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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Mechanical Properties Of Hydrated Acoustically Sensitive Alginate-Based Microcapsules Confined In A Microfluidic Device As A Function Of Size And Composition, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi, Mallika Keralapura, Tiffany Fong, Rogel Camba Dec 2013

Mechanical Properties Of Hydrated Acoustically Sensitive Alginate-Based Microcapsules Confined In A Microfluidic Device As A Function Of Size And Composition, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi, Mallika Keralapura, Tiffany Fong, Rogel Camba

Bioengineering

Understanding the mechanical properties of alginate-based microcapsules according to size and chemical composition allows researchers to zero in on the treatment and methods required to engineer optimized implantable alginate-based artificial cells for chemotherapy. Cross-linked medium viscosity alginate capsules ranging from 1.1% (w/v)-1.8% (w/v) in composition and 200 μm-1200 μm in size, encapsulating ultrasound contrast agents and blue dextran were compressed within a 40 μm high polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device and subsequently examined using 2D microscopy for strain deformation aimed at the calculation of poisson ratios and volume loss postcompression. Results indicate a decrease in Poisson ratio as a function of alginate …


Advances In Homology Directed Genetic Engineering Of Human Pluripotent And Adult Stem Cells, Kalpith Ramamoorthi, Donald Curtis, Prashanth Asuri Oct 2013

Advances In Homology Directed Genetic Engineering Of Human Pluripotent And Adult Stem Cells, Kalpith Ramamoorthi, Donald Curtis, Prashanth Asuri

Bioengineering

The ability to introduce precise genomic modifications in human cells has profound implications for both basic and applied research in stem cells, ranging from identification of genes regulating stem cell self-renewal and multilineage differentiation to therapeutic gene correction and creation of in vitro models of human diseases. However, the overall efficiency of this process is challenged by several factors including inefficient gene delivery into stem cells and low rates of homology directed site-specific targeting. Recent studies report the development of novel techniques to improve gene targeting efficiencies in human stem cells; these methods include molecular engineering of viral vectors o …


Cross-Linked Alginate Film Pore Size Determination Using Atomic Force Microscopy And Validation Using Diffusivity Determinations, Cheryl Simpliciano, Larissa Clark, Behrokh Asi, Nathan Chu, Maria Mercado, Steven Diaz, Michel Goedert, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi Oct 2013

Cross-Linked Alginate Film Pore Size Determination Using Atomic Force Microscopy And Validation Using Diffusivity Determinations, Cheryl Simpliciano, Larissa Clark, Behrokh Asi, Nathan Chu, Maria Mercado, Steven Diaz, Michel Goedert, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi

Bioengineering

The deficit of organ donors has fueled the need for advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Microencapsulation in alginate immuno-isolation membranes has been used to treat many disabling metabolic disorders, namely, phenylketonuria, kidney failure and diabetes mellitus. Systematic nutrient flux determinations are hindered by the lack of experimental data on alginate-based membrane topography and the pore size thus preventing the full therapeutic potential of the bio-membranes to be reached. In this study, samples of cross-linked alginate membranes were subjected to the following analytical characterization: 1) pore size characterization using atomic force microscopy operated in contact mode to detect and …


The Trm2h : Detecting Protein-Protein Interactions By Engineering The Cell As A Biosensor, Elyse Shimomura, Paulina Perezalonso Aug 2013

The Trm2h : Detecting Protein-Protein Interactions By Engineering The Cell As A Biosensor, Elyse Shimomura, Paulina Perezalonso

Bioengineering Senior Theses

Protein-protein interactions regulate key cellular functions and cell signaling pathways in the body; biological systems can be disrupted by protein interactions or lack of interactions that cause cell dysfunction and can lead to disease or illness. However, studying these interactions is complex and difficult to quantify. In this project, we examine the interaction of two putative cancer biomarkers, Bax and PDCDS, using the tetracycline repressor-based mammalian two-hybrid system (trM2H). This in vivo system engineers the cell as a biosensor using methods of DNA cloning and mammalian cell transfections that easily detects and quantities the interaction of two proteins by the …


Analyzing Surface Protein Expression And Internalization, William Truong, Josergio Zaragoza Jul 2013

Analyzing Surface Protein Expression And Internalization, William Truong, Josergio Zaragoza

Bioengineering Senior Theses

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are currently the largest class of membrane receptors and are targeted by a majority of the modern drug therapeutics. In addition, they partake in many physiological and pathological processes such as inflammation, growth, and hormone responses. Most importantly, GPCRs are targets of many disease-specific pathways such as Alzheimers, hypertension, leukemia, and depression. As a result, there is an immense interest in studying GPCRs as this area provides further knowledge into the specific disease pathways and allows the discovery of novel therapeutics. In order to have a better understanding of pathways, scientists have studied GPCR activation. The …


Amperometric Detection Of Bioamines In Cancer Borealis Using Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis Integrated With Micellar Chromatography, Ajay Fernandez, Jason Howard, Christina Shuh Jun 2013

Amperometric Detection Of Bioamines In Cancer Borealis Using Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis Integrated With Micellar Chromatography, Ajay Fernandez, Jason Howard, Christina Shuh

Bioengineering Senior Theses

In order to study neuromodulation in Cancer borealis, commonly known as the Jonah crab, we designed a microchip capillary electrophoretic (CE) device with micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) to separate bioamines and detect their concentrations using amperometric detection (AD). The analysis will be used to characterize the bioamines: dopamine, octopamine, tyramine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA). The device measures the concentration of bioamines in microdialysate samples taken directly from the pericardial cavity of the crab. The research on Jonah crabs will be applied to enhance our understanding of the crab neurology. Since the structure and in some instances, the function …


Microfluidic Detection Of Arsenic Contamination In Groundwater, Mary Reynolds, Kyle Perricone Jun 2013

Microfluidic Detection Of Arsenic Contamination In Groundwater, Mary Reynolds, Kyle Perricone

Bioengineering Senior Theses

The difficulty of detecting small quantities of arsenic in water currently threatens the health of millions of people worldwide, as long-term exposure to arsenic has been associated with both cancerous and noncancerous health risks. Existing technologies make it possible to very accurately quantify arsenic levels in water; however the expense, extensive training, and off-site analysis required by these methods impede wide scale use. Here, we report on research to develop an affordable and point-of-use microfluidic platform capable of detecting trace amounts of arsenic in groundwater samples. We intend this device to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO's) ASSURED criteria for …


Uniflow: A Collapsible Prostatic Stent To Treat The Symptoms Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Brett Simons, Senn Foote, Doug Yoon Jun 2013

Uniflow: A Collapsible Prostatic Stent To Treat The Symptoms Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Brett Simons, Senn Foote, Doug Yoon

Bioengineering Senior Theses

BPH is a widespread problem that currently does not have any highly effective and cheap solutions. We propose a solution involving a collapsible and durable stent for insertion in to the urethra to aid in urination by opening the urethra only when needed.


Polystyrene Microsphere And 5-Fluorouracil Release From Custom Designed Wound Dressing Films, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi, Raki Komarla Nagendra, Sujana Lakshmi Ramachandruni, Jason James Rook, Mallika Keralapura, Michel Goedert Jan 2013

Polystyrene Microsphere And 5-Fluorouracil Release From Custom Designed Wound Dressing Films, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi, Raki Komarla Nagendra, Sujana Lakshmi Ramachandruni, Jason James Rook, Mallika Keralapura, Michel Goedert

Bioengineering

Custom-designed wound dressing films of chitosan and alginate have been prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation method for hydrophobic therapeutic agent encapsulation. In this parametric study, the propylene glycol (PG) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) concentrations were varied for chitosan and alginate films, respectively. Mechanical and chemical inter-related responses under observations included thickness (th), elasticity (E), tensile strength (TS), sorption ability (S%) and kinetics of in-vitro drug release, specifically in terms of membrane time to burst (tB) and duration of release (tR). As shown by results of a one tailed t-test significance testing at the 95% confidence interval (α = …