Attenuation of Osteoblast
Apoptosis with Creatinine in
Hibernating Bear Serum

Student Researcher
Sarah Gray, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Seth W. Donahue
Sponsor
Michigan Tech Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowship (SURF) Michigan Space Grant
Consortium
Project Overview
Currently, forty million Americans are at risk for developing osteoporosis, and this degenerative disease accounts for about $20 billion in health care expenditures annually. Disuse, as in spaceflight, bed rest, and spinal cord injury, causes bone to degrade in response to decreased strains. Bears spend six to eight months out of each year in hibernation, yet these annual periods of disuse do not affect their bones. It is hypothesized that a circulating element in bear serum is attenuating apoptosis of bone-constructing cells. One serum element, creatinine, has been strongly correlated with hibernation, and its apoptosis-inhibiting qualities have been tested in this study.

Aligned, Electrospun Fibers
Facilitate Treatment of
Lymphedema

Student Researchers
Echoe Bouta and Connor McCarthy, Biomedical
Engineering
Advisors
Dr. Jeremy Goldman and Dr. Ryan Gilbert
Sponsor
National Institutes of Health
Project Overview
When breast cancer patients undergo a mastectomy, up to 30 percent of patients can develop lymphedema, a chronic swelling of tissue in the arm, due to fluid retention, that leads to pain, disuse of the limb, and poor immune function. While experimental approaches to promote lymphangiogenesis utilize growth factors, few studies utilize topography to direct lymphatic endothelial cell migration. It is believed that aligned, electrospun fibers would assist in the directed migration of lymph endothelial cells. Developing aligned fiber substrates could help facilitate regeneration of the injured lymphatic system.

Incorporation of Dextran and
Chitosan Improved Neuron
Attachment and Neurite Extension

Student Researcher
Jonathan Zuidema, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Ryan Gilbert
Sponsors
National Institutes of Health and Michigan Initiative
for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Project Overview
The material properties of hydrogels are important for enhancing neuron attachment and neurite outgrowth. Taking this into account, several hydrogel blends were created in order to determine the optimal blend for neuron compatibility. The surface charge, gel stiffness, gelation time, and rate of dissolution of the hydrogels were varied and evaluated. Cortical neurons and dorsal root ganglia from nine-day-old chicken embryos were seeded on top of the different blends, and the different hydrogel blends were then assessed based on neuron attachment and neurite length.

Self-Diagnosed and Self-Powered
Structures

Student Researcher
Gareth Johnson, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Keat Ghee Ong, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
SURF
Project Overview
This project focuses on the development of a selfdiagnosed, self-powered structure based on the magnetoelastic materials. For the self-diagnosed part, the magnetoelastic materials were exposed to a magnetic AC field and their responses at the harmonic frequencies were captured. Results have indicated these materials were able to measure compressive forces, allowing real-time tracking of surface pressure variations. The same material was also coupled with piezoelectric materials to convert magnetic-field induced magnetoelastic vibration into electrical voltages. The experimental results have allowed the continuous development of a smart material that will have important applications in biomedical and industrial areas.

Light Filtering Polymers for More Biocompatible Coatings on
Medical Devices

Student Researcher
Genevieve E. Gierke, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Megan C. Frost
Sponsor
SURF
Project Overview
Nitric oxide has been found to reduce the biological response of implantable devices that are in contact with blood and tissue. Incorporating light-controlled nitric oxide-releasing chemicals into polymer coatings can help to decrease the body’s immune response. Levels of nitric oxide release, which can vary according to the wavelengths of light used, can also cater this response to specific device needs. The ability to control biological response would help to decrease the chance of device failure and undesired complications to patients, making devices more successful and versatile.

Novel Nitric Oxide Donating
Polymeric Material for Biocompatibility
of Implanted Devices

Student Researcher
Elizabeth Moore, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Megan C. Frost
Sponsor
National Science Foundation
Project Overview
Previous studies have shown that many S-Nitrosothiols (RSNOs) rapidly degrade, with halflives from minutes to seconds in aqueous solution. The research in this paper presents data that the RSNO 1,3 benzenedinitrosothiol has been relatively stable for over one year. This RSNO still releases nitric oxide when subjected to ultraviolet light and has the same characteristic absorbance peak as a freshly made RSNO. Developing this stable RSNO potentially provides a venue for further investigation into using this nitric oxide donor to improve the biocompatibility of implanted optical sensors.

6-Aminonicotinamide Releasing
Highly Aligned PLLA Electrospun
Fibers For Astrocyte Inhibition

Student Researcher
Nick Schaub, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Ryan Gilbert
Sponsor
SURF
Project Overview
Recent inquiry into nerve regeneration using polymeric fiber scaffolding to direct neurite growth has shown promising results. The same technique used to create these polymer nanofibers has also been a point of interest as a drug-delivery mechanism, since drug may be released from these biodegradable fibers. This project combines these efforts to create aligned nanofibers that release the drug 6AN in order to metabolically arrest astrocyte proliferation following spinal cord injury.

Aligned Electrospun Fibers Foster
Axonal Regeneration

Student Researcher
Jared Cregg, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Ryan Gilbert
Sponsor
National Institutes of Health
Project Overview
At present, nearly one in fifty people live with paralysis, sustaining average yearly health care costs between $228,566 and $775,567 per person. Currently there is no clinical paradigm for treatment; therefore, emphasis has been placed on understanding injury pathology and developing combination therapeutic strategies. We investigated aligned microfiber matrices as a novel platform for axonal regeneration after a complete transection spinal cord injury in rats. Aligned microfiber matrices fostered robust regeneration of axons into conduit lumen, and, in several animals, permitted serotonergic axons to navigate the lesion over twenty-eight days.

Neurite Response Using Highly
Aligned Poly-L-lactic Acid Fibers
as Tissue Scaffolding

Student Researcher
Ryan Young, Chemical Engineering
Advisors
Dr. Ryan Gilbert, Biomedical Engineering, and Dr.
Michael Mullins, Chemical Engineering
Sponsor
SURF
Project Overview
Many approaches to studying human spinal cord injuries are currently used in laboratory research. However, virtually every potential treatment is first studied in vitro. This study’s objective is to create a standard in vitro model for studying how injured axons regenerate on aligned topographies. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were placed onto aligned fibers, and the neurites from the DRG were allowed to extend for several days. After sufficient neurite extension, regenerating axons were cut, and the regeneration behavior examined. By examining neurite regeneration patterns following transection, it may be possible to better determine when to apply therapeutics for injured neurons.

Parametric Study of an Artificial
Heart Using Finite Element
Analysis

Student Researcher
Daniel Dubiel, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Dr. Tammy Haut Donahue, Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor
Penn State University Hershey Medical School,
Artificial Organs Group
Project Overview
The goal: create a 3-D finite element model to predict concentrated stresses in a complete artificial heart. Components used within the model include a pusher plate, blood sac, and case. A parametric study was conducted for the blood sac where stresses hinder longevity of the current artificial heart. Pressure loads created during the normal systolic ejection were utilized, along with constant refinement of element mesh convergence between components to further the optimization of the artificial heart model. The final outcome of the work will dictate the geometry that minimizes the stresses in the blood sac of the artificial heart, furthering implant longevity.