Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Engineered Biomimetic Muscle Graft For Skeletal Muscle Regeneration, Julia O. Aguirre

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

This study aims to develop a synthetic muscle graft that closely mimics the architecture, viscoelastic properties, and bio-signaling characteristics of natural skeletal muscle. By analyzing the native skeletal muscle microstructure, biochemical, and mechanical properties, we establish design parameters for a biomimetic scaffold. The engineered graft integrates tunable mechanical compliance, aligned microarchitecture, and signaling cues to promote cell recruitment, adhesion, proliferation, and maturation. To further enhance biofunctionality, an electrically conductive polymer was incorporated to improve the electrical conductivity, and the graft was loaded with the bioactive lipid signaling mediator “Prostaglandin E2” (PGE2) to support myogenesis during muscle regeneration. The grafts were …

Neurovascular Coupling Impairments In Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: An Eeg-Nirs Analysis, Zachary Armstrong

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of neurological impairment, often leading to variable recovery and uncertain prognosis in the neurocritical care setting. There is a pressing clinical need for robust, physiologically grounded biomarkers to inform prognosis and therapeutic decision-making in acute TBI. This thesis investigates neurovascular coupling (NVC), the physiological coordination between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow, as a candidate biomarker for brain function and recovery after injury.

A prospective cohort study was performed using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) recordings in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI and healthy controls. Wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis was …

Algorithm Development For Analysis Of Optical Time-Series Data Generated By Biomodal Optical-Electrical Nanopore Sensor, Yu-Shiuan Huang

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Nanopore biosensors have played an essential role in the scientific investigation of DNA, RNA, proteins, and other bio-analytes. Traditional nanopore biosensors detect variations in electrical current conductance caused by the analyte blocking the current passing transiently through a nano-sized aperture, i.e., the nanopore. This electrical data provides information about the amount of current blockage when the analyte is inside the nanopore and the time it takes for analytes to travel through the nanopore (translocation time). The translocation time of analytes in standard nanopore measurements is typically very short, usually tens of microseconds, limiting the accuracy of measuring the analytes’ characteristics. …

Quantification Of Dynamic Changes Of Hemodynamic And Metabolic Responses To Brachial Artery Occlusion: A Broadband Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study, Caroline Elizabeth Carter

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in the United States, and non-Hispanic African Americans are at higher risk than other racial and ethnic groups. Endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor to CVD development and progression. Remote ischemic pre/conditioning (RIC), which involves exposing cells or tissues to brief sublethal stress, has been shown to protect cardiovascular cells from ischemia and reperfusion injury, including CVD. This study aimed to investigate hemodynamic and metabolic dynamics in response to 5-min forearm arterial occlusion using broadband near-infrared spectroscopy. My thesis is a tripartite investigation that weaves RIC, mitochondrial dynamics, and health disparities …

Formation And Morphological Changes Of Stress Actin Filaments In Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Adam Priester

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) are a sub-type of stem cell that can be collected and isolated from the adipose tissue. Adipogenesis describes the commitment and differentiation of stem cells, including ADSCs, toward the adipocyte lineage. While much research has been completed on this process in the long term (>2 weeks), morphological changes of adipogenesis during the early phase (<24 hours) are lacking in the literature and remain to be elucidated. The current study focuses on these changes in the early and later stages of adipogenesis using adipogenic differentiation factors and fluorescent imaging analyses. Quantifiable data on morphological changes during both phases can provide insight into how these changes affect later differentiation and lay the groundwork for additional research in this area. Using fluorescent image analysis, it was shown that the eccentricity of ADSCs, a measure of cellular circularity, decreases exponentially in the early phase of adipogenesis. In contrast, the cellular area appears to increase exponentially during the same early period. During the later stages of differentiation, it was shown that actin filament length decreases exponentially and the ratio of lipid to actin length increases exponentially, demonstrating that lipid accumulation outpaces actin filament shortening and increasing circularity during the later stages. These findings may be used in future studies to further define the role of actin filament-mediated morphological changes and mechanobiology during adipogenesis.

Investigation Of Rate Pressure Product As A Metric To Quantify Cardiac Workload In Sleep Apnea Events, Carlos Cruz

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

An investigation on the use of rate pressure product (RPP) to measure the cardiac workload in sleep apnea patients is presented. RPP is the product of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR). The application of RPP to quantify cardiac workload is combined with the detection of respiratory events occurring in close proximity (less than 30 seconds apart). These two combined factors provide a unique framework for analyzing sleep apnea events and are the primary novelty of the study. Close proximity events are referred to as respiratory event chains (RECs). Statistical analyses were conducted on various RPP metrics as …

The Effects Of Poloxamer 188 On Wound Closure In A Mouse Brain Endothelium Model, Mia Claire Grubbs

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a crucial role in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis and, if structurally and functionally compromised, can lead to severe neurological consequences. This thesis explores the therapeutic potential of Poloxamer 188 (P188) in the context of BBB wound healing. P188, FDA-approved copolymer that is known for its cytoprotective properties, is examined for its impact on endothelial monolayers through in vitro scratch wound assays. The study aims to establish a consistent endothelial monolayer model, quantify wound healing dynamics, and assess the efficacy of P188 at varying concentrations. The thesis goals include detailed methodologies such as cell culture …

Physiological Analyses Of Broadband Near-Infrared Spectroscopy And Electrophysiological Measurements In Vivo For Biomedical Applications, Haylea Renguul

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

My thesis concerns analysis of data from optical and electrophysiological measurement tools for calculate potential biomarkers in three biomedical applications: (1) the gastrointestinal immaturity of infants of different ages, (2) prefrontal connectivity in healthy older adults, and (3) hemodynamic-metabolic coherence during vascular occlusion. The first application relied on electrogastrogram (EGG) measurements taken on 81 newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit. Of the 81 babies, 77 were born prematurely. By separating these babies into different gestational age groups and analyzing their EGG data, I was able to find population differences in common EGG analysis parameters. In particular, we found that …

A Comparative Biomechanical Investigation Of Porcine Neonatal And Adult Left Ventricular Tissues, Timothy R. Eastep

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

A current trend in cardiac muscle regeneration and repair is to recreate the biophysical and biomechanical environment of the neonatal hearts, which has been shown to promote cardiac regeneration. This translational need requires thorough understanding of the biomechanical properties of the neonatal hearts. In this study, we aim to (i) characterize the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the neonatal porcine left ventricular (LV) muscle and compare with the adult tissue behavior using a rheometer; (ii) perform histological assessment to identify the cellular and extracellular (ECM) microstructures that contribute to the observed biomechanical differences, and (iii) develop a light sheet imaging protocol …

Effects Of Aging On Mouse Rotator Cuff Tendon Biomechanics, Chinmay Sagar Patwardhan

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Rotator cuff tendon injuries and tear are caused by overuse, falling, or other accidents, and are often associated with old age. The severe injuries and tear can be debilitating and require nonsurgical treatment for partial tear and arthroscopic surgery for complete tear. The frequent location of injuries and tear are at the enthesis region, the interface where the tendon tissue gradually hardens and merges into the bone. Although aging has been identified as an important factor for rotator cuff tendon injuries and tear, how the mechanical properties of the bone-tendon complex evolve along with age is still a knowledge gap. …

Photomodulatory Effects On Insulin Secreting Beta Cells, Sheccid Alejandra Loya

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by increased blood glucose levels and affects more than 8% of people worldwide (Rutter et. al, 2015). Typically, diabetes is divided into two large subcategories: type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). T1D is an autoimmune disorder caused by the attack of insulin secreting cells by t-cell mediated inflammatory response (Khrraoubi & Darwish, 2015). Currently, islet transplants offer a clinical treatment for restoration of glucose control. However, the current procedure may not be optimal as many transplanted islets do not survive because of the stresses induced during the process (Miki …

Photobiomodulation Of Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Using Infrared (810 Nm) Laser Stimulation, Noemi Salgado Cordova

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The standardized clinical use of photobiomodulation (PBM) across many applications has been obstructed due to the lack of understanding in how each of the parameters affect the end results. Although the optimal parameters for the therapy have been estimated with a level of uncertainty, the positive effects have been documented on cell differentiation, wound healing, brain modulation, etc. These positive effects observed by PBM have been attributed to the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and ATP along other molecules generated by the stimulation of Cytochrome-C Oxidase (CCO). Although there is much uncertainty surrounding the coupling mechanisms …

Exploring Imaging Technology In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Pediatric Medically Refractory Epilepsy With Intracranial Electroencephalography And Post-Surgical Evaluations, Nasheha Baset

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Abstract Exploring Imaging Technology in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Medically Refractory Epilepsy with Intracranial Electroencephalography and Post-Surgical Evaluations Nasheha Baset, MS The University of Texas at Arlington, May 2021 Supervising Professor: Dr. Christos Papadelis Epilepsy is a disorder that commonly causes seizures due to abnormal neurological activity, which can disrupt daily life. Of all patients with epilepsy, 60% suffer from focal epilepsy. Approximately 15% of these cases are considered to be drug resistant, or refractory, as the patient is not responsive to a combination of two or more anti-epileptic drugs (AED). Traditionally, approaches to treatment of medically refractory …

Study Of Upregulation Of Drug Resistance In H460 Lung Cancer Cells Via Microchannel Device, Nowmi Haider

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Metastasis is the main reason of high mortality rates in cancer patients. Treating these patients becomes difficult once the cancer has metastasized, especially due to their drug resistance. Drug resistance is a common problem that occurs when treating cancer patients, as in most cancer types, the cells are capable of drug efflux. This makes treatments like chemotherapy ineffective. Therefore, it is important to find alternative methods of treatment that can effectively kill drug resistant cancer cells. Lung cancer is one type of cancer that is the second most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. In this study, microchannels were used to …

Fabrication And Examination Of Magnetic Bacterial Cellulose As A Material For Biomedical Engineering, Xi Chen

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature. Several attributes such as facilitative modification, high pore size/porosity, able to mass produce as well as biocompatibility renders BC a promising candidate for many fronts of biomedical engineering. One consideration for BC as a biomedical material over conventional plant cellulose is the ease in which BC can be obtained to provide high purity cellulose. In comparison to collagen, another biopolymer with considerable prospects for biomedical engineering, BC possesses a higher degree of elasticity, water retention, and lower degradability. The high affinity towards water and high porosity provide BC …

Examination Of The Effects Of Confined Migration On Androgen Resistant Prostate Cancer And Potential Treatment Option For Drug Resistant Pc3 Cells With Calcitriol, Emily Torrey Ann Hills

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

When localized to the prostate, prostate cancer (PCa) has a near 100% 5-year survival rate, however, when prostate cancer metastasizes the survival rate drastically drops to around 30%. The low death rate of primary PCa is due to the wealth of knowledge we have of non-metastatic cancer and the sufficient treatment regimens. However, this understanding does not apply to metastatic cancer, so therapies are greatly lacking. To gain a better understanding of the invasion process for PCa we utilized microchannel technology to uncover the differences between migratory and non-migratory PCa. Specifically, the following study examines the effects of confined migration …

Quantification Of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Oscillations In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients, Yao Shun Chuang

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

An approach to quantifying and analysis of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) variations that are elicited by sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is presented. A sample-by-sample aggregation of the dynamic BP variations during normal breathing and BP oscillations prompted by apnea episodes is performed. This approach facilitates the visualization and analysis of BP oscillations. Nocturnal BP oscillations reflect the cardiovascular stresses that SDB mediates and may be of clinical significance. Preliminary results from an analysis of full night study of 10 SDB subjects (8 Male 2 Female, 53±5.7 yrs., Body Mass Index 34.5±7.8 kg/m2, Apnea-Hypopnea Index 63.5±28.7) are presented. Aggregate trajectory and quantitative …

Understanding Scalp Eeg In Response To Newsvendor Decision-Making And Feedback, Mobasshir Hossain Akash

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Neuroeconomics is an emerging field integrating economic theories with neuroscience to enhance the understanding on how humans make decisions under different cost-effective conditions. Understanding the brain network associated with different cognitive tasks, to investigate the basic neural processes that underlie complex higher-order cognitive operations, has become an important research topic in behavioral neuroscience. Newsvendor problem plays a vital role among all prevalent concepts. This study is designed based on Newsvendor problem incorporating 40 trials for each subject at a randomly chosen low-profit or high-profit margin treatments to investigate how electrophysiological signals in the human brain are differentiated under the two …

Preparation Of Dual Fluorescence Agents-Loaded Nanoparticle And Its In Vitro And In Vivo Application, Hong-Hao Thi Vu

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

There’re many existing imaging tools that composed of different imaging moieties to improve both resolution and sensitivity, however there’s not yet any imaging method that could be effectively utilized in both in vitro and in vivo study. To fill the gap, dual dyes-labeling fluorescent imaging nanoprobes was synthesized to simultaneous carry both visible fluorescent isothiocyanate (FITC) dye and near infra red (NIR) dye, 1,1′,3,3,3′,3′- hexamethylindotricarbocyanine iodide dye agent (HITC). For that, nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized from 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylic acid and fluorescein-o-acrylate which contains visible FITC dye. The NPs were then labeled with HITC dye via physical entrapment to …

Fabrication And In Vitro Characterization Of An Implant For The Detection Of Metastatic Cancer Cells, Carlos Martin Cantu

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Greater than 90% of cancer related deaths are due to metastasis (Hayes & Wicha, 2011). Since current conventional techniques detect the disease by the time that it has become systemic, our lab has developed a hydrogel based cancer trap that can attract metastatic cancer cells via cytokine release. However, for continual monitoring and accessibility to the gel, an implant is needed for delivery, retention, and retrieval of the gel. The research undergone in this thesis seeks to develop such a method. Namely, the objective was to develop a polylactide (PLA) based implant that is capable of delivering and retaining a …

An Enhancement Of Light Reflectance Spectroscopy As A Modality For The Detection Of Positive Surgical Margins In Radical Prostatectomy, Zengxing Pang

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Light Reflectance Spectroscopy (LRS) is an imaging method that has shown increasingly promising evidence in its ability to detect various forms of cancer tissues. Our previous studies have illustrated the LRS modality’s capacity to differentiate normal and cancerous prostate tissues, specifically in its effectiveness in distinguishing cancer tissues classified 4+3 and 4+4 in Gleason Score. Despite having shown sufficient sensitivity and specificity towards prostate cancer detection, the pre-existing imaging system remains impractical for its intended clinical application of detecting positive surgical margins during prostatectomy. Two of the biggest challenges in the current equipment include lack of mobility and slow data …

Investigation Of 1064-Nm Laser Fluence Within Tissue Phantoms And Its In Vivo Effects On Human Brain Networks, Hasan Parvez

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

For the past few decades there has been an increasing interest in the usage of near infrared (NIR) laser in the medical optics field. This is due to a number of studies conducted on different animal models utilizing NIR laser, which was reported to provide improvement in such cognitive functions as memory, decision making, and executive functions. The NIR laser produces no adverse effects in the human tissue, having a potential for treating different neurological disorders. However, there is limited knowledge related to the underlying mechanism of photon interaction with the human tissue. In this thesis, I tried to address …

Change Of Brain Network Connectivity Among Different Human Vigilance States Investigated By Eeg, Yudhajit Das

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Understanding the brain network connectivity associated with human vigilance states, to investigate the basic neural processes that underlie complex higher-order cognitive operations and functional domains, has become an important topic in biological science research. Also, there is growing concern about the prevalence and effects of sleep deprivation. Given the increasingly fast-paced nature of our society, the focus of the researchers is not only to identify the changes occurring within the brain during sleeping stages, but also to extract meaningful psycho-behavioral reason behind such change patterns which can lead to an improved understanding of brain activity during sleep which may further …

Development Of Cancer Trap For Capturing Cancer Cells That Metastasize In The Peritoneal Cavity: A Preliminary Study, Chuka I. Okpokwasili

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Our laboratory has recently developed an implantable device - cancer trap that can recruit and trap circulating cancer cells inside the bloodstream. Since several types of cancer cells can metastasize inside the peritoneal cavity, this study explores the possibility of using cancer traps to recruit esophageal and prostate cancer cells inside the peritoneum. Using prostate cancer and esophageal cancer cells as model cancers, this thesis shows that cancer traps can capture cancer cells inside the peritoneal space. EPO releasing traps was also shown to reduce the spread of prostate cancer as well as esophageal cancer compared to controls. Using multiple …

T-Cell Membrane Camouflaged Nanoparticles For Treatment Of Melanoma, Gizem Oter

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers. The American Cancer Society reports that every hour, one person dies from melanoma. While there are a number of treatments currently available for melanoma (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy), these therapies face several problems, including inadequate response rates, high toxicity, and severe side effects due to non-specific delivery of anti-cancer drugs. To improve therapeutic efficiency and reduce these limitations, a multifunctional nanoparticle has been developed. Specifically, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were coated with a cellular membrane derived from the T cell hybridoma, 19LF6 endowed with a melanoma-specific anti-gp100/ …

Unravelling The Mysteries Of Cognitive Decline In Cancer Survivors Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Dhivya Srinivasan

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

In recent years, there has been an increased incidence of cognitive impairment in cancer survivors as a side-effect of chemotherapy. This troubling deterioration in cognitive ability is commonly termed as 'Chemo brain' in which patients have problems with working memory, executive function, decision-making, concentration, visuospatial skills and attention which can pose problems to get on with day-to-day life. Breast Cancer is primarily adopted as the model for studying effects of 'chemobrain'. A better understanding of neural correlates & hemodynamic changes related to cognitive deficits would help clinicians to design targeted treatments and cognitive rehabilitation interventions. Aim: The primary goal of …

Design And Development Of Real-Time Single And Dual-Wavelength Dcs Systems To Study Skeletal Muscle Blood Perfusion And Oxygen Metabolism, Chandan Ganesh Bangalore Yogananda

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The aim of this study was to utilize Diffused Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS) to design and develop real-time single and dual wavelength systems and assess the physiological impacts of exercises on blood perfusion. The study consisted of 4 parts. Part 1 was to Re-design and develop a real-time single wavelength DCS system, part 2 was to validate this system by a cross validation method with the help of a concurrent study alongside Doppler ultrasound. Part 3 was to design & develop a real-time dual wavelength DCS system and part 4 was to validate the dual wavelength DCS system. DCS is a …

Light Reflectance Spectroscopy For The Detection Of Positive Surgical Margin Of Prostate Cancer, Henry Thek Chan

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

During a radical prostatectomy in the operating room, there exists a certain degree of risks of a surgical positive margin of prostate cancer. Positive surgical margins are defined as cancer that has spread beyond the margin of the prostate and into the surrounding tissues. Surgeons will be able to utilized the concept of Light Reflectance Spectroscopy (LRS) in real-time during surgery to help detect these positive surgical margins and to provide the surgeon a quantitative decision to remove the excess surrounding tissues. This modality would essentially lower the risks of positive surgical margins and prevent the recurrence of cancer, effectively …

Investigation Of Copling Strength And Directionality Between Eeg And Fnirs At Resting State Using Permutation Conditional Mutual Information, Gowtham Krishnan Murugesan

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The motivation of study is to combine multimodality approach EEG-fNIRS to study relationship between neural activity and hemodynamic response applying information theory concepts. Investigating human brain function can be improved by employing a multimodal neuroimaging approach. Since each neuroimaging modality has its own characteristic features especially in terms of spatial and temporal resolution integrating fNIRS responses with EEG could accurately characterize the neurovascular coupling in cortical regions selected as part of the brain network involved in motor and cognitive behavior. Simultaneous recording of fNIRS-EEG is therefore an important resource for studying aspects of neurovascular coupling and its relationship with pathological …

Investigating Causal Interactions In The Human Brain Using Eeg And Fnirs, Borzou Alipourfard

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

It is necessary for distributed neural assemblies to work in collaboration to achieve the most elementary brain functions. Activities within segregated neural assemblies are integrated to process an incredibly diverse collection of cognitive tasks. Measures such as correlation, cross-correlation, coherence and phase delay make limited use of the information that is available with the advanced multichannel and multimodal recordings of the brain’s activity. They can also give spurious and false results. Most importantly, these bivariate measures are not capable of describing the interaction among multiple neural assemblies and the effective connectivity among them. Through causality analysis, we can identify these …