Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Immunomodulation Of Breast Cancer Cells For Whole Tumor Vaccination, Kristina G. Maxwell

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hematogenous metastasis causes 90% of breast cancer-related deaths.Current therapies include chemotherapy and irradiation following surgery. These therapies are very harmful to the human body and do not elicit an anti-tumor immune response. To create a novel therapeutic, an autologous vaccine increasing the immunogenicity of non immunogenic breast cancer cell lines has been proposed.

To create this vaccine, 4T1 mouse mammary breast cancer cells have been selected as the desired cell line to treat. They are non immunogenic and highly invasive. In order to increase their immunogenicity, first projected, was the addition of cytokines to 4T1 cells to increase the expression …

Interaction Of Fibrinogen With Fibronectin: Purification And Characterization Of A Room Temperature-Stable Fibrinogen-Fibronectin Complex From Normal Human Plasma, Ayman E. Ismail

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A fibrinogen-fibronectin complex (γγ’pdFI-pdFN) was purified from normal human plasma using a sequence of cryoprecipitation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE Sepharose chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing condition showed both a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of fibrinogen (FI) to fibronectin (FN) as well as a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 of γg to gγ’. The γγ’pdFI-pdFN complex was non-covalent in nature as it was disrupted by affinity adsorption to Gelatin Sepharose where pdFN bound strongly and the disrupted γγ’pdFI fell through the chromatographic column. Surprisingly, the purified γγ’pdFI-pdFN complex was more broadly thermally stable than plasma FI (pdFI) …

Local Delivery Of Ctla-4 Blockade Inhibits Growth Of Pancreatic Tumors, Jack Baltz

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Immune checkpoint blockade has demonstrated great potential in activating antitumor immunity. Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody which targets cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4. CTLA-4 belongs to the CD28 class of receptors and is found on the surface of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. CTLA-4 acts to suppress the immune system when bound to CD80 and CD86 receptors on antigen presenting cells. Ipilimumab, or anti-CTLA-4, has shown to be effective in significantly extending the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. However, systemic delivery of Ipilimumab also induces significant side effects such as: colitis, dermatitis, uveitis, and hypophysitis. In order to minimize …

Localized Immunotherapy Delivery Using Injectable In Situ Forming Chitosan Hydrogel, Seth Washispack

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cytokine-based cancer immunotherapies stimulate a host’s immune system to fight cancer. In particular, interleukin-12 (IL-12), a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, has demonstrated the ability to eliminate tumors in a number of preclinical models. Toxicities associated with the systemic delivery of IL-12 have precluded its use in the clinic. We are developing a novel chitosan-based hydrogel to maintain high local concentrations of cytokines, such as IL-12, in the tumor while minimizing its systemic dissemination. This hydrogel was found to form spontaneously within ten seconds of mixing two proprietary components. To increase the usefulness of the hydrogel, an efficient mixing and delivery system …

Intravital Microscopy Of Tumor Oxygenation And Glycolytic Demand, Jesse D. Ivers

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is growing concern about the over treatment of cancer because treatments are based primarily on tumor anatomy. In this study, we aim to begin the process of addressing that issue by developing an intravital technique for optically analyzing tumor biology. Two traits were identified as having significant importance in the aggression of a tumor, vascular oxygenation (SO2) and glycolytic demand. Dorsal skin flap window chambers were implanted and 4T1 and 67NR cancer cells were injected to provide a tumor model for the development of this intravital quantification technique. This study provides a detailed protocol from instrumentation setup to surgical …

Chitosan As An Antiviral, Tayler Pauls

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is no broad-based antiviral medication available today; there are specific antivirals, for example, the antiretroviral for HIV. However, these specific antivirals are not available in each country and can be problematic for specific patients. Chitosan is proposed as a possible broad-based antiviral, which has already demonstrated antibacterial properties, antiviral properties in plants, is used for wound healing and as a hydrogel among other medical applications. The methods used are transfection of NIH-3T3 cells with GFP-adenovirus with 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% chitosan added to virus prior to transfection. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry data has validated that the use of …

Determining The Effect Of Delivery Rate On Glucose Uptake By Cancer Cells, Luke Felton

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Radiation therapy is one of the most commonly performed cancer treatment therapies today. Radiation therapy can cause can changes to tumor vasculature and affect blood flow rates. It is important to determine how changes in blood flow rates affect tumor glycolytic uptake to better understand tumor response to radiation therapy (1). The goal of this study was to use a fluorescent analog of glucose, 2-NBDG, to study the effect of varying flow rates on glucose uptake. A microfluidic device was constructed to flow 2-NBDG through. A murine metastatic breast cancer cell line was then cultured inside this microfluidic channel, and …

An Actomyosin Driven, Pressure Based Adhesion Model Of Confined Glioblastoma Multiforme Cell Migration, Jamie Wright

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and common form of glial tumors arising in the support cells of the brain. Cell migration plays a critical role in undermining the surgical resection of tumors. Peripheral cells freely detach and invade the surrounding tissue, preferentially collecting and migrating within confined, mechanically distinct environments such as along the borders of white matter tracts and vasculature. These tracks have been mimicked experimentally using small, rectangular PDMS micro-channels. GBM cells will readily enter and migrate through these micro-channels in the absence of any chemoattractant, even without specific cell-substrate adhesion (integrins) if channel dimensions decrease …

Interactive Analytical Tool For Quantitative Corneal Confocal Imaging In Vivo, Madhavi Tippani

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The objective of this study was to develop an interactive software application for image reconstruction and analysis of the corneal data from an in vivo confocal microscope (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph with Rostock Corneal Module, HRT-RCM). The optical sectioning ability of confocal microscopy gives high resolution optical section images at different depths within a thick tissue, thereby eliminating the need for physical sectioning. This ability of 4-dimensional (x,y,z and t) imaging makes confocal microscopy uniquely suited for imaging the cornea at the cellular level. The new program was developed to overcome the drawbacks of the original application “Confo” developed in the …

Computer Vision Algorithm Development And Biomedical Applications, Vasant Kearney

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Supervising Professor: Liping Tang and Weihua Mao This study focuses on the development and analysis of novel computer vision algorithms for biomedical applications. Chapter 2 focuses on developing a 2D Canny edge-based DIR algorithm to register in vivo white light images taken at various time points. Using a mouse model, the accuracy of the canny edge-based DIR algorithm was tested using evaluation metrics, a ground truth synthetic scenario, and fluorescent gamma analysis. The results indicate that the Canny edge-based DIR algorithm performs better than all other algorithms. Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a novel longitudinal fluorescent signal tracking …

Investigation Of Prefrontal Cognition Responses To Transcranial Laser Stimulation In Ptsd Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Dev Rajanikant Patel

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

In recent years low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been of great research interest because of its therapeutic applications in psychiatry, neurology and ophthalmology. In-vivo transcranial delivery of LLLT has shown to induce beneficial metabolic effects and increase in cognitive functions and hence has been found to be useful in treating neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of LLLT on prefrontal cognitive functions, namely attention and short term memory, over six sessions on veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), using near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In this study the subjects were instructed to perform two neurocognitive …

Diffused Correlation Spectroscopy For Measurement Of Blood Perfusion During Low Level Laser Therapy (Lllt), Soni Sagar

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Near infrared stimulation or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is an innovative technique shown to effect the microvasculature hemodynamics. The aim of this study is to use Diffused Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS) to evaluate the physiological effects of LLLT on blood perfusion. This study is divided into two parts: the fist part is the development of DCS system and the second part is investigating the effects of LLLT on biological tissue. DCS is an emerging non-invasive technique to probe deep tissue hemodynamics. DCS uses time-averaged intensity autocorrelation function for the fluctuations caused due to the moving scatterers (RBCs) in biological tissue. …

Isolation Of Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes For Electrically Conductive Tissue Engineering Scaffolds, Jakob Hockman

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (m-SWNTs) were separated from pristine SWNTs using affinity chromatography for use in electrically conductive tissue engineering scaffolds. Approximately one third of SWNTs have metallic properties. Separations were achieved using a protocol modified from Liu & coworkers (2011) in order to improve the method for cell culture environments. Samples enriched in m-SWNTs were isolated and characterized. However, challenges still remain for the complete separation of m-SWNTs from their semiconducting counterpart (s-SWNTs) using this protocol. Approaches to improve separation and reduce the difficulties associated with processing the nanotubes were suggested. One of the ultimate destinations of these nanotubes …

Development And Analysis Of A Statics And Kinematics Demonstration As A Learning Tool In The Biomechanics Classroom, Bethany D. Knight

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study was done with the objective of determining if students in the biomedical engineering department at the University of Arkansas would gain better understanding of basic biomechanics principles through the implementation of in-class demonstrations. Biomechanics was chosen because it is the first class taken in sequence after the “Introduction to Biomedical Engineering” class. A pre-demonstration survey was administered to gauge how comfortable the students were with the topics on the syllabus. Two demonstrations were done in class and related homework was assigned. The post-semester survey was administered and collected to determine how effective the students felt the presentations to …

Customization Of Titanate Nanofiber Bioscaffolds, Jared Hopkins

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the field of orthopedic devices implant loosening is a major issue resulting in the majority of device failures. These failures result in the need for costly secondary procedures. To reduce device loosening an improved method of tissue anchoring is required. A previously studied titanate nanofiber bioscaffold has been shown to be safely implantable and to contribute to the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteocytes. Through the customization of both physical and chemical characteristics this titanate nanofiber bioscaffold was fabricated as a potential means to enhance tissue anchoring for use with orthopedic devices. This customization was enabled by acoustic …

A 'Tissue Model' To Study The Barrier Effects Of Living Tissues On The Reactive Species Generated By Surface Air Discharge, Tongtong He, Dingxin Liu, Han Xu, Zhichao Liu, Dehui Xu, Dong Li, Qiosong Li, Mingzhe Rong, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Gelatin gels are used as surrogates of human tissues to study their barrier effects on incoming reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated by surface air discharge. The penetration depth of nitrite into gelatin gel is measured in real time during plasma treatment, and the permeabilities of nitrite, nitrate, O₃ and H₂O₂ through gelatin gel films are quantified by measuring their concentrations in the water underneath such films after plasma treatment. It is found that the penetration speed of nitrite increases linearly with the mass fraction of water in the gelatin gels, and the permeabilities of …

Pentaerythritol Triacrylate-Co-Trimethylolpropane Nanocomposite Scaffolds As Osteogenic Components For Bone Tissue Engineering, Mollie Marie Smoak

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Lesion Identification And The Effect Of Lesion On Motor Mapping After Stroke, Ruixi Zhou

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Stroke is the most common cause of long-term severe disability and the motor system that is most commonly affected in stroke. One of the mechanisms that underlies recovery of motor deficits is reorganization or remapping of functional representations around the motor cortex. This mechanism has been shown in monkeys, but results in human subjects have been variable. In this thesis, I used a database that includes longitudinal behavioral and multimodal imaging data in both stroke patients and healthy controls for two research projects. Firstly, I improved an automatic lesion segmentation method to aid in the identification of the location and …

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

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis 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 …

Effect Of Impact Angle On Astrocyte Gene Expression, Nicholas A. Chavis

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Over one million people each year experience some form of traumatic brain injury. Every individual’s injury is different as impacts can affect different parts of the brain in various ways. This study was conducted to test the impact angles effect on astrocytes by measuring gene expression of TNF- alpha, an inflammation marker, and GFAP, a gene released in response to reactive astrocytes, following impacts from 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Results were recorded from Polymerase Chain Reaction via the delta delta Ct method and compared to the control group for to show under-regulation or up- regulation of the genes of …