this study was to develop protocols for the construction of TEBV’s composed of human vascular cells and either expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), as well as a protocol for gene expression in those TEBV’s. Initial experiments involved only human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC’s), but after low cell confluency and spreading in single-sodded vessels a second cell type, human umbilical vein smooth …
Growth And Expression Of Halorhodopsin For Application In A Protein-Based Artificial Retina,
2012
University of Connecticut - Storrs
Growth And Expression Of Halorhodopsin For Application In A Protein-Based Artificial Retina, Megan Ryan Gillespie
Honors Scholar Theses
Halorhodopsin (HR), a light-activated chloride ion pump, demonstrates potential for use as the scaffolding in an artificial retina. Retinal implants are needed to restore vision to people afflicted with ophthalmic diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A protein-based chloride ion-patch would be utilized by the eye to create an influx of chloride ions, similar to ion concentrations in healthy retinas during the conversion of light stimuli to electrochemical signals. This protein-based retinal prosthesis will directly stimulate the bipolar cells of the retina, replacing the function of damaged photoreceptor cells. Other alternative treatments for AMD and …
Development Of A Microfluidic Device Coupled To Microdialysis Sampling For The Pre-Concentration Of Cytokines,
2012
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Development Of A Microfluidic Device Coupled To Microdialysis Sampling For The Pre-Concentration Of Cytokines, Randy Francisco Espinal Cabrera
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
A proof-of-concept microfluidic device combined with heparin-immobilized magnetic beads was created to concentrate cytokine proteins collected from microdialysis samples. Cytokines are known to be related to several diseases such as cancer, and Parkinson's diseases, so to be able to develop more effective diseases treatments their interactions have to be well understood. Amine-functionalized polystyrene and carboxyl-functionalized magnetic microspheres of ~6.0 ìm in diameter were used to immobilize heparin. The amount of heparin immobilized on polystyrene beads was 5.82 x 10-8 ± 0.36 x 10-8 M per 1.0 x 106 beads and for magnetic beads was 0.64 x 10-8 ± 0.01 x …
Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering,
2012
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering, Andreas Haukas
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Stem cell and tissue engineering offer us with a unique opportunity to research and develop new therapies for treating various diseases that are otherwise incurable using traditional medicines. However, development of these new therapies replies upon the establishment of in vitro cell culture and differentiation systems that mimic in vivo microenvironments required for cell-cell and cell-ECM interaction. The development of these cell culture systems depends upon the identification of appropriate biomaterials and cell sources. Biomaterials should be carefully selected and fabricated into scaffolds for supporting cell growth and differentiation. In this study, we explored the fabrication of 3D electrospun nanofiber …
Evaluation Of Decellularization Procedures For Porcine Arteries,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Evaluation Of Decellularization Procedures For Porcine Arteries, Charles Clapp
Biomedical Engineering
Coronary artery disease has become the leading cause of death in the United States, with over 425,000 deaths in 2006. Stenting has evolved into the preferred preventative technique for myocardial infarction by opening up an occluded artery, due to its low invasiveness compared to the alternative of coronary artery bypass grafting. Bare metal stents have been improved by coating with anti-proliferative drugs to advance their effects, but even drug eluting stents still have a risk of restenosis, thrombus formation, and necessary revascularization. Continual advancement in stent design necessitates faster, effective pre-clinical evaluation techniques. Kristen Cardinal, Ph.D., developed the blood vessel …
Biomolecular Mechanisms And Functional Characterization Of Nanomaterials In Programmed Cancer Cell Death For Potential Applications In Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, And Bioengineering,
2012
University of Arkansas Little Rock
Biomolecular Mechanisms And Functional Characterization Of Nanomaterials In Programmed Cancer Cell Death For Potential Applications In Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, And Bioengineering, Md. Zakir Hossain
Theses and Dissertations
Cancer bionanotechnology is an interdisciplinary area of research in applied biosciences, biomedical engineering, and nano-medicine. Currently, apoptotic cell death inducers and regulators are considered to have significant potential for cancer therapy. The ability to escape apoptosis is one of the key properties of human cancer. Pancreatic cancer that has the highest fatality rates of all cancers is prompt to evade apoptosis. Nanomaterials like Ni NWs have various novel properties that could be very useful in bio-medical applications at the molecular and cellular levels. The overall objective of this research was to investigate the antiproliferative and apoptogenic properties of Ni NWs …
The Use Of An In Vitro 3d Melanoma Model To Predict In Vivo Plasmid Transfection Using Electroporation,
2012
Old Dominion University
The Use Of An In Vitro 3d Melanoma Model To Predict In Vivo Plasmid Transfection Using Electroporation, Benadette Marrero, Richard Heller
Bioelectrics Publications
A large-scale in vitro 3D tumor model was generated to evaluate gene delivery procedures in vivo. This 3D tumor model consists of a "tissue-like" spheroid that provides a micro-environment supportive of melanoma proliferation, allowing cells to behave similarly to cells in vivo. This functional spheroid measures approximately 1 cm in diameter and can be used to effectively evaluate plasmid transfection when testing various electroporation (EP) electrode applicators. In this study, we identified EP conditions that efficiently transfect green fluorescent protein (GFP) and interleukin 15 (IL-15) plasmids into tumor cells residing in the 3D construct. We found that plasmids …
A Thousand Tiny Pieces: The Federal Circuit’S Fractured Myriad Ruling, Lessons To Be Learned, And The Way Forward,
2012
American University Washington College of Law, Washington D.C.
A Thousand Tiny Pieces: The Federal Circuit’S Fractured Myriad Ruling, Lessons To Be Learned, And The Way Forward, Jonathan R. K. Stroud
IP Theory
No abstract provided.
A Novel In-House Design Of A Bioreactor For The Modeling Of An In Vitro Blood Brain Barrier Model,
2012
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
A Novel In-House Design Of A Bioreactor For The Modeling Of An In Vitro Blood Brain Barrier Model, Ian Mahaffey
Biomedical Engineering
The blood brain barrier is the protector of the central nervous system and a physical barrier that functions to regulate the substances that can pass in and out of the brain; it is the function and integrity of this system that keeps the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Yet this shield against foreign invaders in the blood also prevents drugs designed for treatment of various ailments of the central nervous system from reaching their target in the brain. Developing drugs that can pass through this barrier, and understanding it’s function has become an area of increasing interest. Many researchers …
Methamphetamine Administration Targets Multiple Immune Subsets And Induces Phenotypic Alterations Suggestive Of Immunosuppression.,
2012
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Methamphetamine Administration Targets Multiple Immune Subsets And Induces Phenotypic Alterations Suggestive Of Immunosuppression., Robert Z. Harms, Brenda M. Morsey, Craig W. Boyer, Howard S. Fox, Nora E. Sarvetnick
Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine
Methamphetamine (Meth) is a widely abused stimulant and its users are at increased risk for multiple infectious diseases. To determine the impact of meth on the immune system, we utilized a murine model that simulates the process of meth consumption in a typical addict. Our phenotypic analysis of leukocytes from this dose escalation model revealed that meth affected key immune subsets. Meth administration led to a decrease in abundance of natural killer (NK) cells and the remaining NK cells possessed a phenotype suggesting reduced responsiveness. Dendritic cells (DCs) and Gr-1(high) monocytes/macrophages were also decreased in abundance while Gr-1(low) monocytes/macrophages appear …
Mononuclear Phagocyte Intercellular Crosstalk
Facilitates Transmission Of Cell-Targeted
Nanoformulated Antiretroviral Drugs To Human
Brain Endothelial Cells,
2012
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Mononuclear Phagocyte Intercellular Crosstalk Facilitates Transmission Of Cell-Targeted Nanoformulated Antiretroviral Drugs To Human Brain Endothelial Cells, Georgette D. Kanmogne, Sangya Singh, Upal Roy, Xinming Liu, Joellyn Mcmillan, Santhi Gorantla, Shantanu Balkundi, Nathan Smith, Yazen Alnouti, Nagsen Gautam, You Zhou, Larisa Poluektova, Alexander Kabanov, Tatiana Bronich, Howard Gendelman
Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications
Despite the successes of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders remain prevalent in infected people. This is due, in part, to incomplete ART penetration across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and lymph nodes and to the establishment of viral sanctuaries within the central nervous system. In efforts to improve ART delivery, our laboratories developed a macrophage-carriage system for nanoformulated crystalline ART (nanoART) (atazanavir, ritonavir, indinavir, and efavirenz). We demonstrate that nanoART transfer from mononuclear phagocytes (MP) to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) can be realized through cell-to-cell contacts, which can facilitate drug passage across the BBB. Coculturing of donor MP …
Effect Of Extracellular Matrix (Ecm) Protein Micropatterns On The Behavior Of Human Neuroblastoma Cells,
2011
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effect Of Extracellular Matrix (Ecm) Protein Micropatterns On The Behavior Of Human Neuroblastoma Cells, Ishwari Poudel
Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Recent advances in patterning techniques and emerging surface microtechnologies have allowed cell micropatterning to control spatial location of the cells on a surface as well as cell shape, attachment area, and number of contacting neighbor cells. These parameters play important roles in cell cellular behaviors. Cell micropatterning has thus become one of the most important strategies for biomedical applications, such as, tissue engineering, diagnostic immunoassays, lab-on-chip devices, bio-sensing, etc., and cell biology studies as well. For neuronal cells, there have been attempts to distribute neuronal cells on specific patterns to control cell-to-cell interaction. However, there have been very limited understanding …
Differential Il-21 Signaling In Apcs Leads To Disparate Th17 Differentiation In Diabetes-Susceptible Nod And Diabetes-Resistant Nod.Idd3 Mice.,
2011
Harvard Medical School
Differential Il-21 Signaling In Apcs Leads To Disparate Th17 Differentiation In Diabetes-Susceptible Nod And Diabetes-Resistant Nod.Idd3 Mice., Sue M. Liu, David H. Lee, Jenna M. Sullivan, Denise Chung, Anneli Jäger, Bennett O V. Shum, Nora E. Sarvetnick, Ana C. Anderson, Vijay K. Kuchroo
Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that shows familial aggregation in humans and likely has genetic determinants. Disease linkage studies have revealed many susceptibility loci for T1D in mice and humans. The mouse T1D susceptibility locus insulin-dependent diabetes susceptibility 3 (Idd3), which has a homologous genetic interval in humans, encodes cytokine genes Il2 and Il21 and regulates diabetes and other autoimmune diseases; however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this regulation are still being elucidated. Here we show that T cells from NOD mice produce more Il21 and less Il2 and exhibit enhanced Th17 cell generation compared with …
Protective Effects Of Milk Phospholipids Against Uv Photodamage In Human Skin Equivalents,
2011
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Protective Effects Of Milk Phospholipids Against Uv Photodamage In Human Skin Equivalents, Zyra Achay
Master's Theses
The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum has been known to cause damage to skin in varying degrees. UVB radiation (290-320 nm) in particular, has been proven to be highly mutagenic and carcinogenic in many animal experiments compared to either UVA or UVC. The alarming rate of increase in skin cancer incidence has prompted many investigators to pursue other alternatives to sunscreens including changes in lifestyle habits and dietary consumption in order to boost our efforts in tackling this widespread disease. Previous studies employing confocal reflectance, MTT assay and histology suggest that milk phospholipids may possess protective properties against UVB-mediated damage but the …
Impaired Resistance Artery Reactivity Following Arteriogenesis,
2011
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Impaired Resistance Artery Reactivity Following Arteriogenesis, Michael (Mike) Machado
Biomedical Engineering
No abstract provided.
