Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons^™

Bone Void Filler Materials For Augmentation In Comminuted Fractures: A Comprehensive Review, S. Sina Mohammadi, Sunjeev S. Phull, B. Sonny Bal, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Comminuted fractures, characterized by multiple bone fragments, present significant challenges in orthopedic surgery. Effective treatment often requires augmentation techniques to enhance fixation stability and promote bone regeneration. This review explores the application of bone void filler materials, including autografts, allografts, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and synthetic bone substitutes such as calcium phosphate ceramics and bioactive glass, in managing comminuted fractures. Autografts are the gold standard due to their superior osteogenic potential but are limited by donor site morbidity and availability. Allografts mitigate these issues but face concerns regarding immunogenicity and reduced biological activity. PMMA, widely used for structural augmentation, provides immediate …

Calibration And Validation Of Cyclic Stretching Platform For Stiffness Testing Of Engineered Heart Tissue, Jillian Welsh

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cardiac fibrosis (CF) is a major contributor to the high mortality rate of heart failure which affects over 23 million people worldwide. CF involves cardiac fibroblasts depositing extracellular matrix, made primarily of collagen type I, which stiffens the heart walls over time. As testing new drugs for CF is deterred by the high cost and time required for animal and clinical trials, this research helps to solve the problem by providing an in vitro platform to study fibrosis.

The work involved creating tissues containing human cardiac fibroblast (HCFB) cells. Spring testing was conducted to determine the force applied by the …

Purifying Circular Rna Therapeutics, Karen Guillen-Cuevas

All Dissertations

Circular RNA (circRNA) has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality due to its enhanced stability and resistance to exonuclease degradation compared with linear mRNA. However, its stability and functionality depend strongly on achieving high purity, and current methods such as size-exclusion chromatography suffer from peak overlap, low yields, and poor scalability. This dissertation addresses these limitations by developing ultrafiltration-based strategies to purify circRNA directly from in vitro transcription (IVT) and self-splicing (circularization) reactions. First, the feasibility of ultrafiltration was demonstrated using polyethersulfone membranes, where sieving coefficients and critical flux values of circRNA, precursor RNA, and nicked RNA were measured to …

Fluorosilane-Induced Softening And Collapse Of Micropillar Arrays, Gabriela Moreira Lana, Maja Fehlberg, Petra Herbeck-Engel, Gisela Heppe, Raimund Schlüßler, Torsten Jähnke, Eduard Arzt, Roland Bennewitz

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Replica molding is a widely used technique for the fabrication of polymer microstructures. As structural dimensions decrease, anti-stick surface treatment of the mold becomes increasingly critical to ensure clean demolding and preserve structural integrity. We fabricated arrays of micropillars with 20 µm diameter and 60 µm height using medical-grade polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), MDX4-4210, and observed a high fraction of collapsed pillars for the first molding after fluorosilanization of the mold to reduce sticking. To address this issue, we systematically investigated the surface treatment protocol for the molds, made from the PDMS Sylgard 184. We provide results from complementary measurement methods, to …

Synergistic Doping And Coating Strategy For Boosting Na0.7mno2 Cathode Performance In Sodium-Ion Batteries, Ahmad Helaley, Han Yu, Manashi Nath, Xinhua Liang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Advancing sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology requires novel approaches to optimize cathode materials for improved electrochemical performance. In this study, we employ atomic layer deposition (ALD) to precisely modify the surface of P2-type Na_0.7MnO₂ cathodes with different coating materials including ZnO, NiO, and Al₂O₃, followed by post-annealing at 750°C for 10 hours. The strategic combination of ALD and thermal treatment can achieve thin film coating on particle surface and promote element doping into the near-surface lattice, as confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis. The incorporation of Zn, Al, and Ni results in …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Chronic Wound Infections And Current Treatment Methods, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chronic wound infections pose significant healthcare challenges due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired healing pathways. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial colonization, and disrupted tissue regeneration, leading to substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews current knowledge on chronic wound types, their pathophysiology, and the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation to examine the latest advancements in antimicrobial-based strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. It highlights how diverse materials and technologies have been engineered to improve infection management, enhance tissue regeneration, and overcome the limitations of traditional treatments as well as advances that leverage innovations such as …

Few-Layered Conductive Graphene Foams For Electrical Transdifferentiation Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Into Schwann Cell-Like Phenotypes, Ekin G. Simsar, Peifu Cheng, Tugce Dogruel, Maxsam Donta, Juhyung Jung, Naomi A. Asante, Donald S. Sakaguchi, Surya K. Mallapragada, Piran R. Kidambi, Metin Uz

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates the potential of few-layered conductive graphene foams as 3D platforms for the electrical transdifferentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into Schwann cell (SC)-like phenotypes for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) treatment. The 3D graphene foams (3D-GF) are cytocompatible with MSCs and created a favorable microenvironment for the cells to attach, grow, proliferate, and transdifferentiate. We demonstrated that MSCs cultured within 3D-GF can be transdifferentiated into SC-like phenotypes using the synergistic effects of electrical stimulation and 3D porous and conductive structure. Our immunocytochemistry and gene expression analyses showed the expression of Schwann cell markers and enhanced secretion of growth …

Condition Optimization For The Synthesis Of Castor Oil Templated Mesoporous Silica, Godlisten Namwel Shao

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The present work provides suitable conditions for the synthesis of mesoporous materials with improved porosity using an optimization technique. The proposed preparation method involves forming final products by varying the amount of castor oil, media, and template removal. The obtained samples were examined by TGA, XRD, DRIFT and nitrogen physisorption studies. It was observed that the porosity of the obtained samples was dependent on the conditions under which the materials were synthesized. All synthesized materials showed the Type IV adsorption-desorption isotherm features of mesoporous, regardless of the conditions utilized during the synthesis. The sample synthesized using 2.5 g of a …

Laboratory Investigation Of High-Temperature Preformed Particle Gels For Fluid Control In Granite Cores For Geothermal Applications, K. Caleb Darko, Yanbo Liu, Thomas P. Schuman, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

To understand the applicability of high-temperature preformed particle gel (HT-PPG) for control of short-circuiting in enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs), core flooding experiments were conducted on fractured granite cores under varying fracture widths, gel particle sizes and swelling ratios. Key parameters such as injection pressure, water breakthrough pressure, and residual resistance factor were measured to evaluate HT-PPG performance. The gel exhibited strong injectability, entering granite fractures at pressure gradients as low as 0.656 MPa/m; HT-PPG yields a superior sealing performance by significantly reducing the permeability; and dehydration occurs during HT-PPG propagation, with a dehydration ratio ranging from 4.71% to 11.36%. This …

Effect Of Clays On The Spontaneous Imbibition Behavior Of Surfactant Solutions In Shale Oil Reservoirs, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Chuanbao Zhang, Shizhang Cui, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surfactant-enhanced spontaneous imbibition is a proven method of enhancing oil recovery from shale reservoirs. However, a significant knowledge gap concerning the impact of clay minerals on surfactant-enhanced imbibition in shale reservoirs remains. Therefore, this study first analyzed the mineral composition and pore structure of the shale reservoirs. Subsequently, three surfactants were selected for spontaneous imbibition experiments. The influence of various clay minerals on the surfactant imbibition was assessed by considering various properties of the imbibition system. The results showed that the shale pores primarily consisted of macropores (44.03%) and mesopores (43.94%). Surfactants enhance the imbibition recovery by altering the wettability …

Coumarin/Nitrogen-Bearing Heterocyclic Hybridloaded Electrospun Pmma/Pvp Nanofibrous Scaffolds For Accelerating Topical Wound Healing Rates: Synthesis And In Vitro Bio-Evaluation, Samar A. Salim, Mohamed Ali, Tasneem Abed, El Badawy Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Coumarin-nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (e.g. quinoline, acridine, and phthalazine) were synthesized by facile reactions and elucidated by FTIR, 1H, and 13C-NMR analyses, which showed consistency with the expected structures. Coumarin-quinoline (drug A)- and coumarin-acridine (drug B)-loaded electrospun PMMA/PVP nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning techniques. Results showed a successful PMMA/PVP blend, which formed the matrix that was used as the main scaffold for drug loading/release. The drugs (A and B) were encapsulated within the matrix as verified by IR and SEM results. Bio-evaluation through cytotoxicity and anticancer screening was conducted using the MTT assay against lung fibroblast (Wi-38), colon carcinoma (Caco-2), …

Upcycling Waste To Wealth: Cuo-Sio₂/Reduced Graphene Nanocomposite From Pomegranate Peels For One-Pot Low-Temperature Conversion Of Waste Oils Into Valuable Fatty Acid Monomers, Attia Attia, Shahenda Mahran Dr., Maria Centeno Prof., Basudeb Saha

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

and hence reduce the price of the fatty acid monomers. This study reports for the first time a novel, environmentally benign, highly active copper oxide-silica oxide/reduced graphene oxide (CuO-SiO2/RGO), heterogeneous nano-catalyst derived from waste pomegranate peels, for the one-pot, low-temperature synthesis of fatty acid monomers from high-acid-value waste vegetable oil (WVO). The synthesised nano-catalyst was extensively characterised using XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, EDX and TGA-DTA. Further, it was utilised to synthesise fatty acidrich oleic phenoxypropyl acrylate (OPA) monomer from high acid value WVO via a single-step reaction.

Dissolution Mechanism Of Nonionic Polyether Surfactants In Supercritical Co2, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Shizhang Cui, Zan Gao, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding, Peixu Ma

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polyoxyethylene ether is an efficient CO₂-philic compound with significant potential applications in CO₂ flooding, which requires CO₂-philic surfactants with high solubility in supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂). This study elucidates the molecular and atomic-level dissolution mechanism of the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO) in scCO₂ by combining phase-behavior experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The solubility of AEO in scCO₂ is measured using a semiconductor laser. AEO containing three polyoxyethylene (EO) groups exhibited the highest solubility in scCO₂.The solubility of AEO in scCO₂ decreased with an increase in the number …

Cultivation Of Botryococcus Braunii For The Production Of Hydrocarbons Suitable For Fuel Use, Bryan C. Carroll

All Theses

Energy security, rural poverty, and climate change are pressing issues of our time. Biofuels provide a solution to these issues, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuel, SAF, due to compatibility with aircraft infrastructure and energy density. This research aims to review and produce knowledge about a specific microalga, Botryococcus braunii, for its potential for SAF. First a literature review on the process was conducted followed by an experimental study on the impact of aqueous media and inorganic carbon its growth and hydrocarbon content. The literature review found the process consists of cultivation followed by lipid extraction or hydrothermal …

Impact Of Cysteine And Tyrosine Dipeptides On Cho Cell Performance In A Perfusion Mimic, Corrin L. Pruitt

All Theses

Perfusion cell cultures typically achieve higher cell densities and generate higher volumetric productivities than fed-batch cultures due to continuous nutrient supply and spent media removal. Despite these advantages, perfusion cell cultures remain underutilized for licensed product manufacturing, primarily due to the lack of small-scale perfusion models for high-throughput process development and the complexities involved in media formulation capable of supporting high cell densities during long-term continuous operation. To avoid nutrient limitation at high cell densities, current perfusion processes rely on using higher perfusion rates, which results in significant media wastage and downstream product dilution. Therefore, there has been an effort …

Gallium-Containing Bioactive Glasses: Their Influence On Ion Release And The Bioactivity Of Resulting Glass Polyalkenoate Cements, Lana Margaret Placek, Danielle Lee Perry, Mark Robert Towler, Anthony William Wren

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A series of glasses (0.48SiO2 − [0.40-x]ZnO − 0.12CaO-xGa2O3, x = 0, 0.8, 0.16) was developed to formulate a series of Ga-containing glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). The solubility of GPCs was tested using DI water, and it was found that the sample containing the highest mol% of Ga, LGa-2, had the most Ga ion release. The GPCs were incubated in SBF, and SEM/EDS analysis revealed that the at% of P increased, while the at% of Si decreased, highlighting the CaP precipitation on the GPC surface. The at% of Ga also decreased, reinforcing the Ga release from the GPC. Cellular testing …

Development And Experimental Validation Of A Non-Invasive Blood Group Detection System, Nurath K. Nurudini

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

An individual's blood group consists of red blood cell antigens whose composition is determined by protein presence, antigen structure, and gene series. Persons aged above six months have significant anti-A and/or anti-B in their serum. During transplantation and transfusion, ABO blood group identification is the most essential factor. The conventional method involves drawing blood samples from patients, and the blood group is determined based on the antigen-antibody reaction. This method consists of adding chemical reagents. However, this requires time of operation, and throughput analysis is high, and the process is also challenging to interpret. Accurate and rapid identification of blood …

Reduction Of Volatile Acidity Of Grape Wines By Immobilized Lipase, Azamhon Kh. Khasanov, Barno A. Abdullaeva, Xasan T. Khasanov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to study the enzymatic transformation of acetic acid into ethyl acetate by immobilized lipases of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus UzLT-1 obtained on the basis of silica gel and phosphatidylethanolamine to reduce the content of volatile acids in grape wines. In the work, a preparation of lipase from the fungus Rhizopus microspores was used. Lipolytic activity was measured by photocolorimetric method using rhodamine 6G as a chromophore agent. The catalytic property of lipolytic enzymes from the fungus Rh.microsporus immobilized on the surface of silica gel coated with polyamides and modified cephalin in aqueous-alcoholic media was …

Investigation Of Retention And Dehydration Of Preformed Particle Gel For Conformance Control In Fractured Carbonates, Abdulaziz A. Almakimi, Abdullah O. Almansour, Junchen Liu, Baojun Bai, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preformed particle gel (PPG) treatment has proved to be among the most effective methods to reduce excessive water production in fractured reservoirs. The blocking ability of PPGs to fractures or fracture-like features is highly dependent on injected gel properties and volume. Gel dehydration during extrusion through fracture is common and has a considerable effect on gel properties, transport, and plugging efficiency. As the gel particles propagate through the fracture, continuous dehydration is often associated and causes the gel to concentrate and require high-pressure gradients to move. Dehydration might be desirable to a certain limit because it can help to form …

Interfacial Phenomena Of Plastics: From Surface Modifications To Environmental Impacts, Kennedy Guillot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Plastic is a ubiquitous part of everyday life since its introduction in the previous century. Global production continues to exponentially increase, establishing plastics as one of the most dominant materials in modern manufacturing. Within the scope of academia, plastic is essential due to its low cost and sterility, particularly for minimizing contamination. Beyond the laboratory, plastic use spans numerous industries, and its use and disposal has since raised many environmental concerns. Once valued for its durability, plastics now pollute the environment in landfills and natural ecosystems. In recent decades, the consequences of this pollution have been investigated, yet the full …

Adaptive Noise Estimation And Denoising With Deep Learning For Nmr Spectroscopy, Naveen Asokan

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique widely used for molecular structure elucidation in chemistry, biology, and medicine. However, spectral accuracy is often degraded by noise—particularly in low acquisition time settings—resulting in reduced resolution and obscured chemical features. While traditional noise reduction techniques such as signal averaging can improve spectral quality, they require longer acquisition times, limiting their utility in real-time and high-throughput applications.

This thesis presents a deep learning-based denoising framework designed to enhance the quality of complex-valued NMR spectra. The proposed model, built upon a U-Net architecture, incorporates both real and imaginary components of the …

Binary Solid/Liquid Equilibrium Of Mixtures Of Thermally Robust Salts And Molecular Compounds For Use As Heat Transfer Fluids, Jared Ridge Mathews

Poster Presentations

Fossil fuels, contributors to climate change that may bear catastrophic consequences, power the entire world. The human species is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels for energy, but other sources of renewable and environmentally friendly energy must be developed. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising source of renewable energy with hampered potential—better heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are needed for it to be economically feasible. Currently, the HTFs in industrial use are predominantly either synthetic oils or nitrate-based molten salts. Synthetic oils are only stable up to 400 °C, and molten salts often have high melting temperatures, making them prone …

Binary Solid/Liquid Equilibrium Of Mixtures Of Thermally Robust Salts And Molecular Compounds For Use As Heat Transfer Fluids, Jared Ridge Mathews

Honors Theses

Fossil fuels, contributors to climate change that may bear catastrophic consequences, power the entire world. The human species is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels for energy, but other sources of renewable and environmentally friendly energy must be developed. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising source of renewable energy with hampered potential—better heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are needed for it to be economically feasible. Currently, the HTFs in industrial use are predominantly either synthetic oils or nitrate-based molten salts. Synthetic oils are only stable up to 400 °C, and molten salts often have high melting temperatures, making them prone …

Modeling Cell Buildup And Release In An Ultrafiltration Cartridge, Holiday B. Derosier

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

While membrane filtration has improved greatly and has been incorporated into many modern practices, there isn’t much data on material exchange in and out of the lumen and how that effects the overall efficiency of the process. This data may help to accurately measure the reliability and efficiency of a filtration membrane system, which can lead to improvements in filtration sustainability, process lifespan, and product quality.

This project aims to model the material balance within a perfusion bioreactor ultrafiltration system in MATLAB, with a focus on bioreactors and cell buildup and release from the lumen. The results of this study …

Engineering Affinity Of Yth Protein To M6a-Rna, Katelynn E. Horvath

Honors Scholar Theses

Engineered RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) show promise for diverse applications in research and therapeutic development. Modulating the interaction between YTH-domain containing proteins and methylated RNA ligands could result in a high affinity, highly specific binding protein for the advancement of research tools in neurodegenerative disease. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified RNA contributes to stress granule formation that promotes neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative disease, with concentrations of m6A-RNA increased fivefold in Alzheimer’s Disease. Further affinity maturation of the YTH-m6A interaction through directed evolution of the YTH domain could produce a novel protein with increased affinity better suited for the development of biological detection tools or …

Feasibility Of Liquid Carbon Sources For Algae Growth, Brady S. Jones

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the use of electrochemically produced aqueous bicarbonate as a novel liquid-phase carbon source for enhancing algal biomass productivity. Targeting the freshwater microalgae Chlorella Saccharophila, the study investigates its growth response to varying bicarbonate concentrations and compares the efficacy of liquid bicarbonate delivery with traditional gaseous CO₂ bubbling methods. Results demonstrate that Chlorella Saccharophila can sustain growth solely on bicarbonate, and that bicarbonate-fed cultures yielded higher biomass than those supplied with gaseous CO₂ or hybrid systems. These findings validate the potential of bicarbonate-based carbon delivery for scalable algae cultivation, offering key advantages such as gas-free operation, improved …

Composition And Rich/Lean Loading-Dependent Density Measurements Of A Series Of Aqueous Ionic Amines For Co2 Capture, Claudia Nguyen

Honors Theses

As climate change worsens worldwide, there is a drive to develop more efficient and sustainable methods to mitigate its impact through carbon capture methods like carbon dioxide scrubbing. Carbon scrubbing directly captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industries or power plants before they are released into the environment. The CO2 captured can be utilized for various applications or can be stored underground. However, this method faces numerous challenges, such as the degradation of the solvent or corrosion of equipment. As a result, research has expanded to find a better medium to overcome these issues. In particular, aqueous ionic amines (AIA) …

Cooperative And Bifunctional Ga-Ca-Cr2o3@Cao Structured Monoliths As Versatile Platform For Reactive Capture Of Co2 And Its Subsequent Conversion To Ethylene, Khaled Baamran, Ali A. Rownaghi

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cooperative and bifunctional materials (BFMs) that integrate adsorbents and catalysts offer a promising strategy for the reactive capture of CO₂ to produce valuable fuels and chemicals. In this study, we developed structured BFMs via 3D printing that combine CaO as an adsorbent with Ga–Ca–Cr₂O₃ metal oxides as the catalyst for the reactive capture of CO₂ and its subsequent conversion to C₂H₄ via the oxidative dehydrogenation of C₂H₆ (CO₂-ODHE). Three different Ga–Ca compositions were used to modify the catalyst surface characteristics and enhance C₂H₄ selectivity. …

Development Of Translational Microscale Systems To Interrogate How Biophysical And Biochemical Cues Alter The Phenotype Of Hormone Positive Breast Cancer, Braulio Ortega Quesada

All Dissertations

Cancer is a complicated disease and one in every three diagnoses are women with breast cancer. Recent research shows that the progression of cancer depends strongly on interactions with other non-cancerous cells and non-cellular components. Metastasis, the spread of cancer to other parts of the body, is a key step in cancer progression and makes treatment harder, leading to poor response to treatments culminating in death in ~90% of patients. This dissertation focused on creating a series of microdevices as novel pre-clinical models of breast cancer. Two different devices were fabricated to (1) study how exposing cancer cells to the …

Influence Of Substrate Temperature On The Properties Of Reactive Dc Magnetron Co-Sputtered Ag-Doped Tio2 Thin Films, Hezekiah B. Sawa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study reports on the influence of substrate temperature on the properties of Ag-doped TiO2 thin films. The films were deposited by reactive DC co-sputtering of Ti and Ag targets at different substrate temperatures and Ag target sputtering powers. Grazing incident X-ray diffractometer confirmed that all films were polycrystalline with dominant peak oriented along (101) planes representing the anatase TiO2 phase. The average grain size of the samples improved with increase in deposition temperature. At a substrate temperature of 450 ℃, the samples had a dominant peak representing the rutile phase, suggesting partial transformation from anatase to rutile phase. The …