Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Development Of A Modular Lab Automation System With Applications To Animal And Bacteria Cell Culture, Timothy William Hartman

Dissertations and Theses

The challenges faced while executing wet lab protocols encourage the development of automation systems to come alongside human scientists. Today’s cutting-edge experiments involve complex protocols with precise measurements usually performed manually. Even simpler biological protocols can be tedious and prone to error, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and society’s demand for high-volume, rapid sample analysis. Moreover, reproducibility suffers when there is excessive variability and insufficient data. Here, we leveraged the Stanford Biodesign process to develop a modular lab automation system and image analysis workflow to address challenges like these. This flagship automation platform at The University of South …

Unlv Title Iii Aanapisi & Mcnair Scholars Institute Research Journal 2024, Jesica Godinez-Paredes, Kian Hassankhan, Apia Hickman, Robin Ruth Kee, Kevin Ayala Pineda, Briana Melendez, Kalli Ramos, Saturn L. Reyes, Fabian Leija, Selena Pepe, Silva Topchyan, Celeste Ainsley, Mayra Arzate, Jessica Balistreri, Zantana Ephrem, Mirella Jasso, Karl Panou, Nichole Pelaez, Miklo Alcala, Akshay Dave, Mey Mey Heng, Michael Finkle, Janessa Montenegro, Reynafe Naol Aniga, Victor Mejia, Angelica G. Diaz, Anayeli Flores-Garibay, Kari Lee Joe Goold, Samantha Hernandez, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez, Caitlin Reynolds, Kimberly N. Usbeck, Abdulrahman Alahdal, Angelica Diaz, Willaine Mae Kahano, Raquel Jackson, Cecia Ruiz-Hernandez, Kers Ung-Watson, Yessenia Henriquez, Vanessa Marie Booth, Alexia Brown, Darlyn Magana, Bianca Navarro, Nicholas Pereira, Gia Renemae Calip, Lucky Heng, Ralph Sagun, Lucas Abreu, Alexandra Maria Acosta, Tristan Benally, Cosset Hernandez Pena, Adrian Montenegro, Cierra Paaaina-Daquioag, Nicole Torosian, Tracy Fuentes, Julissa Martinez, Medina Mcallister, Michal Newhouse-Van Vlerin, Tiria Carr, Nima Abkenar, Isabella Aceituno, Yuhan Bi, Victoria Campos, Melika Cummings, Zachary J. Johnigan, Alexis Sotolongo-Marin

McNair Journal

Journal articles based on research conducted by undergraduate students in the AANAPISI, LSAMP, and McNair Scholars Program.

Table of Contents

About AANAPISI

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Genetic Engineering Of Escherichia Coli For The Production Of Riboflavin, Adeyemi Adesanwo

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Riboflavin, a water-soluble vitamin B2, is essential for the growth and reproduction of living organisms. However, humans and animals lack a riboflavin synthesis pathway and must rely on diets derived from plants and microbes for this essential vitamin. To meet our needs for vitamin B2, industrial riboflavin production is currently being pursued using strains of Bacillus subtilis. The fermentation process is successful, but improvements are needed for better substrate-to-product conversion yield. To this end, it is imperative to develop alternative microbial strains for cost-effective riboflavin production.

Due to its simple growth requirement, well-understood genetic background, and widely available genetic tools, …

Advancements In Sarcoma- And Nerve-Specific Fluorescence Imaging For Surgical Guidance, Kendra A. Hebert

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is an evolving field that aims to improve patient outcomes by using fluorophores to identify important tissues during surgery, such as tumors and nerves. In this thesis work, we explored different methods of identifying nerve and tumor tissues for FGS and a novel fluorescence-based method to determine the depths of these structures.

Researchers have explored using fluorescence guided surgery for surgical resection of cancerous tissues, including recent work by our group focusing on identifying soft tissue sarcomas with ABY-029, an epidermal growth factor receptor targeting probe. However, our preclinical and clinical work shows no single reporter …

Development Of Glutathione-Responsive Disulfide-Containing Poly(Beta-Amino Esters) With Varied Hydrophilicity And Acrylate Functionality, Anastasiia Aronova

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Smart biomaterials are becoming promising for therapeutic deliveries due to their ability to respond to changes in the environment. Redox-responsive hydrogels are a promising type of smart polymer that can swell and degrade according to cellular oxidative stress levels. Glutathione, abundant in cells, is crucial in redox-responsive biomaterials, serving as a key reactive molecule. This study explored the degradation kinetics of glutathione-responsive poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) polymers created through a single-step Michael addition. We examined how disulfide content influences the degradation kinetics of these PBAE networks. Additionally, we investigated how the hydrophilicity and functionality of acrylate affect the degradation of disulfide-containing …

Sustained Release Systems For Endometrial Cancer, Claire E. Rowlands

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide and is the most common cancer of female reproductive organs. From 2007-2016 there has been a global rise in incidence of EC of 1.3 %. Typically, EC is treated with surgery, but at later stages surgery is less effective requiring chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. These treatment options are less effective than surgery and there are very few FDA approved chemotherapies for EC. The minuscule number of effective treatment options as well as an increase in incidence shows the need for creating improved treatments for EC. There has been …

On The Modes Of Nanosecond Pulsed Plasmas For Combustion Ignition Of Quiescent Ch₄-Air Mixtures, Chunqi Jiang, Akash C. Dhotre, Meimei Lai, Sayan Biswas, James R. Macdonald, Isaac W. Ekoto

Bioelectrics Publications

The effect of transient plasma modes on ignition kernel development are discussed here for a quiescent CH₄-air combustion model system. A 10 ns high-voltage pulse was applied to a pin-to-pin electrode in lean fuel-air mixtures at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. High-impedance streamer, transient spark and low-impedance spark discharges were identified based on pulse waveforms of voltage and current. A sustained ignition kernel expansion was observed when the plasma discharge transitioned into a transient spark or spark discharge. The minimum ignition energy was obtained at the transient spark mode, which has less than a third of the energy …

Simultaneous Evaluation Of Tibiofemoral And Patellofemoral Mechanics In Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Combined Experimental And Computational Approach, Yashar A. Behnam, Ahilan Anantha Krishnan, Hayden Wilson, Chadd W. Clary

Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics: Faculty Scholarship

Contemporary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not fully restored natural patellofemoral (P-F) mechanics across the patient population. Previous experimental simulations have been limited in their ability to create dynamic, unconstrained, muscle-driven P-F articulation while simultaneously controlling tibiofemoral (T-F) contact mechanics. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel experimental simulation and validate a corresponding finite element model to evaluate T-F and P-F mechanics. A commercially available wear simulator was retrofitted with custom fixturing to evaluate whole-knee TKA mechanics with varying patella heights during a simulated deep knee bend. A corresponding dynamic finite element model was developed to validate …

Biom 1720: Introduction To Biomedical Engineering Tools, Stephen Strain

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Use of computer tools for data analysis, presentation, documentation; introduction to programming; individual and group design projects.

Biom 3110: Medical Physiology (Syllabus), Bradford D. Pendley

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Basic principles of human physiology and how these are applied in medicine and biomedical engineering problem and devices; physiological principles using appropriate mathematical and engineering models to construct an understanding of how the body works as an integrated system.

Biom 4784: Biomedical Design Studio (Syllabus), Amy Curry

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Laboratory experience dedicated to the design, development, and fabrication of a final prototype for use in conducting engineering analysis and design loop feedback. Responsibilities will include frequent team meetings, mentor advising, and group brainstorming along with prototype designing, technical drawings, fabrication, engineering analysis, and verification/validation. Deliverables for each team will be a prototype, final design specification report with engineering reports, and a final team presentation.

Biom 4410/Mech 4397: Engineering Practicum (Syllabus), Sheila Moses, Jeff Marchetta, Amy Curry

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Preparation for professional practice through experiential learning under the supervision of an experienced engineer with oversight by a member of the department’s faculty. Regular reporting throughout course required.

Biom 4782: Biomedical Design Practicum (Syllabus), Amy Curry

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Practical application of biomedical design principles with emphasis on project management, teamwork, prototype production, risk analysis and management, technical drawings, patent review with claim development, market analysis, regulatory issues, professional and ethical responsibilities of a biomedical engineer, engineering analysis/reports, incorporation of standards, prototype verification/validation, and presentation skills.

Insights Into The Heart Microstructure: A Case Study, Sarah Bulger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis focuses on better understanding the structures of the heart at the micro-scale. Cardiomyocytes and the branching of cardiomyocytes are of specific interest. A literature review was performed to extract key information on cardiomyocyte size, the branching type and frequency of cardiomyocytes, and cardiomyocytes' organization in general. The purpose of conducting the literature review was to find quantifiable data on the micro-structure of the heart. Three studies in particular provided data on the branching of cardiomyocytes. Two of these studies were conducted on rat hearts, while one other study was conducted on human hearts. The methods and terminology between …

The Sexually Dimorphic Role Of Connexin 43 In Bone Remodeling And Disuse-Induced Bone Loss, Gabriel A. Hoppock

Theses and Dissertations

Bone loss is frequently experienced by individuals undergoing long-term disuse, such as prolonged bedrest, immobilization due to paralysis or injury, and conditions such as spaceflight. Under normal physiological conditions, bone remodeling is balanced by bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts, and the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts is orchestrated by osteocytes. Osteocytes are the most abundant cell type found in bone and ample evidence suggests they are bone’s main mechanosensory cell type. Therefore, understanding osteocyte biology and responses to mechanical signals, or lack thereof during unloading, may lead to new therapeutic targets to combat bone loss during disuse. Previous data has …

Levofloxacin Incorporated Extracellular Matrix Nanoparticles For Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis Infections, Raahi Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disorder that affects around 40,000 people in the United States. CF is characterized by a mutation in the CFTR protein that causes dysregulated ion transport across epithelial cells, producing viscous mucus in the lung that increases bacterial invasion, causing persistent infections and subsequent inflammation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are two of the most common infections in CF patients that are resistant to antibiotics. One antibiotic approved to treat these infections is levofloxacin (LVX) that functions to inhibit bacterial replication, but can be further developed into tailorable particles. Nanoparticles are an emerging inhaled …

The Regulation Of Laryngeal Cancer Cell Phenotype And Proliferation By 24r,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Is Correlated With Erα Isoform Expression, Cydney Dennis

Theses and Dissertations

Laryngeal cancer is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is associated with poor prognosis due to common delayed diagnoses. The sex disparities associated with laryngeal cancer are constantly growing, as the risk of malignancy in males is continually increasing compared to women. Due to the high chance of late-stage diagnosis requiring aggressive treatments, there is a high demand for less aggressive treatment options and early-stage diagnostic markers. The apparent sex disposition of the larynx, the correlation between sex hormones, and the risk of malignancy in aging men suggest that estrogen may play a role in laryngeal …

Muscle-Nerve Signaling And Its Role In Myogenesis, Synaptogenesis, And Regeneration, James T. Redden

Theses and Dissertations

Despite only comprising 0.1% of the myofiber surface area, a healthy motor endplate is densely packed with acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) responsible for mediating activity between the connected motor neuron and skeletal muscle via the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Loss of the endplate, known as fragmentation, is caused by car crashes, deep lacerations, and other traumatic injuries to the innervating nerve or direct injuries to the limb muscle(s) with intramuscular denervation as a common comorbidity. In both cases, endplate fragmentation begins within a week of injury proceeding muscle atrophy causing decreased mobility, paralysis, and quality of life. Endplate fragmentation of intact muscle fibers …

T Cell Polarization Regulates The Inflammatory Response And Tissue Regeneration At The Peri-Implant Interface, Derek Avery

Theses and Dissertations

Unresolved healing and localized chronic inflammation are common occurrences after biomaterial implantation, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes such as implant failure or fibrous encapsulation. T cells are adaptive immune cells found in lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and around biomaterials, significantly impacting the degree of inflammation and wound healing. T cells are vital for inflammatory cytokine production and modulation of innate immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. T cells can be differentiated into two primary subsets, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, playing distinctive roles in various pathologies and disease states. While T cells have been characterized well …

Multi-Magnetic Material Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Coils Development And Electric Field Measurement & Modeling Using Machine Learning, Mohannad Tashli

Theses and Dissertations

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a safe, effective, and non-invasive therapy for treating several psychiatric and neurological disorders. TMS is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment and is commonly applied to patients who do not respond to medications for the treatment of clinical depression, smoking cessation, obsessive-compulsive disorder and migraine. Recently, there has been an increase in the development of electromagnetic neuromodulation techniques targeted at enhancing the effectiveness of TMS devices for the treatment of mental diseases. In TMS stimulation, focality is an important factor which determines the specificity of the pulses induced in different brain tissues. The electromagnetic …