Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons^™

Protocol To Engineer Nanofilms Embedded Lipid Nanoparticles For Controlled And Targeted Drug Delivery (Nectar), Rashi Porwal, Stephen L. Hayward, Srivatsan Kidambi

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

We present a protocol to engineer a substrate-mediated delivery platform comprising hyaluronic acid-coated lipid nanoparticles (HALNPs) embedded into polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films. This platform allows controlled spatiotemporal release of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) by embedding them within the polyelectrolyte multilayer films matrix. HALNP conjugate with antibodies also adds the ability for targeted delivery. The use of LNP enables this platform to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. This platform can easily be reproduced and utilized for various biomedical drug delivery applications. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hayward et al. (2015, 2016a, 2016b), …

Extraction Of Melanin From Black Knot Fungus: Optimization And Applications, Amara Davis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this research project was to optimize the extraction of melanin from black knot fungus and to analyze possible applications of the extracted melanin. An extraction method that was previously created was examined for possible improvements. Improvements that were studied include the elimination of steps in the extraction process while obtaining the same quality of product, examining options for machinery that could be used to increase production rate when moved to a production plant setting, and optimize the concentrations of the raw materials that are used in the extraction for possible reduction of cost without compromising yield or …

Substrate Delivery Of Embedded Liposomes, Srivatsan Kidambi, Stephen L. Hayward

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

This invention relates to compositions useful for localized and sustained release of therapeutic agents, and more particularly to functionalized liposomes embedded in a poly electrolyte multilayer. Methods of preparing the compositions, methods of treating diseases, devices, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compositions are also provided.

Real-Time Monitoring Of Cell Death Progress Using Capacitance Spectroscopy, Suyang Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biologics, including the monoclonal antibody (mAb), has experienced rapid development in the last decade. However, the price of biologics is often prohibitively high because of the low process efficiency. Delaying the inevitable cell death improves the productivity of upstream bioprocessing, whose success relies on monitoring the cell death onset that indicates the timing for preventive actions.

This study proposes to develop a real-time monitoring model that quantifies the dying cell percentage in lab-scale bioreactors using capacitance spectroscopy. The capacitance spectroscopy contains cell death-related information due to various physical properties changes during the cell death process, e.g., cytoplasmic conductivity change. The …

Greenhouse Tomatoes: Process Simulation, Juan Gabriel Marin Jr.

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growing population demand and challenges brought on by climate change have spurred the need for more resilient fruit and vegetable supply chains. One agricultural technology of significant interest is the use of greenhouses for food production. Greenhouses create a stable and adaptable environment for crops such as tomatoes to grow year-round. Fresh tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable per capita in U.S. diets, currently averaging 20.7 pounds. The growing consumption of fresh tomatoes has been the result of increasing cultural diversity in the United States.

To meet the growing demand, Venlo-type greenhouses have been frequently used by growers. It …

Antibody-Drug Nanoparticle Induces Synergistic Treatment Efficacies In Her2 Positive Breast Cancer Cells, Muhammad Raisul Abedin, Kaitlyne Powers, Rachel Aiardo, Dibbya Barua, Sutapa Barua

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chemotherapeutic drugs suffer from non-specific binding, undesired toxicity, and poor blood circulation which contribute to poor therapeutic efficacy. In this study, antibody–drug nanoparticles (ADNs) are engineered by synthesizing pure anti-cancer drug nanorods (NRs) in the core of nanoparticles with a therapeutic monoclonal antibody, Trastuzumab on the surface of NRs for specific targeting and synergistic treatments of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer cells. ADNs were designed by first synthesizing ~ 95 nm diameter × ~ 500 nm long paclitaxel (PTX) NRs using the nanoprecipitation method. The surface of PTXNRs was functionalized at 2′ OH nucleophilic site …

Expedited Pcr With Stirring, Hendrik Viljoen

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Disclosed are an apparatus and methods for rapid amplification of nucleic acids. More particularly, the present dis closure relates to an apparatus for mixing a reaction solution during amplification of nucleic acids and to methods for amplifying nucleic acids. Also disclosed are methods for lysing cells in a sample and amplifying nucleic acids.

Comparative Evaluation Of Two Glass Polyalkenoate Cements: An In Vivo Pilot Study Using A Sheep Model, Leyla Hasandoost, Daniella Marx, Paul Zalzal, Oleg Safir, Mark Hurtig, Cina Mehrvar, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is used to manage bone loss in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). However, the application of PMMA has been associated with complications such as volumetric shrinkage, necrosis, wear debris, and loosening. Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) have potential bone cementation applications. Unlike PMMA, GPC does not undergo volumetric shrinkage, adheres chemically to bone, and does not undergo an exothermic setting reaction. In this study, two different compositions of GPCs (GPCA and GPCB), based on the patented glass system SiO₂-CaO-SrO-P₂O₅-Ta₂O₅, were investigated. Working and setting times, pH, ion release, …

In Vitro Osteogenic Performance Of Two Novel Strontium And Zinc-Containing Glass Polyalkenoate Cements, Daniella Marx, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) are under investigation as potential bone adhesives, as they may provide an alternative to polymethylmethacrylate-based cements. GPCs containing strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) in place of aluminum (Al) are of particular interest because these ions are known stimulators of osteoprogenitor differentiation. GPCs have been manufactured from a novel bioactive glass (SiO2:0.48, ZnO:0.36, CaO:0.12, SrO:0.04) in the past, but, while such materials have been assessed for their influence on viability, their influence on osteogenic function has not been investigated until now. For this study, two GPCs were formulated from the same glass precursor evaluated in previous studies. …

A Portable Point-Of-Care Device Using Joule Heating And Latent Energy Storage For The Temperature Regulation Of Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests, Aubrey Lynn Schultz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Accurate and early diagnosis of infectious diseases extremely important. Rapid diagnosis allows for effective treatment and increases the chance for recovery without complications. Additionally, the ability to test the populace frequently, swiftly, and affordably significantly aids in containing wide-scale outbreaks. In terms of specificity and sensitivity, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) are one of the best options for diagnosing infectious diseases. Isothermal NAATS present a unique opportunity to create diagnostic tests deployed at a Point-of-Care (POC) level. Specifically, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) have the potential to deliver reliable POC diagnostics in low-resource settings. When designing …

A Gallium-Doped Cement For The Treatment Of Bone Cancers. The Effect Of Zno ↔ Ga2o3substitution Of An Ionomeric Glass Series On The Rheological, Mechanical, Ph And Ion-Eluting Properties Of Their Corresponding Glass Polyalkenoate Cements, Sunjeev Phull, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The primary treatment for patients suffering from bone cancers is resection of the tumor followed by reconstruction of the damaged bone. Despite the administration of post-operative chemotherapy, tumor recurrence continues to present itself as a severe complication leading to re-operation. Attempts to incorporate chemotherapeutic drugs into bone cements elicits local toxic effects on healthy bone, which could compromise implant fixation. Alternatively, the local administration of gallium (Ga) may prove to be more effective. This report considers the development of a Ga ionomeric glass series (0.48SiO₂-0.355ZnO-0.06CaO-0.08SrO-0.02P₂O₅-0.005Ta₂O₅, with 0.01-0.05 mol% substitution for …

Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Glypican‑1 And Pecam‑1 Cooperate In Shear‑Induced Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production, Anne Marie W. Bartosch, Rick Mathews, Marwa M. Mahmoud, Limary M. Cancel, Zahin S. Haq, John M. Tarbell

Publications and Research

This study aimed to clarify the role of glypican-1 and PECAM-1 in shear-induced nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. Atomic force microscopy pulling was used to apply force to glypican-1 and PECAM-1 on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and nitric oxide was measured using a fluorescent reporter dye. Glypican-1 pulling for 30 min stimulated nitric oxide production while PECAM-1 pulling did not. However, PECAM-1 downstream activation was necessary for the glypican-1 force-induced response. Glypican-1 knockout mice exhibited impaired flow-induced phosphorylation of eNOS without changes to PECAM-1 expression. A cooperation mechanism for the mechanotransduction of fluid shear stress …

In Vivo Analysis Of A Proprietary Glass-Based Adhesive For Sternal Fixation And Stabilization Using Rabbit And Sheep Models, Cina Mehrvar, Emily Deignan, Mark Hurtig, Gideon Cohen, Paul Zalzal, Oleg Safir, Adel Alhalawani, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wire cerclage remains the standard method of care for sternal fixation, following median sternotomy, despite being beset with complications. An emerging treatment option has been to augment the wires with an adhesive. A patented ionomeric glass (mole fraction: SiO₂:0.48, ZnO:0.36, CaO:0.12, SrO:0.04) has been used to formulate GPC+, a glass polyalkenoate cement (GPC), by mixing it with poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) and de-ionized water. In a human cadaver study, this material, when applied with wire cerclage, was able to significantly reduce sternal instability. However, the material has yet to be tested in pertinent animal models. Here, after a series …

Development Of An Integrated Salt Cartridge-Reverse Electrodialysis (Red) Device To Increase Electrolyte Concentrations Of Human Blood Flow To Power Biomedical Devices, Caroline Campbell

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Emerging technologies in nanotechnology and biomedical sciences have led to an increase in biomedical implantable devices including cardiac pacemakers, artificial organs, drug pumps, and sensors. These devices require continuous stable and reliable power to operate, which creates the demand for the need to find a safe, reliable, and stable power source. A promising avenue for a power source for these devices is a miniaturized reverse electrodialysis (RED) biopower cell design that utilizes the salinity differences between bloodstreams that flow inside the human body. Initial results of the RED system demonstrate that higher gradient salinity differences between streams lead to a …

Design Of An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment Utilizing A Stirred-Tank, Jacketed Bioreactor, Brennen Middleton

Honors Theses

Bioreactors are utilized in many industries, such as the food, alternative fuel, and pharmaceutical industries, to design and manufacture products. Unlike the similar chemical batch reactors utilized in many chemical processing facilities, bioreactor utilization requires engineers to consider a wider range of operating conditions and parameters. This results in a more complex reaction system and controls network. Due to this, it is imperative for chemical and biomedical engineering students to not only understand the theory surrounding these reactor systems, but also understand how to properly design and perform operating procedures with these systems. Thus, it was determined to create an …

Quantitative Pcr Of Small Nucleic Acids: Size Matters, Jay Min Lim, Rahul Tevatia, Ravi Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Quantitative dysregulation in small nucleic acids (NA), such as microRNA (miRNA), extracted from minimally invasive biopsies, such as, blood, stool, urine, nose, throat, are promising biomarker for diseases diagnosis and management. We quantify the effect of the extra step of poly(A) ligation for cDNA synthesis and small size of the NA on the limit of quantification (LOQ) of quantitative PCR (qPCR), the gold standard to measure copy number. It was discovered that for small NA, the cycle threshold, Ct that is proportional to −log[c], where [c] is the concentration of the target NA exhibits a sharp transition. The results indicate …

Bone Cement As A Local Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery Carrier In Orthopedic Oncology: A Review, Sunjeev S. Phull, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Michelle Ghert, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Metastatic bone lesions are common among patients with advanced cancers. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be prescribed immediately after diagnosis, the majority of severe metastatic bone lesions are treated by reconstructive surgery, which, in some cases, is followed by postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, despite recent advancements in orthopedic surgery, patients undergoing reconstruction still have the risk of developing severe complications such as tumor recurrence and reconstruction failure. This has led to the introduction and evaluation of poly (methyl methacrylate) and inorganic bone cements as local carriers for chemotherapeutic drugs (usually, antineoplastic drugs (ANPDs)). The present work is a critical …

In Vitro Evaluation Of Novel Titania-Containing Borate Bioactive Glass Scaffolds, Romina Shafaghi, Omar Rodriguez, Anthony W. Wren, Loraine Chiu, Emil H. Schemitsch, Paul Zalzal, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Titanium-containing borate bioactive glass scaffolds (0, 5, 15, and 20 mol %, identified as BRT0, BRT1, BRT3, and BRT4) with a microstructure similar to that of human trabecular bone were prepared and evaluated in vitro for potential bone loss applications in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell viability assays of scaffold ion release extracts revealed that BRT0 scaffolds (0 mol % titanium) inhibited cell proliferation and activity at day 14. At day 30, all scaffold extracts decreased cell proliferation and activity significantly. However, live/dead cell assay results demonstrated that degradation products from all the scaffolds had …

Oxygen Harvesting From Carbon Dioxide: Simultaneous Epoxidation And Co Formation, Han Xu, Muhammad Shaban, Sui Wang, Anas Alkayal, Dingxin Liu, Michael G. Kong, Felix Plasser, Benjamin R. Buckley, Felipe Iza

Bioelectrics Publications

Due to increasing concentrations in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide has, in recent times, been targeted for utilisation (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage, CCUS). In particular, the production of CO from CO₂ has been an area of intense interest, particularly since the CO can be utilized in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Herein we report that CO₂ can also be used as a source of atomic oxygen that is efficiently harvested and used as a waste-free terminal oxidant for the oxidation of alkenes to epoxides. Simultaneously, the process yields CO. Utilization of the atomic oxygen does not only generate a valuable product, …

Quantifying Mafenide Release From 3d Printed Phenylalanine-Coumarin Copolyester Scaffolds, Jacob Seeh

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project addressed burn wound healing through controlled release of the antibacterial drug mafenide encapsulated by a copolyster into 3D printed scaffolds. Scaffolds were printed at 25^oC and 0.77-1 bar in a cross-hatch pattern with uniform thickness, distance between parallel layers, and diameter then photo-crosslinked. The number of scaffolds available for testing was limited by the amount of polymer that could be synthesized. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed specifically for this experiment and used to determine daily release of mafenide from the scaffold into a 2-mL phosphate buffer solution. During the first 24 hours a large …

Development Of Light Actuated Chemical Delivery Platform On A 2-D Array Of Micropore Structure, Hojjat Rostami Azmand, Hojjat Rostami Azmand

Dissertations and Theses

Localized chemical delivery plays an essential role in the fundamental information transfers within biological systems. Thus, the ability to mimic the natural chemical signal modulation would provide significant contributions to understand the functional signaling pathway of biological cells and develop new prosthetic devices for neurological disorders. In this paper, we demonstrate a light-controlled hydrogel platform that can be used for localized chemical delivery in a high spatial resolution. By utilizing the photothermal behavior of graphene-hydrogel composites confined within micron-sized fluidic channels, patterned light illumination creates the parallel and independent actuation of chemical release in a group of fluidic ports. The …

Optimization Of Gelatin-Based Cellular Coating Of Msc For Myocardial Infarction Therapy, Kara Amelle Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one threat to American lives. During an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), blood flow is blocked and results in the formation of scar tissue. As the body’s immune system responds, inflammatory signaling causes an increase in both scar tissue size and the patient’s risk for further chronic heart failure. In order to reduce the risk of continued heart disease inflammatory signaling must be reduced. Stem cell therapies have the ability to alter the immune system’s pro-inflammatory signal. However, stem cell retention is limited due to blood flow shear. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) based coatings have been shown …

Detection Of Nucleotides In Hydrated Ssdna Via 2-D H-Bn Nanopore With Ionic-Liquid/Salt-Water Interface, Jungsoo Lee

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses and Dissertations

Accomplishing slow translocation speed with high sensitivity has been the greatest mission for solid-state nanopore (SSN) to electrically detect nucleobases in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). In this study, a method to detect nucleobases in ssDNA using a SSN is introduced by considerably slowing down the translocation speed and effectively increasing its sensitivity. The ultra-thin titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanopore was fabricated, along with an ionic-liquid [bmim][PF₆]/2.0 M KCl aqueous (cis/trans) interfacial system, to increase both the spatial and the temporal resolutions. As the ssDNA molecules entered the nanopore, a …

The Use Of Nanoparticles And Electrospun Fibers For Intravaginal Delivery To Treat Viral And Bacterial Infections And Electrophysiological Measurements Of Synthetic Chloride Channels., Farnaz Minooei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female reproductive viral and bacterial infections affect millions of women worldwide. Given the diversity and magnitude of these unmet reproductive health challenges, topical administration of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and antibiotics have emerged as promising approaches to maintain and restore reproductive health. However, currently available intravaginal dosage forms often suffer from low user adherence and the need for frequent, daily administration to achieve therapeutic effect. To address these challenges, the broad goal of this research was to focus on the development of new localized nanoparticle (NP) and electrospun fiber dosage forms to prolong the delivery and enhance the efficacy of active agents …

Incorporation Of Lignin In Natural And Synthetic Biomaterials To Alter Mechanical And Biochemical Properties For Enhanced Wound Healing, Jorge Alfonso Belgodere

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

It is estimated that chronic, non-healing wounds affect more than 6.5 million Americans annually, with an estimated healthcare cost beyond $14 billion. Here, we attempted to create composites of natural (collagen type I or gelatin-methacrylate) or synthetic (poly(ethylene glycol) polymers incorporating a natural plant component, lignin, to combat the costs and limitations current wound healing methods face. Three-dimensional matrices of collagen type I (Col I) are widely used in tissue engineering applications for its abundance in many tissues, bioactivity with many cell types, and excellent biocompatibility. Inspired by the structural role of lignin in plant tissue, we found that sodium …

Calcium Sulfate-Containing Glass Polyalkenoate Cement For Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Fixation, Leyla Hasandoost, Adel Alhalawani, Omar Rodriguez, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Paul Zalzal, Emil H. Schemitsch, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is used as a minor void filler in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The application of PMMA is indicated only for peripheral bone defects with less than 5 mm depth and that cover less than 50% of the bone surface. Treating bone defects with PMMA results in complications as a result of volumetric shrinkage, bone necrosis, and aseptic loosening. These concerns have driven the development of alternative bone cements. We report here on novel modified glass polyalkenoate cements (mGPCs) containing 1, 5 and 15 wt% calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) and how the modified …

A Review Of The Latest Insights Into The Mechanism Of Action Of Strontium In Bone, Daniella Marx, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interest in strontium (Sr) has persisted over the last three decades due to its unique mechanism of action: it simultaneously promotes osteoblast function and inhibits osteoclast function. While this mechanism of action is strongly supported by in vitro studies and small animal trials, recent large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that orally administered strontium ranelate (SrRan) may have no anabolic effect on bone formation in humans. Yet, there is a strong correlation between Sr accumulation in bone and reduced fracture risk in post-menopausal women, suggesting Sr acts via a purely physiochemical mechanism to enhance bone strength. Conversely, the local administration of …

The Role Of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) In Management Of Bone Loss And Infection In Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Review, Leyla Hasandoost, Omar Rodriguez, Adel Alhalawani, Paul Zalzal, Emil H. Schemitsch, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is widely used in joint arthroplasty to secure an implant to the host bone. Complications including fracture, bone loss and infection might cause failure of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), resulting in the need for revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The goals of this paper are: (1) to identify the most common complications, outside of sepsis, arising from the application of PMMA following rTKA, (2) to discuss the current applications and drawbacks of employing PMMA in managing bone loss, (3) to review the role of PMMA in addressing bone infection following complications in rTKA. Papers published between …

Effect Of Tio2 Doping On Degradation Rate, Microstructure And Strength Of Borate Bioactive Glass Scaffolds, Romina Shafaghi, Omar Rodriguez, Sunjeev Phull, Emil H. Schemitsch, Paul Zalzal, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A titanium-containing borate glass series based on the system (52-X) B₂O₃–12CaO–6P₂O₅–14Na₂O–16ZnO-XTiO₂ with X varying from 0, 5 and 15 mol% of TiO2 incorporated, identified as BRT0, BRT1 and BRT3, respectively, were used in this study. Scaffolds (pore sizes, 165–230 μm and porosity, 53.51–69.51%) were prepared using a polymer foam replication technique. BRT3 scaffolds exhibited higher compressive strength (7.16 ± 0.22 MPa) when compared to BRT0 (6.02 ± 0.47 MPa) and BRT1 (5.65 ± 0.28 MPa) scaffolds with lower, or no, TiO₂ content. The solubility of the scaffolds decreased …

Experimental And Computational Tools For Single Cell Analysis In Cancer Diagnostics, Manibarathi Vaithiyanathan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Substantial evidence shows that cellular heterogeneity commonly exists within an isogenic or clonal population. Whether in isolation or caused through a combination of the above events, cellular heterogeneity can dramatically influence cellular decision making and cell fate, however, this can be masked by the average response from a population. One approach to solve this issue is to analyze a population at the individual cell level. The goal of this work is to develop high-throughput experimental and computational platforms to screen and quantify single cancer cells for specific intracellular enzyme activities. An interdisciplinary approach was taken to 1) better understand the …