Engineering Commons^™

A 3d-Printed Blood-Brain Barrier Model With Tunable Topology And Cell-Matrix Interactions., Louis S Paone, Mohammed Mehdi Benmassaoud, Aidan Curran, Sebastián L Vega, Peter A Galie

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Recent developments in digital light processing (DLP) can advance the structural and biochemical complexity of perfusable in vitro models of the blood–brain barrier. Here, we describe a strategy to functionalize complex, DLP-printed vascular models with multiple peptide motifs in a single hydrogel. Different peptides can be clicked into the walls of distinct topologies, or the peptide motifs lining channel walls can differ from those in the bulk of the hydrogel. The flexibility of this approach is used to both characterize the effects of various bioactive domains on endothelial coverage and tight junction formation, in addition to facilitating astrocyte attachment in …

Recent Advances In Antimicrobial Peptide Hydrogels, Aryanna Copling, Maxwell Akantibila, Raaha Kumaresan, Gilbert Fleischer, Dennise Cortes, Rahul S Tripathi, Valerie J. Carabetta, Sebastian Vega

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Faculty Scholarship

Advances in the number and type of available biomaterials have improved medical devices such as catheters, stents, pacemakers, prosthetic joints, and orthopedic devices. The introduction of a foreign material into the body comes with a risk of microbial colonization and subsequent infection. Infections of surgically implanted devices often lead to device failure, which leads to increased patient morbidity and mortality. The overuse and improper use of antimicrobials has led to an alarming rise and spread of drug-resistant infections. To overcome the problem of drug-resistant infections, novel antimicrobial biomaterials are increasingly being researched and developed. Hydrogels are a class of 3D …

Human Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Display Increased Sensitivity To Matrix Stiffness., Kirstene A Gultian, Roshni Gandhi, Khushi Sarin, Martina Sladkova-Faure, Matthew Zimmer, Giuseppe Maria De Peppo, Sebastian Vega

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

The clinical translation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is limited by population heterogeneity and inconsistent responses to engineered signals. Specifically, the extent in which MSCs respond to mechanical cues varies significantly across MSC lines. Although induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have recently emerged as a novel cell source for creating highly homogeneous MSC (iMSC) lines, cellular mechanosensing of iMSCs on engineered materials with defined mechanics is not well understood. Here, we tested the mechanosensing properties of three human iMSC lines derived from iPSCs generated using a fully automated platform. Stiffness-driven changes in morphology were comparable between MSCs and iMSCs cultured …

Bio-Ionic Liquid Functionalized Hydrogels Towards Smart Tissue Regeneration, Vaishali Krishnadoss

Theses and Dissertations

A blend of scaffolds, biologically active molecules, and cells are required to assemble functional constructs to repair and regenerate damaged tissue or organ via tissue engineering. The scaffold supports cell growth and proliferation and acts as a medium for diverse cellular activities. Even though hydrogel's high-water content and flexible nature make it a pronounced applicant as a scaffold, they exhibit significant technical limitations such as the absence of cell-binding motifs, lack of oxygen, conductivity, adhesive properties, growth of cells in a 3-dimensional (3D) microenvironment. In this thesis, a novel material platform is evaluated and studied to address the concerns mentioned …

Controlled Release Of Multiple Therapeutics From Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses For Post-Cataract/Post-Refractive Surgery And Uveitis Treatment., Stephen A Dipasquale, Biaggio Uricoli, Matthew C Dicerbo, Thea L Brown, Mark Byrne

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

PURPOSE: This work demonstrates seven-day controlled and extended in vitro physiological flow dual release of multiple post-ocular surgery therapeutics from extended-wear contact lenses as a dropless alternative for treatment of uveitis and corneal inflammation, pain, and infection. Lens replacement each week optimizes treatment matching patient recall time with the ability to increase or decrease dosage.

METHODS: Lenses were synthesized using molecular imprinting to create lenses with macromolecular memory for diclofenac sodium (DS) and dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DMSP), as well as bromfenac sodium (BS) and moxifloxacin (MOX). Drug uptake and release were analyzed, and physical properties were measured and compared to …

Effects Of Genipin Crosslinking On The Properties Of Tendon Derived Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels, Alicia Cheyenne Coombs

Theses and Dissertations

Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels are a useful biomaterial in the tissue engineering field used for injectables in drug delivery systems, wound dressing, tissue regeneration and many other applications. ECM hydrogels are highly biocompatible, contain proper ratios of biomolecules required for complex bioactivity of tissues and they promote tissue repair. However, ECM hydrogels typically have poor mechanical strength, which leads to hydrogel instability, and a limitation in their ability to be modified for translational applications. In this research, genipin, a natural crosslinker derived from plants, was utilized in an attempt to improve upon the mechanical limitations of ECM hydrogels. Genipin has …

Discrete Element Modeling Of Hydrogel Extrusion, Rohit Boddu

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogels are widely used in extrusion bioprinting as bioinks. Understanding how the hydrogel microstructure affects the bioprinting process aids researchers in predicting the behavior of biological components. Current experimental tools are unable to measure internal forces and microstructure variations during the bioprinting process. In this work, discrete element modeling was used to study the internal interactions and the elastic deformation of the molecular chains within hydrogel networks during the extrusion process. Two-dimensional models of hydrogel extrusions were created in Particle Flow Code (PFC; Itasca Co., Minneapolis, MN). For our model's calibration, hydrogel compression testing was used in which a cluster …

Thermal Fluid Models Of A Hydrogel Delivery System For Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, Nesrine Bouhrira

Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating cancers with low survival rates. This disease is difficult to detect due to the pancreas's location deep within the body. Therefore, diagnoses are often made in the later stages, making treatment options more limited and difficult. It has been hypothesized that direct injection into the tumor would enhance drug effectivenes. Therefore, we examined the use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combined with a fine needle injection to deliver a drug-eluding thermosensitive hydrogel directly into the tumor. Unfortunately normal body temperatures surrounding the EUS can warm the hydrogel drug combination beyond its phase transition …