Cellular Model Of Hydrogen Peroxide Release: In Preparation For On-Chip Sensor Measurements,
2016
Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
Cellular Model Of Hydrogen Peroxide Release: In Preparation For On-Chip Sensor Measurements, Sarah M. Libring, Hannah R. Kriscovich, James K. Nolan, Siddarth V. Sridharan, Jose F. Rivera, David B. Janes, Jenna L. Rickus
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Hydrogen peroxide is traditionally associated with cellular damage; however, recent studies show that low levels of H2O2 are released by cells as part of normal intercellular communication. The mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide transport, uptake and release, and biological effects are not yet well known but have important implications for cancer, stem cells, and aging. Standard H2O2 assays cannot make spatially or temporally resolved quantitative measurements at a cellular scale. Previously we developed a microelectrode array (MEA) and calibration methods for quantifying H2O2 gradients in space and time. The sensor was validated …
Pathway By Which Vagus Nerve Stimulation Of B Fibers Affects Heart Rate,
2016
Purdue University
Pathway By Which Vagus Nerve Stimulation Of B Fibers Affects Heart Rate, Kelsey Wasilczuk, Matthew Ward, Pedro Irazoqui
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Heart failure (HF) affects over 5 million adults in the United States. Many HF patients have a high resting heart rate, which is correlated with a high mortality rate. In recent years, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has become an increasingly researched therapy to reduce the resting heart rate of HF patients. However, current dosage given during VNS is increased incrementally at the doctor’s office until side effects present themselves in a patient. In addition, the means by which the therapy works is not completely understood. To better understand the therapy’s mechanisms, the right cervical vagus nerve of several Long Evans …
Nanobubbles Provide Theranostic Relief To Cancer Hypoxia,
2016
Purdue University
Nanobubbles Provide Theranostic Relief To Cancer Hypoxia, Christopher M. Long, Pushpak N. Bhandari, Joseph Irudayaraj
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Hypoxia is a common motif among tumors, contributing to metastasis, angiogenesis, cellular epigenetic abnormality, and resistance to cancer therapy. Hypoxia also plays a pivotal role in oncological studies, where it can be used as a principal target for new anti-cancer therapeutic methods. Oxygen nanobubbles were designed in an effort to target the hypoxic tumor regions, thus interrupting the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) regulatory pathway and inhibiting tumor progression. At less than 100nm, oxygen nanobubbles act as a vehicle for site-specific oxygen delivery, while also serving as an ultrasound contrast agent for advanced imaging purposes. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, …
Fabrication And Evaluation Of Magnetic Micro Actuators For Implantable Self-Clearing Glaucoma Drainage Devices,
2016
Purdue University
Fabrication And Evaluation Of Magnetic Micro Actuators For Implantable Self-Clearing Glaucoma Drainage Devices, Haritha Ramadorai, Hyunsu Park, Hyowon Lee
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. It currently affects more than 2.7 million people in the United States alone and over 79.6 million people worldwide are estimated to be inflicted by this debilitating disease by 2020. Glaucoma patients are often characterized with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and are treated with implantation of glaucoma drainage devices (GDD) to maintain optimum IOP. Although initially effective at delaying glaucoma progression, contemporary GDD often lead to numerous complications and only 50% of implanted devices remain functional after 5 years. Biofouling is seen to …
Bone Tissue Engineering: Scalability And Optimization Of Densified Collagen-Fibril Bone Graft Substitute Materials,
2016
Purdue University
Bone Tissue Engineering: Scalability And Optimization Of Densified Collagen-Fibril Bone Graft Substitute Materials, John G. Nicholas, Lauren E. Watkins, Sherry L. Voytik-Harbin
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Over 240 million people missing teeth worldwide experience lingering problems such as difficulty speaking and eating, undesirable aesthetics, and resorption of bone supporting neighboring teeth. The gold standard of treatment utilizes grafts to attach a function-restoring implant to supporting bone. Current graft materials suffer from problems including autologous donor site morbidity, long resorption time, incomplete integration with the maxillae or mandible, and structural weakness. Patient-specific, cellularized bone grafts may be a solution to these issues by accelerating and improving the quality of regenerated bone. Recently, encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells within self-assembling type I collagen oligomer matrices has been shown …
Characterization Of Left-Ventricular Thrombus Formation Using High Frequency Ultrasound,
2016
Purdue University
Characterization Of Left-Ventricular Thrombus Formation Using High Frequency Ultrasound, Kelsey A. Bullens, Arvin H. Soepriatna, Pavlos P. Vlachos, Craig J. Goergen
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Heart failure is a leading cause of death in the United States, and cardiac thrombus, a common morbidity associated with heart failure, significantly increases a patient’s risk of embolic events. The objective of this project is to characterize left-ventricular (LV) thrombus development using high frequency ultrasound imaging in a murine model. C57BL/6J wild-type mice (n=6) were injected intraperitoneally with iron dextran five times a week for six weeks to increase oxidative stress in the heart. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was subcutaneously injected daily during the second week to initiate stem cell migration and stimulate endothelial cell activation, thus increasing the …
Ball Pressure Correlations With Peak Impact Force And The Potential For Cumulative Mtbi When Heading A Soccer Ball,
2016
Universidad de Los Andes - Colombia
Ball Pressure Correlations With Peak Impact Force And The Potential For Cumulative Mtbi When Heading A Soccer Ball, Nicolas Leiva, Daniel Y. Shyu, Josh Auger, Eric Nauman
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Soccer is a unique sport in which athletes use their heads as tools for gameplay, which may ultimately cause cumulative traumatic brain injuries. Due to rising popularity of soccer in the United States alongside the increased occurrence of CTE and mTBI in other contact sports, there is a growing concern over how to keep the repetitive forces caused by heading, as low as possible. Different variables that can affect the peak force felt when heading a soccer ball can be simulated and compared with in-game data, however, this has never been properly tested before. In the present study two size …
Role Of Sumoylation In Mitochondrial Division In Tetrahymena Thermophila,
2016
Purdue University
Role Of Sumoylation In Mitochondrial Division In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Ramya Modi, James Forney
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
SUMOylation is a post translation modification that involves the addition of a small protein called SUMO, Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier to a target protein. It is an important mechanism for the regulation of gene expression, the maintenance of genomic stability and in modifying nuclear proteins. More recently evidence has emerged for its importance in regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion in mammalian cells. This study evaluates the parameters for optimal staining of Tetrahymena thermophila mitochondria using two different dyes and then examines different cell lines with defects in the SUMOylation pathway. The first staining method uses Mitotracker Green, a vital stain that …
Activity Of Protein Kinase A Attached To Magnetic Beads,
2016
Purdue University
Activity Of Protein Kinase A Attached To Magnetic Beads, Kevin P. Lin, Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem, Mrugesh K. Parasa
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Development of high throughput assays is a crucial step in developing more efficient techniques that aid in many important areas of research today such as drug development or identification of protein structure function relationships. Integration of high throughput assays into more research efforts could drastically decrease the time and cost it takes for a new drug to hit the market. Protein Kinase A (PKA) is an extensively studied protein as it is highly upregulated in cancer and is a hot spot for drug targeting. In this work, azide-tagged PKA is covalently attached to magnetic beads using azide-alkyne cycloaddition, a well-known …
Cartilage Engineering: Optimization Of Media For Chondrogenic Differentiation In Vitro,
2016
Purdue University
Cartilage Engineering: Optimization Of Media For Chondrogenic Differentiation In Vitro, Evan Surma, Sherry L. Harbin, Hongji Zhang, Stacy Halum
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Lower back pain from intervertebral disc injury affects around 84% of the population at some point in their life, which at its worst may cause total immobilization. This pain can only be temporarily relieved by spinal fusion or intervertebral disc replacement; however, both of these cause loss of natural motion in patients by removing damaged fibrocartilage discs. While these techniques help mitigate pain briefly, no permanent solution exists currently to both relieve pain and preserve natural motion. My work may be a solution by eventually providing patient-specific implants that resemble native tissue in the regeneration process that could be absorbed …
Mechanical Reliability Of Implantable Polyimide-Based Magnetic Microactuators For Biofouling Removal,
2016
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
Mechanical Reliability Of Implantable Polyimide-Based Magnetic Microactuators For Biofouling Removal, Christian G. Figueroa-Espada, Qi Yang, Hyowon Lee
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder that typically requires a long-term implantation of a shunt system to manage its symptoms. These shunt systems are notorious for their extremely high failure rate. More than 40% of all implanted shunt systems fail within the first year of implantation. On average, 85% of all hydrocephalus patients with shunt systems undergo at least two shunt-revision surgeries within 10 years of implantation. A large portion of this high failure rate can be attributed to biofouling-related obstructions and infections. Previously, we developed flexible polyimide-based magnetic microactuators to remove obstructions formed on hydrocephalus shunts. To test the long-term …
Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides For Better Retention Of Biofuels,
2016
Purdue University
Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides For Better Retention Of Biofuels, Yu Hong Wang, Ethan T. Hilman, Kevin V. Solomon
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are synthetic molecules that exhibit an interesting property of inverse temperature phase transition; they exist as soluble monomers at low temperatures and form insoluble aggregates at higher temperatures. The transition temperature depends on the pH, salt concentration, and the amino acid sequence of the ELP. This unique and reversible behavior, along with their high biocompatibility has made them a strategic tool for various biomedical applications. However, their hydrophobic properties also make them a prime candidate for biofuel production. As high levels of many commercially important organic solvents are toxic to the cells that make them, ELPs can …
Development Of Standard Criteria To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Helmets At Decreasing The Risk Of Concussions,
2016
Purdue University
Development Of Standard Criteria To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Helmets At Decreasing The Risk Of Concussions, Daniel Y. Shyu, Goutham N. Sankaran, Kevin G. Mciver, Nicolas Leiva, Eric A. Nauman
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
In many sports, such as American football, accumulations of mild traumatic brain injuries have been suggested as a possible link to neurodegeneration and future mental disorders. With head impacts occurring at all levels of competition and in different sports, it is critical to develop an accurate method for quantifying the effects of head impacts and determining the efficacy of helmets. This study examines the derivation of different dimensionless numbers and ascertains the critical factors needed to predict the effects of head impacts, specifically the resulting accelerations from an impact. Given a known force of impact, parameters such as peak translation …
Stimuli Responsive Fluidics Controls On A Paper-Based Bacterial Detection Platform,
2016
Purdue University
Stimuli Responsive Fluidics Controls On A Paper-Based Bacterial Detection Platform, Siyu Zhao, Elizabeth Phillips, Jacqueline Linnes
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Infectious diseases are the leading causes of death around the world. Point-of-care devices using nucleic acid amplification are sensitive enough to diagnose these diseases, however, often require complex and time-intensive sample preparation steps that are not integrated with the detection process. A rapid, sensitive, and integrated sample-to-result diagnostic device will permit disease treatment planning at the point-of-care. Paper-based detection assays are a promising platform to integrate the sample preparation and detection, with minimal infrastructure, equipment, and user involvement. To integrate sample preparation with detection on paper-based assays, timing and delivery of sample fluid flow needs to be controlled. Here we …
Lysis And Amplifciation Of Neonatal Sepsis Causing Pathogens,
2016
Purdue University
Lysis And Amplifciation Of Neonatal Sepsis Causing Pathogens, Gregory Berglund, Elizabeth A. Phillips, Jacqueline C. Linnes
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Neonatal sepsis, resulting from a bloodstream infection within the first few weeks of life, is the leading cause of newborn deaths worldwide. The gold standard of neonatal sepsis diagnosis requires a blood culture to identify the infecting bacteria, however require days of incubation, expensive equipment, and expertise. Any delay in diagnosis is critical, as the condition can be treated easily if appropriate antibiotics are administered promptly. A low-cost, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic test would enable more timely treatment and lead to better patient outcomes with fewer required resources. Point-of-care, nucleic acid amplification assays are a promising alternative to blood culture …
Measurement Of Hydrogen Peroxide Influx Into Cells: Preparation For Measurement Using On-Chip Microelectrode Array,
2016
Georgia Institute of Technology
Measurement Of Hydrogen Peroxide Influx Into Cells: Preparation For Measurement Using On-Chip Microelectrode Array, Hannah R. Kriscovich, Sarah M. Libring, Siddarth V. Sridharan, James K. Nolan, Jose F. Rivera, Jenna L. Rickus, David B. Janes
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is commonly known as a toxic reactive oxidative species (ROS) for cells. Recent studies have found evidence that H2O2 is also an important cellular signalling molecule. Quantifying cellular influx of H2O2 will contribute to researchers’ understanding of the role H2O2 plays in healthy cells and cells involved in the progression of cancers and degenerative diseases. This work utilizes an assay kit and fluorescence techniques to evaluate cell lines and conditions to create a model biological system for measuring cellular H2O2 consumption. …
Interplay Between Up-Regulation Of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase And Hemoglobin Oxygenation Induced By Near-Infrared Laser,
2016
University of Texas at Arlington
Interplay Between Up-Regulation Of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase And Hemoglobin Oxygenation Induced By Near-Infrared Laser, Xinlong Wang, Fenghua Tian, Sagar S. Soni, F. Gonzalez-Lima, Hanli Liu
Bioengineering Faculty Publications - Archive
Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT), refers to the use of red-tonear-infrared light to stimulate cellular functions for physiological or clinical benefits. The mechanism of LLLT is assumed to rely on photon absorption by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen for energy metabolism. In this study, we used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the LLLT-induced changes in CCO and hemoglobin concentrations in human forearms in vivo. Eleven healthy participants were administered with 1064-nm laser and placebo treatments on their right forearms. The spectroscopic data were …
Optical Dosimetry Tools And Monte Carlo Based Methods For Applications In Image Guided Optical Therapy In The Brain,
2016
Purdue University
Optical Dosimetry Tools And Monte Carlo Based Methods For Applications In Image Guided Optical Therapy In The Brain, Akshay N Prabhu Verleker
Open Access Dissertations
Purpose: The long-term goal of this research is to determine the feasibility of using near infra-red light to stimulate drug release in metastatic lesions within the brain. In this work, we focused on developing the tools needed to quantify and verify photon fluence distribution in biological tissue. To accomplish this task, an optical dosimetry probe and Monte Carlo based simulation code were fabricated, calibrated and developed to predict light transport in heterogeneous tissue phantoms of the skull and brain. Empirical model (EM) of photon transport using CT images as input were devised to provide real-time calculations capable of being translated …
Tissue Engineering,
2016
Brigham Young University
Tissue Engineering, Alonzo Cook
BYU Research Development Office Research Networking Conference
This research will drive significant advancements in biomedical engineering, addressing critical health issues across cardiovascular repair, neuroscience, vision, renal function, and orthopedics. By developing innovative technologies and therapies, the study aims to improve patient outcomes and quality of life
The Role Of Mechanical Loading In Chondrocyte Signaling Pathways,
2016
Purdue University
The Role Of Mechanical Loading In Chondrocyte Signaling Pathways, Qiaoqiao Wan
Open Access Dissertations
Chondrocytes are a predominant cell type present in articular cartilage, whose integrity is jeopardized in joint degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). In the chondrocytes of patients with OA, the elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1β (IL1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) have been reported. These cytokines contribute to degradation of cartilage matrix by increasing activities of proteolytic enzymes. In addition to their contribution to proteolytic enzymes, these cytokines adversely affect anabolic activity of chondrocytes by inhibiting the production of proteoglycans and type II collagen. Therefore, blocking the action of these cytokines is a potential strategy …
