Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Investigation Of Early Stage Wound Healing In Volumetric Muscle Loss, Sean Ong

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) refers to the substantial removal of tissue from skeletal muscle due to surgery or lesions. This condition disrupts the normal regenerative process of injured muscles, leading to significant loss of muscle function. This study examines the progression of VML injury, approximately 20% of the muscle mass being removed, in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of a mouse model over a 15-day post-injury period. The injured muscles exhibited discoloration indicative of reduced blood flow and experienced a decrease in muscle mass throughout the study duration. Furthermore, the maximum force output of the injured TA was significantly lower, …

Locally Injectable Peptide Hydrogel For Conversion Of Temozolomide And Codelivery Of Sirna In Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment, Megan Pitz

All Dissertations

Traditional treatment methods for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are largely unsuccessful, with a 5-year survival rate of 5.6%. Temozolomide (TMZ), the only chemotherapy FDA-approved for GBM treatment, is a hydrophobic prodrug that is stable in an acidic pH and begins converting to its active form at a physiological pH of 7.4. However, complete conversion of TMZ is observed only at a higher pH, and only about 30% of administered TMZ reaches the central nervous system. Therefore, there is a need for new treatment methods that maximize TMZ delivery to and efficacy at the tumor site. Self-assembling peptides are a unique class …

Novel Nucleus Pulposus Biomaterial Development And Low Field Mri Assessment For Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Mario Krussig

All Dissertations

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prominent pathology in the modern world that causes debilitating pain for many patients. The onset of IVDD occurs in the nucleus pulposus (NP). NP biomaterials will play a vital role in mitigating the progression of IVDD. Within this work, we sought to synthesize a solubilized extracellular matrix (ECM)-based NP biomaterial. Utilizing pepsin or urea extraction, bovine NP ECM was successfully solubilized (SBNPs). SBNP formulations were characterized biochemically, evaluated for cytotoxicity, and down-selected for front-running formulations. Leading candidate SBNPs were incorporated into an alginate bead biomaterial model to determine the potential bioactivity with human adipose-derived …

Biomass Derived Lignin Polymer Modification For Sustainable Chemical Engineering Applications, Samantha Glidewell, Keisha Walters

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lignin is an abundant naturally occurring plant-based polymer that is branched, highly unsaturated, and rich in aliphatic and aromatic hydroxyl groups. Lignin is a significant byproduct of the wood pulp and paper industries; however, it has yet to be widely utilized in commercial applications due to its non-linear structure, broad range of molecular weights, hydrophobicity, high rigidity, and brittleness. Recent investigations into modifying lignin to broaden its potential uses have shown promising results. This thesis explores different modification techniques of the naturally occurring hardwood lignin polymer for specific applications in areas of water treatment and polyurethane (PU) production. The first …

Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species Via Application Of Antioxidant Supramolecular Polymers, Zacchaeus Wallace

Honors Theses

Cardiovascular diseases along with various other disease conditions are characterized by an upregulation in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can overwhelm homeostatic processes in the body, resulting in cellular apoptosis and severe oxidative damage. The lack of clinically approved treatments to regulate or alleviate this elevated ROS presence underscores the need for novel therapeutic strategies. While antioxidants promote cell rescue through ROS scavenging, their clinical translation is impeded by insufficient bioavailable concentrations at the source of injury. The opportunity to apply antioxidant supramolecular polymers of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) is an exciting prospect of research to combat corresponding issues. For this …

An In Vitro Investigation Of Urothelial Cell Function In Response To Hypoxia And Pressure In Relation To Bladder Outlet Obstruction, Britney Hudson

All Dissertations

Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is a prevalent urological condition and can be characterized by the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as hesitancy, weak stream, and nocturia. The main cause of BOO is a partial blockage of the urethra, which results in elevated voiding pressure, high storage pressure, and tissue ischemia, which are thought to be the triggers of bladder inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. Often patients do not seek treatment until the conditions get severe. Thus, it would be ideal to have an early diagnostic tool to detect changes in the bladder due to BOO. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) …

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Response To Degenerated Intervertebral Disc-Like Ph, Kyle Cannon

All Dissertations

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has become increasingly prevalent and is a common contributing factor to low back pain. There are currently no clinical treatment options for IVDD that alleviate the symptoms of IVDD while simultaneously promoting repair of IVD tissue. One treatment option being explored is intradiscal administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the microenvironment of the degenerating IVD places significant stress on both native IVD cells and implanted cells. There are several questions that need to be addressed which may help further inform the development of efficacious intradiscal MSC therapies for IVDD. These questions include: 1) Do MSCs …

Mammary Epithelial Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles Influence Tumorigenic Phenotype Suppression In Her2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells, Brenda Okereke

All Dissertations

On a global scale, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In 2020 alone, there were over 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer seen and a total of 685,000 deaths globally, this represents 16% or 1 in every 6 cancer deaths seen in women. By 2040 it is projected that the breast cancer burden will rise by over 40% to exceed 3 million new cases a year. Further understanding of the underlying biology and mechanisms behind tumor progression and breast cancers such as HER2+ breast cancer would allow for new therapeutic treatment targets to emerge. …

Development Of Advanced Simulator-Based Metrics For Suturing Skills Assessment And Feedback, Simar Singh

All Dissertations

Vascular surgery demands highly skilled suturing to manipulate and connect delicate vasculature. However, inadequate methods for open suturing skills training necessitate efficient and objective methods to develop skills. To address this need, medical training simulators for objective surgical skills training are gaining popularity for their formative assessment.

This research details the development of a system to classify suturing performance and provide feedback on a suturing skills measurement and feedback platform (called the SutureCoach). The SutureCoach simulator offers a comprehensive assessment of skill through sensors measuring needle driver motions, membrane forces and torques, subcutaneous suture needle movement, and hand motions. We …

Identifying Temporomandibular Disorder Morphological Risk Factors Via Explainable Deep Learning And Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling, Shuchun Sun

All Dissertations

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis and development of targeted prevention and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analysis of disease datasets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and …

Tin-Silver As A Novel Biodegradable Metallic Biomaterial, Charley Goodwin

All Dissertations

The Essure device is a non-hormonal, minimally-invasive, permanent female sterilization implant, removed from the market due to an increase in adverse events, hypothesized to be caused by corrosion of the Sn-Ag component of the implant. The goals of this dissertation were to first develop implant retrieval methods for Essure devices and surrounding tissue, documenting signs of degradation and metallic degradation products, then to characterize the electrochemical behavior of Sn-Ag in biologically representative environments and finally, to assess the biological interaction of Sn-Ag. Retrieval analyses developed successful methods, qualifying the degree of corrosion, primarily of the Sn-Ag component and finding Sn …

The Role Of Voluntary Descending Control In Enhancing Motor Function Via Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation, Yoon Kim

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event that causes lasting motor impairments. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), a non-invasive form of neuromodulation in which electrodes are placed on the skin and used to stimulate the spinal circuits via an electrical current, has demonstrated positive effects on motor function recovery in individuals who have had SCIs. However, the precise mechanism of how tSCS interacts with voluntary descending drive remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the role of voluntary descending control in influencing reflex responses triggered by tSCS.

Electromyography (EMG) recordings were performed in ten unimpaired individuals while they …

Photo-Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecules For Antibacterial Benefits In Vascular Grafts, Beste Caner

Theses and Dissertations

Globally, the annual hemodialysis procedures surpass 1.5 million, emphasizing the vital role of reliable vascular access methods. However, common challenges like access infections and clot-induced blood flow reduction necessitate innovative solutions. This study delved into the potential therapeutic role of carbon monoxide (CO) and its effects on both endothelialization and non-pathogenic bacteria causing infections. The primary focus was evaluating the impact of loading different concentrations of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs), specifically CORM diketone 4 (DK4), within 2D spin-coated films on cultured E. coli and endothelial cells. Initial assessments of CO release kinetics from DK4-loaded films demonstrated that the 10% condition …

Acoustofluidic Delivery Of Biomolecules To Cells: A Novel Approach For Preparing Car-T Cells., Madison C. Colebank

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The continuous pursuit of effective methods for gene transfection in primary human T cells is crucial for advancing cell-based therapies. Viral vectors, currently used in cell-based therapies, involve a lengthy and costly process. This thesis explores the efficacy of coupling acoustofluidic and sonoporation techniques as an alternative non-viral gene transfection approach with primary T cells. Sonoporation, in conjunction with microbubbles, has been demonstrated to induce cavitation, resulting in the formation of pores in the cell membrane through which molecules can enter. Using flow cytometry, we compared the loading efficiency of primary T cells with that of Jurkat T cells to …

Database And Machine Learning Model For Classifying Autism Spectrum Disorder From Smartphone Based Electroretinography, Rory Harris

Honors Scholar Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that negatively affects a patient’s cognitive and communication aptitude and, therefore, can severely impact that patient’s quality of life. Because of this, early diagnosis is paramount. In recent studies, electroretinography (ERG), which is a measure of the retina’s electrical response to a brief flash of light into the eye, has shown promise in detecting ASD. Access to these scans can provide early diagnosis, improving well-being. Current ERG devices are very expensive due to their on board processing capabilities. This paper aims to create an ERG device using a smartphone as the main …

Microwave Imaging Technique For Breast Cancer Detection, Nure Alam Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a global problem, and it is inevitable to detect cancerous cells at early stages. In recent years, microwave imaging technology has been widely applied in biomedical applications for its non-ionizing radiation. In this study, we design a micro-strip patch antenna with an inverted T-type notch in the partial ground to detect tumor cells inside the human breast. The size of the current antenna is small enough (18 mm × 21 mm × 1.6 mm) to distribute around the breast phantom. The operating frequency has been observed from 6–14 GHz with a minimum return loss of −61.18 dB …

Controlled Delivery Of Peptide And Gasotransmitter For Promoting Vascular Endothelialization, Shirin Changizi

Theses and Dissertations

Endothelial cells (ECs) are vital for maintaining proper vascular function and regulating processes such as hemostasis and inflammation. Disruption of endothelial cells integrity can lead to several pathological conditions, including coronary artery disease, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia (VCID). Alterations in ECs distribution may lead to compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, facilitating the passage of blood components and contributing to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, disruptions in ECs function can lead to early-stage thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia, resulting in graft failure in small-diameter (

This study aimed to develop innovative approaches for drug delivery to the BBB and TEVGs …

Uv-A Light: A Novel Method For Food Dehydration, Mckade S. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dehydration is one of the most prevalent forms of food preservation, with approximately 85% of food is hot air drying due to the simplicity of the process. The high temperatures employed in this method may also induce a loss in nutritional quality, which involves destruction of micronutrients (vitamins), and loss of color.

The aim of this work is to develop a low energy, non-thermal method of food dehydration that results in a high-quality product through the application of Ultraviolet light, within the UV-A range. UV light can be separated into its 3 categories based on the wavelength of light from …

Novel Kinetic Description Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Characterizes Interrelated Effects Of Sample, Master Mix, And Cycle Time, David Tafur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction fluorescent curves are influenced by the quantification method, template length, primer sequence, polymerase activity, reaction conditions, and unwanted side reactions. Interpretation of these curves depends on understanding the subjacent mechanisms by which those factors can alter the curve profile, particularly on highly diluted analytes or impure samples. However, such factors are individually described today, or their interplay is not fully developed. The present work examines the effect of primer dimer formation and extension, resource competition, template reannealing, and polymerase thermodegradation, in addition to novel descriptions of polymerase competitive inhibition, extended primer amplification, and the probability …

Broadening The Application Range Of Cell-Free Protein Expression Systems, Matthew Becker

All Theses

Centralized protein manufacturing platforms make the delivery of needed therapies to places with limited infrastructure almost impossible. Cell-free protein expression systems, systems that utilize protein production machinery extracted from cells, offer these communities a viable protein expression platform that is robust and easily deliverable to the place of need. Much work in cell-free system engineering looks to increase the hardiness of cell-free system (CFS) components, like the extract and reaction buffer, needed to carry transcription and translation of gene therapeutic targets forward. Freeze- and air-drying of extract, reaction buffer, or both with certain additives, like sugar molecules, has been proposed …