Bioengineered Cell Niche For Skeletal Muscle Regeneration,
2015
Purdue University
Bioengineered Cell Niche For Skeletal Muscle Regeneration, Nicole M. Whittern, Naagarajan Narayanan, Chunhui Jiang, Owen Jones, Jay Gilbert, Michael Whittern, Shihuan Kuang, Meng Deng
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Skeletal muscles can self-repair minor strains, lacerations, and contusions; however, in cases of volumetric muscle lossand muscle degenerative diseases, tissue fails to regenerate. Current cell-based therapies, such as myoblast transplantation, have significant drawbacks of low survival rates and engraftment efficacy, mainly due to the absence of supportive cell microenvironment. Scaffolds that mimic the natural cell microenvironment provide a robust platform to support cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Electrospinning is a versatile technology platform used for fabricating the fiber scaffold that mimics the extracellular matrix. Thus, we aim to reconstitute the cell microenvironment through development of aligned fiber scaffolds by …
Angiotensin Ii-Induced Hypertension In Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Rats,
2015
Purdue University
Angiotensin Ii-Induced Hypertension In Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Rats, Sydney N. Gorman, Craig J. Goergen, A Nicole Blaize
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are characterized by a weakened vessel wall and a diameter 50% greater than normal. AAA are usually asymptomatic until they are near rupturing, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE) mice are commonly used as a model to study aneurysm growth. Our lab has created a similar model using rats, which are more similar to humans. This study focuses on the analysis of blood pressures collected from ApoE rats for comparison with a known mouse model. Five ApoE rats (1 female, 4 males) received subcutaneous implants of osmotic mini pumps that released …
The Effects Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Neuroinflammation In Epilepsy,
2015
Purdue University
The Effects Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Neuroinflammation In Epilepsy, Elizabeth A. St. Clair, Gabriel O Albors, Pedro Irazoqui Dr., Amy Brewster
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by chronic, unexplainable seizures. Recurring epileptic seizures are associated with long-term structural damage and cognitive deficits, and can even lead to sudden, unexplainable death. Approximately 30% of epilepsy cases are not responsive to medication. Epileptic seizures often induce inflammation in the brain and may increase the frequency of future seizures, resulting in a detrimental cycle. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a non-pharmaceutical treatment method for epilepsy that has been shown to reduce inflammation in peripheral pathways. The role of VNS in the modulation of neuroinflammation has yet to be demonstrated experimentally. To explore this, …
Implantable Device For Wireless Regulation Of The Bladder Through Pelvic Nerve Stimulation,
2015
Purdue University
Implantable Device For Wireless Regulation Of The Bladder Through Pelvic Nerve Stimulation, Kelsey C. Bayer, Chris Quinkert, Pedro Irazoqui
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntarily urination that usually effects older people or is the result of an injury. UI affects more than eleven million people and the cost of incontinence management in the United States in 2000 was $19.5 billion. Where conventional physical therapies have failed, pelvic nerve stimulation is a promising form of regulating the bladder long term. Piezoresistive pressure sensors consist of two variable resistance values and two known resistance values that are represented on a daughterboard. This unknown resistance represents the change in pressure. The filling and voiding of the bladder was characterized through acute surgeries. …
A Non-Invasive Method Of Measuring Respiration While Providing Wireless Power For Rodents With Implantable Devices,
2015
Purdue University
A Non-Invasive Method Of Measuring Respiration While Providing Wireless Power For Rodents With Implantable Devices, Jynx O. Boyne, Daniel J. Pederson, Zhi Wang, Pedro Irazoqui Dr.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Respiratory measurements can be used as diagnostic and research tools. Spirometry is the gold standard for gaining these measurements, but is difficult to use in rodents as it requires an invasive procedure. Total Body Plethysmograpy (TBP) is a non-invasive way to measure respiration rates that does not cause stress to the rodent. In this system, the subject is encased in a solid, constant volume chamber with measurements determining the subject’s respiration. When using TBP in medical or research settings, challenges occur in powering devices within the TBP chamber as wires and other recording equipment compromise the airtightness of the chamber. …
A Novel Synthetic Yeast For Enzymatic Biodigester Pretreatment,
2015
Purdue University
A Novel Synthetic Yeast For Enzymatic Biodigester Pretreatment, Tianyu Tan, Mark S. Aronson, Arren Liu, Jill H. Osterhus, Melissa Robins, Suraj Mohan, Erich Leazer, Bowman Clark, Alexa Petrucciani, Katherine Lowery, James Welch, Casey Martin, Helena Lysandrou, Michael E. Scharf, Jenna Rickus
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is a major roadblock to the efficiency of biofuel conversion as it both physically blocks carbohydrate substrates and poisons biomass degrading enzymes, even if broken down to monomer units. A pretreatment process is often applied to separate the lignin from biomass prior to biofuel conversion. However, contemporary methods of pretreatment require large amounts of energy, which may be economically uncompelling or unfeasible. Taking inspiration from several genes that have been isolated from termites and fungi which translate to enzymes that degrade lignin, we want to establish a novel “enzymatic pretreatment” system where microbes secrete these …
Quantification Of Analyte Concentration From A Paper-Based Lateral Flow Assay Device Using Reflective Sensors,
2015
Purdue University
Quantification Of Analyte Concentration From A Paper-Based Lateral Flow Assay Device Using Reflective Sensors, Megan Z. Chiu, Jacqueline Linnes
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Paper-based point-of-care (POC) diagnostics is a growing field in global health due to the extreme portability, accuracy, affordability, and ease of use of these tests. Advancements in recent years have led to more accurate detection and improved functionality using multistep molecular diagnostics. Many such assays utilize lateral flow detection strips for visualization of diagnostic results by eye, which limits the results to qualitative Yes/No readouts. This project focused on combining recent developments in paper-based POC diagnostics to develop and optimize an in-house built quantitative paper-based diagnostic reader for lateral flow detection in low-resource settings. Initially different sensors, including photocell sensors, …
Towards In Situ Measurements Of Platinum Dissolution Using Metallothionein-Based Biosensor,
2015
Purdue University
Towards In Situ Measurements Of Platinum Dissolution Using Metallothionein-Based Biosensor, Stephanie Cernera, Hyowon Lee
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Platinum-based (Pt) electrodes are used ubiquitously in neurostimulation for their high charge capacity and safety. However, Pt electrodes are known to dissolve during stimulation in the presence of chloride (Cl) to form Pt-Cl byproducts. These byproducts may have deleterious effects on surrounding tissue by preventing cell division and causing apoptosis. Several studies have quantified the amount of neurostimulation-induced Pt dissolution in vivo using various analytical methods; however, these approaches require disruptive sampling of tissue. Periodic measurements from a stimulating electrode using an in situ sensor may provide additional insights into Pt dissolution process. To create the sensor for detecting Pt …
Viewing The Extracellular Matrix: An Imaging Method For Tissue Engineering,
2015
Purdue University
Viewing The Extracellular Matrix: An Imaging Method For Tissue Engineering, Michael Drakopoulos, Sarah Calve
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
The field of regenerative medicine seeks to create replacement tissues and organs, both to repair deficiencies in biological function and to treat structural damage caused by injury. Scaffoldings mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM), the structure to which cells attach to form tissues, have been developed from synthetic polymers and also been prepared by decellularizing adult tissue. However, the structure of ECM undergoes significant remodeling during natural tissue repair, suggesting that ECM-replacement constructs that mirror developing tissues may promote better regeneration than those modeled on adult tissues. This work investigated the effectiveness of a method of viewing the extracellular matrix of developing …
Direct Analysis Of Pharmaceutical Drugs In Biofluids Using Miniature Mass Spectrometry System,
2015
Purdue University
Direct Analysis Of Pharmaceutical Drugs In Biofluids Using Miniature Mass Spectrometry System, Spencer Chiang, Yue Ren, Zheng Ouyang
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Miniature mass spectrometry (MS) system is key for establishing MS as a point-of-care chemical and biological analysis within clinical settings. In order to provide point-of-care diagnostics, ionization methods for direct analysis of biofluids are required. We have previously introduced paper spray and developed the cartridges for direct MS ionization and sampling. Our goal of this research is to identify a viable way to improve the spray efficacy of paper spray for its coupling with miniature MS. As a result, paper capillary spray (PCS) was developed. PCS utilizes ET31 paper with a fused-silica capillary fixated to the tip. The design was …
Adsorption Mechanisms Of Palladium On The Tobacco Mosaic Virus Surface,
2015
Purdue University
Adsorption Mechanisms Of Palladium On The Tobacco Mosaic Virus Surface, Gloriia D. Novikova, Oluwamayowa Adigun, Erin Retzlaff-Roberts, Michael T. Harris
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Organic-inorganic materials synthesis using biological templates has recently drawn immense attention of researchers. Biotemplating has shown to be an efficient and economic means of nanomaterials production. Naturally stable, readily available and genetically malleable, Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) is one of the most extensively studied and characterized biotemplates. Particularly, templated synthesis using TMV has produced high quality nanorods and nanowires that have been applied to batteries, memory devices and catalysis. The fundamental mechanisms, governing the adsorption of palladium on the TMV Wild Type and genetically modified versions (TMV1Cys and TMV2Cys), are not fully understood; this knowledge, however, is essential for future …
Changes In Vessel Properties During Early Progression Of Murine Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms From In Vivo Ultrasound,
2015
Florida International University
Changes In Vessel Properties During Early Progression Of Murine Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms From In Vivo Ultrasound, Luis R. Avila Murati, Evan H. Phillips, Craig J. Goergen
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a common and frequently fatal disease characterized by the weakening and dilation of the aorta. The larger the aneurysm, the higher the chances are of rupturing and life-threatening hemorrhage. The aim of this study is to apply the angiotensin II (AngII) model of AAAs in male apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice (apoE-/- C57Bl/6J), in order to analyze, quantify, and understand the pathologies and characteristics associated with early AAA development. To date, many studies focusing on the evaluation of AAA characteristics have been performed ex vivo. Therefore, we focused on in vivo assessment, through the use of …
Selective Protein Labelling To Visualize Cellular Differentiation,
2015
Purdue University
Selective Protein Labelling To Visualize Cellular Differentiation, Andrew J. Witten, Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Protein post-translational modifications serve to give proteins new cellular function, spatial localization, or enzymatic activity. Myristoylation is a common post-translational modification where the enzyme N-myristoyltransferase adds myristic acid onto the N-terminus of a variety of proteins. In this work we use a myristic acid analog, 12-azidododecanoic acid (12ADA) to facilitate the implementation of azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions on myristoylated proteins. Selective protein labeling methods such as these are useful in research because they can be used to help determine the biological function of this protein lipid modification and can be extended to study disregulated protein myristoylation in disease states. To validate …
Proteoglycan Mimic Of The Glycocalyx To Treat Endothelial Dysfunction,
2015
Purdue University
Proteoglycan Mimic Of The Glycocalyx To Treat Endothelial Dysfunction, Victoria Messerschmidt, Alyssa Panitch, James R. Wodicka
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Patients with kidney failure usually undergo hemodialysis, a process by which toxins produced by the body are filtered from the blood, in order to survive. The preferred form for vascular access is called an arteriovenousfistula (AVF), a surgically created connection between an artery and vein that is utilized to undergo dialysis. However, AVFs have a failure rate of 50-60%. One of the contributions to AVF failure is endothelial cell dysfunction and loss of glycocalyx, which allows neutrophils and other native cells into the media of the vessel, which causes an inflammatory response. Our lab addresses endothelial dysfunction by mimicking the …
Development Of A Novel Enzymatic Pre-Treatment For Lignocellulosic Biomass,
2015
Purdue University
Development Of A Novel Enzymatic Pre-Treatment For Lignocellulosic Biomass, Melissa Robins, Jenna Rickus
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Biofuels, fuels derived directly from living matter, present a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum based fuels. Bioethanol produced from low input energy crops or agricultural waste is a promising fuel source because it does not interfere with the human food supply chain and the ethanol produced can be blended with gasoline. These potential sources of bioethanol are not yet commercially viable due to a polymer called lignin present in the plant’s cell wall which impedes the conversion of cellulose to glucose and the eventual fermentation of glucose to ethanol. Developing new methods for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass …
Evaluation Of Head Impacts On Football, Hockey & Lacrosse Helmets,
2015
Purdue University
Evaluation Of Head Impacts On Football, Hockey & Lacrosse Helmets, Goutham N. Sankaran, Eric Nauman
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Despite improvements in helmet design over the years, traumatic brain injury cases (TBI) from heavy contact sports have increased drastically. Newer understanding of said cranial injuries has granted scientists and engineers the capability to develop acceleration measuring devices to precisely quantify and simulate real life impacts. In this research, various football, lacrosse and hockey helmets were stricken on a head form using an impulse hammer that measures transient accelerations. Once data was collected, specifically defined metric plots were generated that provided a normalized analysis of all the helmets’ mitigation abilities. These plots revealed that the lowest translational acceleration metric hailed …
Ultrasound-Guided Nanobubbles For Targeted Drug Delivery,
2015
Purdue University
Ultrasound-Guided Nanobubbles For Targeted Drug Delivery, Pei Yang, Pushpak Bhandari, Joseph Irudayaraj
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
In a large number of biological and environmental applications, ultrasound (US)-powered micro- and nano-motors have attracted considerable attention. However, their applications in biological settings have been limited due to the incompatibility of metallic motors and the lack of precision guiding. Here, we demonstrate that cellulosic polymer nanobubbles (200-800nm) can be propelled, aligned, accelerated, and assembled in solution using Doppler ultrasound beam (DUB) and simultaneously imaged using low-frequency ultrasound. Results show that by utilizing Doppler ultrasound beam (DUB), nanobubbles accumulation at a pre-determined site can be enhanced. Moreover, bubbles’ trajectory and velocity can be also be manipulated. Related parameters associated with …
Buckling-Driven Force Generation Of Cell Cortex,
2015
Purdue University
Buckling-Driven Force Generation Of Cell Cortex, Pranith Lomada, Wonyeong Jung, Taeyoon Kim
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Actomyosin cortex, a thin network underlying cell membrane, is known to generate a large portion of tensile forces required for various cellular processes. Recently, theoretical studies predicted that buckling of actin filaments breaks symmetry between tensile and compressive forces developed by myosin motors, resulting in tensile stress at a network level. However, the significance of the filament buckling of the cortex has yet to be demonstrated either computationally or experimentally. Here, buckling-dependent stress generation of the cortex-like actomyosin network was investigated using an agent-based computational model consisting of actin filaments, actin cross-linking proteins (ACPs), and molecular motors. First, a wide …
Harnessing Notch Signaling For Biomaterial Scaffold-Based Bone Regeneration,
2015
Purdue University
Harnessing Notch Signaling For Biomaterial Scaffold-Based Bone Regeneration, Helena P. Lysandrou, Chunhui Jiang, Naagarajan Narayanan, Shihuan Kuang, Meng Deng
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Bone fracture has recently become prevalent, especially with an increasingly aging population. Current bone grafts procedures, including autografts and allografts, are hindered by multiple factors, such as limited supplies and inconsistent bone healing. Scaffold-based bone tissue engineering emerges as a prospective strategy to aid in bone regeneration through delivery of growth factors such as bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs). However, the use of BMPs suffers from several drawbacks such as protein instability and immunogenicity. Therefore, there exists a great need for the development of novel therapies to promote bone healing. Notch signaling, a pathway critical for cell-fate determination has been shown …
A Community Of World Class Engineering Students,
2015
Boise State University
A Community Of World Class Engineering Students, Devshikha Bose, Krishna Pakala
Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
This paper is a work in progress report on an Engineering Living Learning Community (LLC) at Boise State University. Though the LLC under consideration is for the time period of Fall 2014 to Fall 2016, this report is limited to student as well as instructor anecdotal and self-reported experiences, observations, and evaluations made during Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. The mission of the Residential College program at BSU is to integrate student academic and personal life in a residential setting, so as to develop interdisciplinary knowledge, foster deep learning, and maximize student success. In support of this goal, students completed …
