Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Production In Excitable Cells: Modulators Of Mitochondrial And Cell Function, David F. Stowe, Amadou K.S. Camara

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The mitochondrion is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Superoxide (O₂^•−) is generated under specific bioenergetic conditions at several sites within the electron-transport system; most is converted to H₂O₂ inside and outside the mitochondrial matrix by superoxide dismutases. H₂O₂ is a major chemical messenger that, in low amounts and with its products, physiologically modulates cell function. The redox state and ROS scavengers largely control the emission (generation scavenging) of O₂^•−. Cell ischemia, hypoxia, or toxins can result in excess O₂^•− production when the redox …

Sensorimotor Experience In Virtual Environments, Katherine Grace August

Dissertations

The goal of rehabilitation is to reduce impairment and provide functional improvements resulting in quality participation in activities of life, Plasticity and motor learning principles provide inspiration for therapeutic interventions including movement repetition in a virtual reality environment, The objective of this research work was to investigate functional specific measurements (kinematic, behavioral) and neural correlates of motor experience of hand gesture activities in virtual environments stimulating sensory experience (VE) using a hand agent model. The fMRI compatible Virtual Environment Sign Language Instruction (VESLI) System was designed and developed to provide a number of rehabilitation and measurement features, to identify optimal …

An In Vitro Study To Characterize A New Automated High Throughput Neuronal Stretch Injury System, Nicolae Valerian Hususan

Theses

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most prevalent long-term neurological conditions and its overall economic consequences rival that of stroke. Considering the importance of the topic, new models for studying TBI are often designed and created. Based on a model developed by the University of Pennsylvania, NJIT constructed a fully automated version, which injures neuronal cell cultures in uniaxial regime and provides the high experimental yield required in pharmaceutical and neuroscience studies.

In this investigation, a new methodology for culturing primary cortical neurons of rat origin was established. Viable cell cultures developed for the first time in NJIT …

In Vitro Comparison Of A New Stand-Alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Cage Device With Established Fixation Techniques, Nitin Chawla

Theses

Around 70% of the population in the United States experience low back pain at some point of their lives, of these 4% underwent surgical intervention on the lumbar spine to relieve the pain. Spinal arthrodesis, i.e. joint fusion, is beneficial in many cases as the final option for patients suffering from certain types of low back pain (LBP). In order to promote solid fusion across a decompressed spinal segment, interbody spacers/cages are used with and without posterior instrumentation to provide an initial "rigid" fixation of the segment.

In this study three fresh/frozen human cadaveric lumbar spines were used. Each lumbar …

Reliability Of Resting Brain Networks Using Fmri, Suril Rajeshkumar Gohel

Theses

Resting state FMRI studies on human subjects are primarily focused on elaborating effects of resting state brain networks on task induced paradigm and to check consistency of these networks between different groups of populations. Recent studies have shown consistency of RSFC networks within same subjects with intra-site and intra-session variation.

The primary objective of this study was to check consistency of resting state networks between sites and between different groups of people in spite of change in scanning parameters and population. A total of 437 subjects resting state FMRI data from six different sites were collected varying in age group …

Development Of An Experimental System To Determine The Contribution Of Titin And Collagen To Passive Stiffness Of Myocardium, Saurin Bharat Shah

Theses

Diastolic dysfunction is known to be a major factor for congestive heart failure in aged humans and other mammals. The main contributors to increase in the myocardial stiffness, hindering the cardiac mechanics, are alterations in intracellular titin and extracellular collagen matrix. Titin is a giant extensible protein, the third filament of striated muscle after actin and myosin, which provides elasticity to passive sarcomeres. The aim of this study is to develop an efficient experimental system that will prove to be instrumental in comparing the contribution of titin against collagen to the passive stiffness of cardiac muscle extracted from experimental animals …

PagetʼS Disease (Osteitis Deformans) In Archaeological Remains: A Radiographic Differential, Andrew D. Wade, Gregory J. Garvin, David W. Holdsworth

Anthropology Presentations

Paget’s disease of bone is a metabolic bone disease of unknown etiology and is the most likely disease to cause secondary bone cancer; a prevalence that increases with age[1]. With the increasing age of modern populations, the importance of better understanding this disease will likewise increase. While in vivo tests for the disease cannot be performed in skeletal samples, radiographic views of archaeological remains can provide insight into the origins and natural history of the disease.

Magnetically Anchored "Reduced Trocar" Laparoscopy: Evolution Of Surgical Robotics, Richard Bergs

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Laparoscopic surgery has become increasingly popular over the last few years due to its benefits; lower morbidity, less perceived pain, better cosmesis results, and less hospital time. For the surgeon however, there are fundamental issues that can make a laparoscopic procedure more difficult than simple open surgery; loss of tactile feel, limited working envelope, high demand for hand-eye coordination, and one trocar-port required for each tool. A revolutionary concept of using magnetics to support tooling across the abdominal wall was conceived by Dr. Jeffrey Cadeddu and his colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Collectively referred to as …

Inducing A Normal Phenotype In Breast Epithelial Cells Using A Three-Dimensional Basement Membrane Extract Culture System: A Study On The Reversion Of Cancer, Ross H. Booth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experimentally, traditional developmental models and transgenic animals consistently underscore the importance of studying cell behavior in the correct tissue context. However, live animal experimentation is inherently complex, and systematic assessment of the effects of individual variables, such as cell shape and matrix compliance on cell behavior, is extremely difficult at best. Two-dimensional monolayer culture of key individual cell types has provided abundant, fundamental information on cell response, but cannot be used to show the normal phenotype of breast epithelial cells. Furthermore, their results often fail to translate into in vivo and clinical studies. It has been previously established that normal …

Distribution Tridimensionnelle De La Lumière Dans Une Strucutre De Tête D’Adulte Dérivée D’Un Acte Irm: Approche Par La Méthode De Monte Carlo, Chemseddine Mansouri, Jean-Pierre L'Huillier, Nasser H. Kashou

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Physiologic Flow Conditions In A Blood Vessel Mimic Bioreactor System For The Evaluation Of Intravascular Devices, Marc Cody Dawson

Master's Theses

The prevalence and devastating nature of cardiovascular diseases has led to many advancements in the therapies used to treat the millions of patients that suffer as a result of these conditions. As coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common of these cardiovascular conditions, it is a major focus of research among the medical industry. Although lifestyle changes and drug therapies can treat early CAD, more advanced cases often require more definitive interventions. In conjunction with angioplasty, stenting of an occluded vessel has shown significant success in preventing restenosis. However, as with nearly every therapeutic process in the medical field, …

Site-Specific Deoxyribonucleic Acid Modifications For Use With Chemical Cages, John P. Casey Jr

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Adhesion Of Jurkat Cells In Defined Media And Substrates, Sarah De Leo

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Performance Of Iodinated Contrast X-Ray Attenuator Under Physiologically Relevant Conditions, Peter Frey

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

X-ray is a radiological tool utilized in healthcare institutions around the world to diagnose abnormalities such as bone fractures or the presence of foreign material within patients. The ability for healthcare providers to properly diagnose a problem is improved with advancements in the quality of radiological images. One way to improve image quality is to optimize the contrast range within a single image created by different attenuating characteristics in various types of tissue. In this study, I used a proof-of-concept prototype model of an x-ray attenuation system and an experimental protocol to examine its capacity to equalize x-ray beam signal …

The Effect Of Hydrostatic Pressure On Bladder Smooth Muscle Cell Function, Margaret Drumm

All Theses

Previous research has demonstrated that bladder smooth muscle cells (BSMC) respond to various forms of mechanical stimuli, including stretch and hydrostatic pressure, by increases of cell proliferation, activation of intracellular signaling pathways, and alteration of contractile and synthetic marker protein expression. These cellular/molecular level changes are all indicative of a BSMC phenotypic shift that can negatively impact the bladder function at the tissue and organ level. The objective of the present study is to test a hypothesis that bladder SMCs shift their phenotype from contractile to synthetic in response to elevated hydrostatic pressure. Rat bladder SMC cultures were exposed to …

A Pulsatile Bioreactor For Conditioning Tissue Engineered Heart Valves, Leslie Sierad

All Theses

Tissue engineered constructs with autologous adult stem cells capable of self-repair and growth are highly desired replacements for diseased heart valves. However, the current approaches have inadequate mechanical properties to withstand in vivo implantation. Therefore, our group hypothesized that an in vitro environment of physiological intra-cardiac pressures and flow will stimulate stem cells to differentiate and remodel valvular scaffold constructs before implantation.
The group developed a pneumatic-driven conditioning system (Aim I) consisting of a three-chambered heart valve bioreactor, a pressurized compliance tank, a reservoir tank, one-way valves, pressure-retaining valves, and pressure transducers. The system can be sterilized using conventional autoclaving …

Bioresorbable Film For The Prevention Of Adhesion To The Anterior Spine After Anterolateral Discectomy, Lisa S. Klopp, Jeffrey M. Toth, William C. Welch, Sangeeta Rao, Joseph W. Tai, Kevin A. Thomas, Simon Turner

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background context

The development of scar tissue and adhesions postoperatively is a natural consequence of healing but can be associated with medical complications and render reoperation difficult. Many biocompatible products have been evaluated as barriers or deterrents to adhesions.

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of a bioresorbable polylactide film as a barrier to adhesion formation after anterolateral discectomy.

Study design

Experimental study.

Methods

Seven, skeletally mature female sheep underwent a retroperitoneal approach to the anterolateral lumbar spine. A discectomy was performed at two levels with an intervening unoperated disc site. One site was treated with a polylactide film barrier (Hydrosorb …

Theoretical Analysis Of Alendronate And Risedronate Effects On Canine Vertebral Remodeling And Microdamage, Xiang Wang, Antonia M. Erickson, Matthew R. Allen, David B. Burr, R. Bruce Martin, Scott J. Hazelwood

Biomedical Engineering

Bisphosphonates suppress bone remodeling activity, increase bone volume, and significantly reduce fracture risk in individuals with osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. The objectives of the current study were to develop a mathematical model that simulates control and 1 year experimental results following bisphosphonate treatment (alendronate or risedronate) in the canine fourth lumbar vertebral body, validate the model by comparing simulation predictions to 3 year experimental results, and then use the model to predict potential long term effects of bisphosphonates on remodeling and microdamage accumulation. To investigate the effects of bisphosphonates on bone volume and microdamage, a mechanistic biological model …

Magnetic Sensors For Biodetection, Pranjali Vineet Sneha Deshpande

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of thesis is to design magnetic sensor for detection of nanoparticles. Recently integrating the standard laboratory techniques into integrated system on chip is growing attention. Recent development is to combine magnetic markers and magnetoresistive sensors together in magnetic chip. In this thesis two magnetoresistive sensors were studied and designed.

By applying magnetic fields, magnetic nanoparticles can be manipulated on-chip, which can be utilized to pull the molecules to specific binding sites or to test the binding strength and distinguish between specifically and non-specifically bound molecules

Magnetoresistive sensors are compatible with the semiconductor industry which provides electronic signal directly …

A Tissue Engineering Approach To Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Kristofer Sinclair

All Dissertations

Ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are the most frequent of injuries to the knee due to its role in preventing anterior translation of the tibia. It is estimated that as many as 200,000 Americans per year will suffer from a ruptured ACL, resulting in management costs on the order of 5 billion dollars. Without treatment these patients are unable to return to normal activity, as a consequence of the joint instability found within the ACL deficient knee.
Over the last thirty years, a variety of non-degradable, synthetic fibers have been evaluated for their use in ACL reconstruction; however, …

Development Of An In-Vitro Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimic Using Human Large Vessel Cell Sources, Dimitri E. Delagrammaticas

Master's Theses

Tissue engineering is an emerging field that offers novel and unmatched potential medical therapies and treatments. While the vast aim of tissue engineering endeavors is to provide clinically implantable constructs, secondary applications have been developed to utilize tissue-engineered constructs for in-vitro evaluation of devices and therapies. Specifically, in-vitro blood vessel mimics (BVM) have been developed to create a bench-top blood vessel model using human cells that can be used to test and evaluate vascular disease treatments and intravascular devices. Previous BVM work has used fat derived human microvascular endothelial cells (EC) sodded on an ePTFE scaffold. To create a more …

Cardiac Cell Mechanics At The Single Cell Level, John Mcrae

All Theses

The analysis of the cellular microenvironment is an area that has received much
attention recently in the study of the tractions cells use for locomotion. Specifically, the
study of cardiac cell mechanics is of particular interest as cardiac dysfunction is one of
the leading causes of death in America. This progression is fueled by the need to have a
system capable of reproducing mechanical environments before, during and after a
dysfunctional event in order to fully characterize the causes and prevent any permanent
damage. The current study proposes a system capable of providing quantitative
measurements of the cellular microenvironment while …

Adsorption-Induced Changes In Enzyme Bioactivity Correlated With Adsorbed Protein Orientation And Conformation, Kenan Fears

All Dissertations

Systems using immobilized enzymes are attractive for a wide range of industrial and medical applications because they allow for fabrication of stable, reusable substrates with a highly specific functionality. The performance of these systems is greatly influenced by the orientation and conformation of the immobilized enzymes. To investigate these relationships, we have developed and applied methods to quantitatively assess the secondary structure of adsorbed enzyme layers on planar surfaces using circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry and evaluate their bioactivity using colorimetric assays. When combined with knowledge of an enzyme's native structure, these methods provide a means to correlate changes in enzyme …

Investigation Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Spectroscopy For The Detection Of Breast Cancer, Robert Thomas Etnire

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast offers an alternative to screening mammography which may benefit those women at high risk for breast cancer, women under the age of 40, and those with dense breast tissue. One concern with MRI is the number of high false positives. Coupling MRI with magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) may lower the number of false positives, and thus improve the diagnostic capabilities of MRI for the clinician. MRS for breast imaging focuses on the total choline containing compounds in the spectra in the suspected breast lesion to analyze areas of concern. The results of the study …

Vascular Injury After Whole Thoracic X-Ray Irradiation In The Rat, S. N. Ghosh, Q. Wu, M. Mäder, B. L. Fish, John E. Moulder, Elizabeth R. Jacobs, Meetha Medhora, Robert C. Molthen

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

To study vascular injury after whole thoracic irradiation with single sublethal doses of X-rays in the rat and to develop markers that might predict the severity of injury.

Methods and Materials

Rats that received 5- or 10-Gy thorax-only irradiation and age-matched controls were studied at 3 days, 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 5, and 12 months. Several pulmonary vascular parameters were evaluated, including hemodynamics, vessel density, total lung angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Results

By 1 month, the rats in the 10-Gy group had pulmonary vascular dropout, right ventricular hypertrophy, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, increased dry lung …

Controlling Nonspecific Adsorption Of Proteins At Bio-Interfaces For Biosensor And Biomedical Applications, Harshil D. Dhruv

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Partitioning of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) molecules in 2-D and 3-D systems is presented as a self-assembly approach for controlling non-specific adsorption of proteins at interfaces.

Lateral restructuring of multi-component Langmuir monolayers to accommodate adsorbing proteins was investigated as a model 2-D system. Ferritin adsorption to monolayers containing cationic, nonionic, and PEG bearing phospholipids induced protein sized binding pockets surrounded by PEG rich regions. The number, size, and distribution of protein imprint sites were controlled by the molar ratios, miscibility, and lateral mobility of the lipids.

The influence of PEG chain length on the ternary monolayer restructuring and protein distribution was also …

Structural And Functional Considerations In The Design Of Collagen-Based Electrospun Scaffolds, Chantal Ayres

Theses and Dissertations

Electrospinning can be used to selectively process a variety of natural and synthetic polymers into highly porous scaffolds composed of nano-to-micron diameter fibers. This process shows great potential as a gateway to the development of physiologically relevant tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study we examine the structural and functional considerations regarding electrospun scaffolds for dermal template applications using novel quantification techniques. In order to characterize scaffold structure, a technique utilizing the fast Fourier transform was developed to systematically quantify fiber alignment and evaluate how different electrospinning parameters impact the structure and material properties of an electrospun scaffold. Gelatin was suspended …

A Numerical Approach For Predicting The Impact Of Vascular Architecture On Blood Flow During Ischemic Repair, Stephanie Ann Wood, Shilpi Ghosh, Kevin Jones, Gabriel Gruionu, Trevor R. Cardinals

Biomedical Engineering

Abstract of conference presentation.

Impedance Spectroscopy Of Zebrafish Sperm, Robert Egnatchik

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Functional Vasodilation Following Murine Chronic Hindlimb Ischemia, Matthew David Yocum, Trevor R. Cardinal

Biomedical Engineering

Abstract of conference presentation.