Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons^™

Vitreoscilla Globin Promoter Cloning And Testing In Escherichia Coli, Lauren J. Coffey

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Research Publications

No abstract provided.

The Biological Activity Of Dual-Responsive Glycopolymers For Intracellular Codelivery Of Antigen And Lipophilic Adjuvant, Micaela Shields

Honors Theses

Subunit vaccines present themselves as an attractive alternative to traditional approaches to vaccines, which utilizes whole organisms to trigger an immune response. While these traditional approaches have proven themselves reliable within the history of vaccinations, they generally deliver subpar robust cellular-mediated immunity and pose many safety risks. Composed of proteins and /or peptides, subunit vaccines are safer and more precise alternatives to traditional approaches. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of the macromolecules that make up these vaccines hinder the subunit vaccine’s level of immunogenicity [d1] Examples of this hindrance include but are not limited to aggregation at the injection site and …

Antimicrobial Activity And Mechanism Of Amyloid Proteins And Synthetic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes, Fahimeh Maghsoodi

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unknown, it is widely considered that the accumulation of amyloid plaques composed of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brain is linked to neurodegeneration. Co-localization of viral DNA with Aβ plaques, the association of brain infection and AD, and research indicating the protective effect of Aβ against bacteria and fungi in mice and human cells have led to the hypothesis that Aβ expression and deposition may be central to its function as an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). In my thesis research, we seek to elucidate how Aβ functions as an AMP …

Transport Phenomena With Reactions In Drug Delivery: Towards A Quantitative Description, Xianjie Qiu, Parthasakha Neogi

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Distributed System Called a Krogh Cylinder is Used Here to Quantify the Transport of a Solute from the Capillary into the Extravascular Tissue. the Capillary Network is Broken Down into Cylindrical Cells, Each Containing a Capillary and an Appropriate Amount of Extravascular Tissue. the Flow in the Cylinder Model Has Two-Dimensional Velocities, Which Are in the Axial and Radial Directions. All Parameters of the System, together with the Geometric Ones, Have Been Included in the Model. for a Given Bioavailability, the Uptakes of Reactive and Nonreactive Solutes Have Been Obtained. Very Large or Massive Molecules Have Been Considered. the …

Dual Crosslinked Poly(Acrylamide-Co-N-Vinylpyrrolidone) Microspheres With Re-Crosslinking Ability For Fossil Energy Recovery, Jingyang Pu, Baojun Bai, Jiaming Geng, Na Zhang, Thomas Schuman

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microspheres have been proposed to be applied in controlling wastewater production for mature oilfields and migrating leakage for gas and nuclear waste storage. However, it remains challenging for stacked microspheres to maintain strong blocking ability in micron-sized small pores or fractures. in this study, a novel microsphere was developed with comprehensive properties including high deformability and long re-crosslinking time upon tunable swelling ratio for the applications. a dual covalent and physical crosslinking strategy was used to develop novel microspheres reinforced by a hydrogen bond (H-bond, between pyrrole ring and amide group) and coordination bond (between chromium acetate (CrAc) and carboxyl …

A Comparison Of Optical Measurement Methods For The Growth Of S. Cerevisiae, Jackson Black

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Genetic engineering of living organisms provides the opportunity to express and harvest different proteins from cell surfaces. Yeast (S. cerevisiae) is one such organism and is capable of being grown on an industrial scale. Cellular concentration is an important parameter to monitor while fermentation processes are underway, in order to control the environment inside the growth medium and maximize yields. Spectrophotometry is a conventional method for measuring concentration, but is limited by a narrow absorbance range, and the need for on-site periodic sampling. A continuous method of measurement, as provided by Bug Labs BE2100 non-invasive biomass monitor, would …

Comparing Firocoxib And Meloxicam In The Application Of Microneedle Patch For Transdermal Drug Delivery, Ruohan Li

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis compares the performance of meloxicam and firocoxib in the aspects of its physical characteristic, chemical compositions, and in-vitro performances for transdermal pain management microneedle patches on farm animals. The microneedle patches are composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), type I collagen (COL), and chitosan (CHI) as base material that carries NSAIDs to achieve therapeutic purposes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to observe the morphological and physical characteristics of the microneedle patches. Both meloxicam and firocoxib microneedle patches were successfully prepared using the methodology, with organized microneedle distribution and sizing. And Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the chemical …

Characterizing And Quantifying Shear-Induced Hemolysis In A Hollow Fiber Membrane System, Siddhi Bhat

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Clinical studies have shown that patients undergoing renal replacement therapy are more susceptible to developing hemolysis, or the rupturing of red blood cells. Rapid hemolysis can cause symptoms such as anorexia, vomiting, and even death in severe cases. The aim of this study is to identify how shear stress within a hollow fiber membrane impacts the level of hemolysis that occurs. This allows for the optimization of the ultrafiltration membranes that are typically used for hemofiltration treatments. The variables being studied are the radii of hollow fibers, number of fibers, and volumetric flow rate of blood being circulated. Here, we …

Response Of Cell Nuclei To Mechanical Strain In Synthetic Liquid Crystals, Sydnee Ehorn

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this research project, induced mechanical stress on the cell nucleus via synthetic liquid crystals (LCs) was explored. Points of interest were the shape alterations and distortions of the nuclear envelope under strain, providing insight into the mechanics and stiffness of the cell nuclei. LCs are substances with structure and fluidity, and LCs in the nematic phase are aligned in a single direction without layers, inducing shear stress on inclusions. This study confirmed that an aqueous solution of 17.3 wt% disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) can successfully strain the nuclei of chicken red blood cells (RBCs) by examining the nuclear response to …

Repeated Low-Level Blast Exposure Alters Urinary And Serum Metabolites, Austin Sigler, Jiandong Wu, Annalise Pfaff, Olajide Adetunji, Paul Ki-Souk Nam, Donald James, Casey Burton, Honglan Shi

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Repeated exposure to low-level blast overpressures can produce biological changes and clinical sequelae that resemble mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). While recent efforts have revealed several protein biomarkers for axonal injury during repetitive blast exposure, this study aims to explore potential small molecule biomarkers of brain injury during repeated blast exposure. This study evaluated a panel of ten small molecule metabolites involved in neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism in the urine and serum of military personnel (n = 27) conducting breacher training with repeated exposure to low-level blasts. The metabolites were analyzed using HPLC—tandem mass spectrometry, and the Wilcoxon …

Detection Of Toxic Aldehydes In Aerosols Of Electronic Cigarettes., Ellie Bess Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased in the younger generations of the United States. With the broad range of flavors and devices distributed on the market, American youth are prime marketing targets for the e-cigarette industry. To create a more regulated market, research of this thesis has been conducted on newer generations of e-cigarette “MOD” devices to examine how e-cigarette battery power output and coil temperature, concentrations of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, added flavorings (strawberry, mango, and menthol), and the presence of nicotine affect generation of aerosol particles and aldehydes in aerosols emitted by …

Dpd Guided Insight On The Formation Process Of Polyethersulfone Membranes By Nonsolvent Induced Phase Separation And The Effects Of Additives, Eric Ledieu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), a coarse grain simulation method, was applied to the membrane formation process of non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) to gain further insight on the mechanism of certain variables and how they affect the final morphology. NIPS involves two solutions, an organic polymer dissolved in an organic solvent colloquially called the dope and an aqueous coagulation bath, brought into contact with one another. The solvents then mix, causing the polymer to fall out of solution as an asymmetric membrane with a dense surface layer and a more open subsurface layer in response to the decreasing solubility. Polyethersulfone …

Elucidating The Mechanical And Transport Properties Of Lignin-Based Hydrogel Composites, Nicholas Gregorich

All Dissertations

The use of lignin in the fabrication of soft composites has become an emerging area of research in polymer science and polymer chemistry. These lignin-based materials present numerous benefits, notably, a reduction in the use of petroleum-based precursor, improved structural benefits to otherwise soft host polymers, as well as the inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of lignin, making it suitable for biomaterials. Herein, we present two chemical reaction pathways of incorporating lignin that was fractionated and cleaned using the Aqueous Lignin Purification with Hot Agents (ALPHA) process into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel composites for aqueous-based separations. By leveraging the ALPHA …

Fluorescence Multiplexing With Combination Probes For Biological And Diagnostic Applications, Madeline Mccarthy

All Dissertations

Cancer refers to a group of diseases containing more than 200 different subtypes. Cancer is a heterogeneous disease by nature, meaning that there are differences among tumors of the same type in different patients, and there are differences among cancer cells within a single tumor of one patient. Since cancer is not a single disease, nor does it have a single cause, it proves to be incredibly hard to diagnose and treat. The ability to study cellular markers, cell and tissue spatial arrangement, and gene function are all integral parts of cancer diagnostic and treatment efforts.

Here, I first present …

Polymeric Biomaterials Approaches For Engineering The In Vitro Cellular Microenvironment For Mscs, Mahsa Letter-Mahsa Haseli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cell therapy is a technology that relies on replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with healthy functioning ones. One of the cells used for such advanced therapies are stem cells, owing to their ability to differentiate into specific cells required for repairing damaged or defective tissues or cells. The majority of cell-based products are intended to transiently persist in the patient, secreting factors which then allow the patient’s body to heal; in these products, the cells are subsequently eliminated from the body. Furthermore, unique manufacturing platforms, in addition to novel commercialization strategies, will be required to create a successful, sustainable cell …

Investigating Myosin Ensemble Force Generation Using Optical Tweezers, Janie Watts

Honors Theses

Myosin is a motor protein that facilitates muscle contraction and movement by stepping along actin filaments using energy from ATP hydrolysis. If myosin or other motors are disrupted throughout the body, it can have many harmful effects. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease caused by gene mutations that affect myosin heavy chains in the heart. The tissue of the heart becomes abnormally thick, which can make it more difficult to pump blood or block blood flow out of the heart. Our goal is to discern the mechanistic difference function of a healthy and diseased heart. To accomplish this, we construct model …

Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production Through Molten Salt Electrolysis (Lisap-Mse), Jacob Ortega, Jeffrey D. Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William P. Schonberg, Daniel S. Stutts, Daoru Frank Han

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The goal of Artemis is to establish a sustained presence on the Moon. To achieve so, numerous resources are necessary. The Moon contains several essential elements needed to sustain human presence. Most of those elements are trapped in the form of minerals. To refine those minerals into useful materials, reduction methods are needed. Most reduction methods on Earth require large amounts of mass and power which is unrealistic for early stages of building a lunar base. To solve this problem, we are developing a concept of Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE).

The LISAP-MSE project, if successful, …

Dynamic And Equilibrium Contribution Of Nematic Order In Wetting And Contact Angles, Partho Neogi, Xianjie Qiu, Amer Al-Shareef

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Model for the Dynamic Contact Angles and the Spreading Kinetics of Nematic Liquid Crystals on a Solid Surface is Presented for the First Time using the Continuum Theory of Liquid Crystals. the Equations of Motion for This System Are Integrated for a Wedge or a Drop that is Thin and Moves Slowly. the Dynamic Contact Angle is Found to Depend on the Capillary Number that Represents the Importance of Viscocapillarity and on the Elasticity Number that is the Ratio between the Elastic and Surface Forces. the Model Provides an Explanation for the Extra Volume Dependence that is Reported in …

Mitochondrial Complex Iii Bypass Complex I To Induce Ros In Gpr17 Signaling Activation In Gbm, Sana Kari, Jeyalakshmi Kandhavelu, Akshaya Murugesan, Ramesh Thiyagarajan, Srivatsan Kidambi, Meenakshisundaram Kandhavelu

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) coupled receptor 17 (GPR17) plays crucial role in Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell signaling and is primarily associated with reactive oxidative species (ROS) production and cell death. However, the underlying mechanisms by which GPR17 regulates ROS level and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes are still unknown. Here, we investigate the novel link between the GPR17 receptor and ETC complex I and III in regulating level of intracellular ROS (ROSi) in GBM using pharmacological inhibitors and gene expression profiling. Incubation of 1321N1 GBM cells with ETC I inhibitor and GPR17 agonist decreased the ROS level, …

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), …

Computational Discovery Of Active And Selective Metal- Nitrogen-Graphene Catalysts For Electrooxidation Of Water To H2O2, Payal Chaudhary, Iman Evazzade, Rodion Belosludov,, Vitaly Alexandrov

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

A direct electrosynthesis of H₂O₂ from either O₂ or H₂O is an attractive strategy to replace the energy-intensive industrial anthraquinone process. Two-electron water oxidation reaction (2e-WOR) offers several advantages over the oxygen reduction reaction such as better mass transfer due to the absence of gasphase reactants. However, 2e-WOR is a more challenging and less studied process with only a handful of metal oxides exhibiting reasonable activity/selectivity properties. Herein, we employ density-functional-theory calculations to screen a variety of metal-nitrogen-graphene structures for 2e-WOR. As a consequence of scaling between the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates, we …

Engineering Oxygen Vacancy-Rich Ceox Overcoating Onto Ni/Al2o3 By Atomic Layer Deposition For Bi-Reforming Of Methane, Baitang Jin, Kaiying Wang, Han Yu, Xiaoqing He, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Was Applied to Develop CeO_x-Overcoated Ni/Al₂O₃ Catalyst for Bi-Reforming of Methane (BRM), as the Combination of Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM) and Steam Reforming of Methane (SRM). Non-Stoichiometric CeO_x Thin Films Were Successfully Deposited on Ni/Al₂O₃ Particles by ALD, Which Constructed a Beneficial Ni-CeO_x Interface and Modified the Catalyst Property. Ascribed to the Unique ALD Growth Mode, a High Amount of Ce(III) and Oxygen Vacancies Existed in the ALD-Deposited CeO_x overcoating. a Reduction Process Before the BRM Reaction Contributed to the Further Reduction of Ce(IV) …

Influence Of Adhesive Application Method And Thermocycling On The Bonding Performance Of Different Adhesive Systems To Dentin, Lamiaa Mahmoud Moharam, Rasha Hassan Afifi

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aim: To assess the effect of multiple layers application of different adhesive systems on the microshear bond strength (μSBS) of dentin with and without thermocycling. Materials and Methods: Two hundred forty sound human premolars had their enamel surfaces removed to expose even surfaces of dentin. The teeth were mounted in acrylic resin blocks and then assigned arbitrarily into four main groups (n = 60) representing the investigated adhesives (a self-etch [SE] adhesive, a total-etch [TE] adhesive, and a multimode [MM] adhesive used in TE and SE modes). Individually, the main groups were equally alienated into three subgroups (n = 20), …

Extraction And Characterization Of Collagen From Cattle Horns For Potential Wound Healing, Yeriko Halson

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The need for bandages and gauze for wound dressing and healing is inevitable due to the high increase in accidents. Most of the material used for the production of bandages and gauzes for wound healing are from non-renewable synthetic material. The sustainability of non renewable resources is at jeopardy due to the health and associated environmental impact. Consequently, the use of naturally occurring and biodegradable material is a promising solution to the sustainability challenges of synthetic material. In this paper, the extraction of collagen films from cattle horns for potential wound healing is reported. Collagen was extracted from cattle horns …

3d Printed Composite Structures For Bone Repair And Drug Delivery Application, Innocent J. Macha

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Due to the increase in traffic accidents, industrial contingencies, and natural disasters, there is a high demand for bone regeneration biomaterials. Although bone can regenerate and self-repair, it is difficult to do so when the defect area exceeds the critical repair area due to trauma, tumour resection, or congenital diseases. The traditional methods for bone repair are autograft, allograft, and xenograft. However, these methods have flaws and limitations, such as complications in the donor bone area, a limited number of donors, rejection, and infectious diseases. However, in recent years, the use of additive manufacturing technologies in bone tissue engineering has …

Preparation And Characterization Of Microporous Cellulose Membranes As Potential Pathogen Filters, Peresi M. Bulemo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Growth and development in the textile and fashion industry have resulted in the generation of large amounts of industrial pre consumer textile wastes. It is estimated that 10 to 20% of textile fabrics are wasted during garment manufacturing, with most of the wastes being burned or landfilled. Reusing pre-consumer fabric wastes is therefore considered a viable approach to alleviate environmental impacts associated with their disposal. To achieve a higher porosity membrane, pre-consumer cotton fabrics were partially dissolved in a solution of dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) and lithium chloride (LiCl), and the resulting fibre suspension was utilized to prepare a microporous cellulose …

Cellulose-Keratin Supramolecular Composite: Conformation By Combined Fourier Transform Spectroscopy And Partial Least Square Regression Coefficient, Ngesa Ezekiel Mushi Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Keratin and cellulose are important nano components with excellent mechanical and biological properties. However, the preparation route through dissolution in organic solvents to make manmade materials is challenging because of their intensive bonding interaction characteristics. Structural modification of the natural attributes is difficult to maintain after polymer regeneration. A new technique by a green route was devised to dissolve keratin from wool, hair, and feather with cellulose in situ using 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIm] + Cl- ionic liquid as a solvent. The mixture of keratin and cellulose homogeneously and synergistically resulted in a supramolecular composite film through non-derivatized mechanochemical interactions. The …

A P53-Tlr3 Axis Ameliorates Pulmonary Hypertension By Inducing Bmpr2 Via Irf3, Aneel R. Bhagwani, Mehboob Ali, Bryce Piper, Mingjun Liu, Jaylen Hudson, Neil Kelly, Srimathi Bogamuwa, Hu Yang, James D. Londino, Joseph S. Bednash, Daniela Farkas, Rama K. Mallampalli, Mark R. Nicolls, John J. Ryan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) features pathogenic and abnormal endothelial cells (ECs), and one potential origin is clonal selection. We studied the role of p53 and toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in clonal expansion and pulmonary hypertension (PH) via regulation of bone morphogenetic protein (BMPR2) signaling. ECs of PAH patients had reduced p53 expression. EC-specific p53 knockout exaggerated PH, and clonal expansion reduced p53 and TLR3 expression in rat lung CD117+ ECs. Reduced p53 degradation (Nutlin 3a) abolished clonal EC expansion, induced TLR3 and BMPR2, and ameliorated PH. Polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)] increased BMPR2 signaling in ECs via enhanced binding of interferon regulatory …

An Older Diabetes-Induced Mice Model For Studying Skin Wound Healing, Carlos Poblete Jara, Guilherme Nogueira, Joseane Morari, Thaís Paulino Do Prado, Renan De Medeiros Bezerra, Lício A. Velloso, William Velander, Eliana Pereira De Araújo

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Advances in wound treatment depend on the availability of animal models that reflect key aspects of human wound healing physiology. To this date, the accepted mouse models do not reflect defects in the healing process for chronic wounds that are associated with type two diabetic skin ulcers. The long term, systemic physiologic stress that occurs in middle aged or older Type 2 diabetes patients is difficult to simulate in preclinical animal model. We have strived to incorporate the essential elements of this stress in a manageable mouse model: long term metabolic stress from obesity to include the effects of middle …

Advancing Ionomer Design To Boost Interfacial And Thin-Film Proton Conductivity Via Styrene-Calix[4]Arene-Based Ionomers, Shyambo Chatterjee, Oghenetega Allen Obewhere, Ehsan Zamani, Rajesh Keloth, Seefat Farzin, Martha D. Morton, Anandakumar Sarella, Shudipto Konika Dishari

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Sub-micrometer-thick ion-conducting polymer (ionomer) layers often suffer from poor ionic conductivity at the substrate/catalyst interface. The weak proton conductivity makes the electrochemical reaction at the cathode of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells sluggish. To address this, here we report on a class of polystyrene-based ionomers having sub-nanometer-sized, sulfonated macrocyclic calix[4]arene-based pendants (PS-calix). In films with thickness comparable to that of ionomer-based binder layers, the conductivity of PS-calix film (∼41 mS/cm) is ∼13 times higher than that of the current state-of-the-art ionomer, Nafion. We observe a similar improvement in proton conductivity when PS-calix interfaces with Pt nanoparticles, demonstrating the potential of PS-calix in …