Biological Engineering electronic theses and dissertations - CAFNR (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Biological Engineering. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Engineering nanomaterials for cancer theranostics(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021) Yadavilli, Sairam; Kannan, RaghuramanThis thesis aims to engineer novel nanomaterial to target receptors on the surface of cancer to diagnose and deliver cytotoxic drugs or siRNA selectively. Receptor-targeting peptides have been relatively unexplored to deliver nanomaterial to cancer. The paucity is due to the challenge associated with the synthesis in assembling the components on a nanomaterial. We developed a universal methodology to overcome the synthetic difficulty and generated a library of peptide-targeted nanomaterial. These materials are targeted towards the following receptors: PD-L1, GRPR, and cMET, which are overexpressed in cancers. In addition, we investigated the diagnostics efficacy of nanomaterials targeted towards PD-L1, and the results showed the unique advantage of these classes of particles to quantify the receptors. Finally, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo (in GRPR) efficacy of the targeted nanomaterials attached with the Doxorubicin drug in ovarian and hepatocellular cancers. The in vitro results established the superiority of the targeted material over the conventional chemotherapeutics. However, the in vivo evaluation of GRPR targeted nanomaterials showed only moderate efficacy compared with the chemo drug. Importantly, all the animals administered with targeted nanomaterial were healthy and alive at the end of the study; in contrast, all mice administered with doxorubicin succumbed to death. During this study, we gathered that targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics alone might be insufficient to overcome drug resistance and genetic inhibition is imperative. Therefore, we developed another nanomaterial to deliver two siRNAs to co-inhibit drug-resistant proteins and performed preliminary cancer cells. Further studies are warranted to establish this as a therapeutic modality. The experience allowed us to embark on an audacious project wherein we used non-cancer drugs to treat the tumor. Based on the solid scientific rationale, we combined COPD drug and tyrosine kinase inhibitor to treat lung cancer, and the results show benefit. The significance of this study is that the engineered nanomaterial possesses the potential to deliver the drug to cancer, reduce toxicity, and overcome drug resistance; further studies using clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft mouse models help translate the materials to clinics for patient benefits.Item Improvement of co-digesting swine manure and waste kitchen oil(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021) Duong, Cuong Manh; Lim, Teng TeehAnaerobic co-digestion of swine manure (SM) and waste kitchen oil (WKO) was conducted to evaluate the effect of substrate loading rates on biogas production efficiency. Biogas yields of M4O2 (4 g-VSSM L -1 d -1 + 2 g-VSWKO L -1 d -1 ) and M2O1 were 917 ± 43 and 909 ± 37 mL g-VS-fed-1 , which were 25.7% and 24.6% higher than the mono-digestion of M2, respectively. However, higher OLRs of SM and WKO did not increase biogas yield. A significant increase of bacterial alpha-diversity was observed in M2O1, at 233.0 ± 3.6 compared with 218.7 ± 5.1 of M2. Less bacterial alpha-diversity and volatile fatty acids accumulation were observed in M4O1 and M4O2. When the digesters were fed with M2, introduction of more than 1.2 g-VSWKO L -1 d -1 did not increase biogas yield per VS-fed compared to M2O1, and might cause system imbalance. It took up to 84 days to observe system failure. Biogas potential (BP) study showed significantly higher of biogas yield produced from WKO compared to SM. Therefore, addition of WKO into SM digesters resulted in the increase of biogas production, from 9.0 ± 3.2% to 22.6 ± 3.1%, compared with digestion of only SM. However, BP of M4O1 and M4O2 were 93.2 ± 6.6% and 95.6 ± 4.8%, compared with BP of separate substrates, which indicated that the synergistic effects of co-digestion were due to the increase of organic loading rate and nutrient balance during the process. Co-digesting SM and WKO at ambient or thermophilic working temperature resulted in the low biogas productions compared to mesophilic condition. Application of M2O1 in the on-farm ADs could result in the highest biogas production while maintaining system stability. However, water consumption and digester size were both higher than when M4O1 or M4O2 was applied. A polynomial regression model with variable interaction was developed which showed the effectiveness in terms of biogas production from SM and WKO. The differences of biogas yield estimated by the model and the lab results were in the range of 0.2% to 8.6%, except only one OLR, in which 15.9% difference was observed. However, only the selected dataset with removal of zero biogas values was utilized for the model improvement, and model application was limited in the ranges of each key variable. Two decision support tools were developed based on the model to estimate biogas production and other operating factors of on-farm ADs.Item Discovery, design, and optimization of implantable/wearable, wireless biosensors(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Heck, Ian; Zhang, YiIn the world of wireless technology, communication, power supply, and response time of the sensors are the focal points of device design. Bluetooth and Near-Field-Communication (NFC) are two excellent methods of communication ideal for short range wireless technology. Battery technology and wireless power transfer free devices from immobilizing power cords. Finally, optimizing real time detection and data delivery offers great advantages to the user when it comes to monitoring the targets. The goal of this work is to explore these focal points and find synergy between various methods and components to create novel, wearable, wireless biosensors. Because there is a countless amount of design combinations, these devices will utilize a combination of dependable and innovative technology, and certain components will be characterized and tested to reduce the subjectivity of their inclusion. From these tests, two different sensors passed preliminary tests that confidently suggest that the devices can operate in their intended environments. The current challenges posed by wireless biosensors can be seen as opportunities for improvement. In this document, we will explore the design process and operation of two different biosensors. The first biosensor that will be discussed, is a wireless, battery-less, implantable biosensor for optogenetic and pharmacological stimulation. For this work, the focus was on improving the sensor introduced in, Battery-free, lightweight, injectable microsystem for in vivo wireless pharmacology and optogenetics. Here, the focus lay on characterizing and potentially improving wireless power harvesting as well as novel programming to operate NFCbased devices. The second biosensor is a wireless, non-invasive pressure sensor intended to aid in diabetic foot ulcer healing. The focus of this work will lay on characterizing the pressure sensor and ultimately designing a device intended for clinical use. Both projects will have different testing criteria as to efficiently administer applicable tests and avoid redundant data that may not be pertinent to the project.Item Enhanced tissue engineering properties of osteoinductive chitosan hydrogel(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Darkow, Blake Thomas; Ulery, BretLower back pain is a considerable medical problem that will impact 80 percent of the U.S. population at some point in their life. With the most severe cases, surgical repair is necessary and is associated with costs upwards of $10.2 billion annually in the United States. To allieviate back pain, spine fusions are a common treatment in which two or more vertebrae are biologically fused together often through the use of a graft material. Unfortunately, iliac crest bone autograft, the current gold standard graft material, can yield insufficient fusion and is associated with considerable donor site morbidity and pain as well as limited supply. Therefore, new materials need to be developed in order to better coordinate healing and new bone growth in the affected area to reduce unnecessary patient burden. In order to address this issue, the incorporation of allograft and one of two types of cellulose (i.e., 0CNCs and CNFs) into a dual-crosslinked chitosan hydrogel loaded with bioactive calcium phosphate was investigated. Hydrogels were then tested for both their material and biological properties. Specifically, hydrogel swelling ratio, mass loss, ion release profile, compressive strength, biocompatibility, and osteoinduction were determined. Cellulose and allograft incorporation significantly improved compressive strength and biocompatibility. CNFs were found to be a significantly more biocompatible form of cellulose when compared to 0CNCs. Additionally, through the controlled delivery of osteoinductive simple signaling molecules (i.e., calcium and phosphate ions), CNF/Chitosan hydrogels were able to induce osteoblast-like activity in murine mesenchymal stem cells. This research provides support for our novel material to be further investigated in vivo for its application in spine fusion procedures.Item Methods for improved kinematic measurements of the lower extremities(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Schauffler, Rose; Guess, TrentAn understanding of knee dynamics is vital to treat neurological and musculoskeletal conditions that affect the lower extremities and achieve peak performance from athletes. To obtain and analyze kinematics and kinetics of the knee, clinicians and athletic trainers require accurate, accessible measurement devices. To assess the functionality of one such device, the Mizzou Knee Arthrometer Testing System (MKATS), dynamic motion studies were carried out on healthy, ACL deficient, and patellofemoral pain populations. To assess the validity of the MKATS, the device output was compared to data collected using a SimVitro robotic manipulator. Through this process, discussions with clinicians, technicians, and participants resulted in modifications to both the software and hardware of the device to improve fit and usability. The following thesis summarizes the findings of the dynamic and cadaver motion studies, and the modifications to the device. We found decreased flexion and internal rotation at specific points (p [less than] 0.05) of the cycle for all dynamic activities for both clinical groups compared to the healthy control group. Due to unperceived amounts of skin artifact and joint laxity, the results of the cadaver study were inconclusive. The MKATS was able to accurately detect kinematic differences in the live study groups and has promise as a useful tool for orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers to screen for abnormal dynamics and track treatment success. Further studies utilizing computed tomography on live participants will be needed to further validate the MKATS. The development of such devices is crucial to improve the quality of advice from healthcare and athletic performance specialists.