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Technical Research

 

Microfluidic Separation of Biological Particles via Centrifugal Forces and Bingham Plastics

  • Development of a high speed camera – microscope coupling apparatus to visualize particle separation during centrifugation through microfluidic channels

  • Development and optimization of microfluidic chips with Bingham Plastic hydrogel layers towards separation of biological particles based on size, density, and shape

 

Scaffold Development for Tissue Engineering Applications

  • Development of automated system for the fabrication of reproducible polymeric tissue engineering scaffolds with user-defined characteristics (i.e. porosity, pore size, material type, configuration)

  • Use of various computer aided drawing (CAD) software systems for the fabrication of 2-D and 3-D bio-loom components

  • Assessment of system viability through cell-based biocompatibility and biofunctionality testing of the produced scaffolds

  • Characterization of system specifications most amicable to differentiation of desired cell types

 

3-Dimensional Weaving

  • Use of textile technology for the development of tissue engineering scaffolds in the form of polymeric woven meshes

  • Exploration of various weaving configurations (i.e. orthogonal, angle interlock) for tissue engineering applications

 

Polymer Fiber Fabrication Techniques

  • Use of extrusion melt-spinning of semi-crystalline polymers for the production of biocompatible micro fibers to be used in woven scaffolds

  • Characterization of semi-crystalline polymer properties through various analysis techniques (i.e. differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography)

 

Polymer-Hydrogel Composites for Tissue Engineering Test Systems

  • Use of polymer scaffolds of varying geometries in combination with hydrogel matrices to create 3-D tissue engineering test systems

  • Modulation of polymer scaffold and hydrogel composition to effect matrix density and mechanical properties, leading to the exploration of differences in cell behavior

 

Bio-electrical Instrumentation Research

  • Development of custom pneumatic bio-loom controlled via NI LabVIEW

  • Development of custom printed circuit boards (PCB) for the control of bio-loom motors and solenoid valves

  • Development of custom permeability testing system employing LabVIEW and PCB designs for the control of a series of relays and solenoids modulating fluid flow through woven scaffolds

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