Engineering
Optogenetics in Engineered Cardiac Tissue Maturation
Moncada, Silvia; Allen, Bryce; Hafen, Tanner; Valencia-Amores, Sebastian; Hanson, Luke; Dorian, Sariah; Bechtel, Matth;ew; Smith, Seth; Myres, Isaac; Holding, Clayton; Jacobs, Dallin; Hellwig, Lexi; White, Joshua; Evanson, Davin; Cheney, Cladin; Taylor, Sloan; Grossman, Jesse; Donaldson, Jesse; Jepsen, Emily; Johnston, Maren; Porter, Kaiden; Jardine, Alyson; Garfield, Seth; Larson, Spencer; Gardiner (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Mizrachi, Dario (College of Life Sciences, Physiology & Molecular Biology)
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. During myocardial infarction cardiac tissue suffers a lack of nutrients and oxygen that leads to the formation of unregenerable scar tissue which causes a loss of myocardial functionality. With the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), the promise of engineering autologous cardiac tissues (ECTs) as a translatable treatment to cardiac disease and as a model for pharmaceutical research is ever closer. We create ECTs using iPS-human induced cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) and extra cellular matrix (ECM) derived from a decellularized left ventricle of a porcine heart. Decellularized matrices allow the preservation of important architectural cues found in the native heart for hiCMs development (Momtahan, 2015). Nevertheless, ECTs still face some challenges before they can be useful in a clinical or pharmaceutical research setting i.e. poor ECT contractile force, hiCM maturity, proper cell morphology and architecture, etc. (Dwenger, 2018). In this study, we seek to combine the mechanical cues of the preserved architecture of a decellularized matrix with the spatiotemporal accuracy of optogenetics as a novel technique to stimulate ECT functionality assessed through contractile force, proper hiCM elongation, and alignment.
Faculty Advisor: Mizrachi, Dario (College of Life Sciences, Physiology & Molecular Biology)
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. During myocardial infarction cardiac tissue suffers a lack of nutrients and oxygen that leads to the formation of unregenerable scar tissue which causes a loss of myocardial functionality. With the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), the promise of engineering autologous cardiac tissues (ECTs) as a translatable treatment to cardiac disease and as a model for pharmaceutical research is ever closer. We create ECTs using iPS-human induced cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) and extra cellular matrix (ECM) derived from a decellularized left ventricle of a porcine heart. Decellularized matrices allow the preservation of important architectural cues found in the native heart for hiCMs development (Momtahan, 2015). Nevertheless, ECTs still face some challenges before they can be useful in a clinical or pharmaceutical research setting i.e. poor ECT contractile force, hiCM maturity, proper cell morphology and architecture, etc. (Dwenger, 2018). In this study, we seek to combine the mechanical cues of the preserved architecture of a decellularized matrix with the spatiotemporal accuracy of optogenetics as a novel technique to stimulate ECT functionality assessed through contractile force, proper hiCM elongation, and alignment.
Electrospinning of Spider Silk Protein/Chitosan Composites for Neurological Tissue Engineering
Bailey J. McFarland, Cheng Chen, Asfand Yar Khan, Harley Cragun, Justin A. Jones and Yu Huang (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Huang, Yu (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department); Jones, Justin (College of Science, Biology Department)
Neurological diseases are the largest cause of disability worldwide. Tissue engineering approaches are desirable as they can be used to treat these diseases by replacing damaged and non-repairable brain tissues with engineered materials. Electrospinning of bioactive molecules is a promising materials engineering method to culture neurons and support nervous tissue growth. This suitability for neural cell culture is due to the electrospun material's fibrous and porous structure that mimics the structure of the extracellular matrix. The electrospinning process also allows for the controllable development of complex 3D cell culture, which is key to the creation of viable neural connections. In addition, the formation of both aligned and unaligned layers of fibers allows for intricate guiding of cell morphology that improves outcomes in neural cultures. Finally, the choice of appropriate bioactive materials can improve neurological cell culture. Spider silk, a bioactive protein, contains sequences of amino acids that support nerve cell binding and scaffolding, in complement to which, chitosan fibers have been shown to promote the healthy growth of neural cells.
This project develops a novel method of electrospinning a fibrous scaffold for neural tissue engineering from solutions of recombinant spider silk protein and chitosan. Preliminary results in this study are promising and add to the body of research in neural tissue engineering. These bioactive materials paired with the morphological benefits of electrospinning allow an opportunity to create a substrate that can improve stem cell differentiation into healthy neurons.
Faculty Advisor: Huang, Yu (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department); Jones, Justin (College of Science, Biology Department)
Neurological diseases are the largest cause of disability worldwide. Tissue engineering approaches are desirable as they can be used to treat these diseases by replacing damaged and non-repairable brain tissues with engineered materials. Electrospinning of bioactive molecules is a promising materials engineering method to culture neurons and support nervous tissue growth. This suitability for neural cell culture is due to the electrospun material's fibrous and porous structure that mimics the structure of the extracellular matrix. The electrospinning process also allows for the controllable development of complex 3D cell culture, which is key to the creation of viable neural connections. In addition, the formation of both aligned and unaligned layers of fibers allows for intricate guiding of cell morphology that improves outcomes in neural cultures. Finally, the choice of appropriate bioactive materials can improve neurological cell culture. Spider silk, a bioactive protein, contains sequences of amino acids that support nerve cell binding and scaffolding, in complement to which, chitosan fibers have been shown to promote the healthy growth of neural cells.
This project develops a novel method of electrospinning a fibrous scaffold for neural tissue engineering from solutions of recombinant spider silk protein and chitosan. Preliminary results in this study are promising and add to the body of research in neural tissue engineering. These bioactive materials paired with the morphological benefits of electrospinning allow an opportunity to create a substrate that can improve stem cell differentiation into healthy neurons.
Creating the Digital Pathologist
Boyce, Cassandra; Runyan, Josh (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Wingate, David (Brigham Young University, Computer Science)
India has the world's highest rate of mortality due to cervical cancer. Despite this variant's high treatability, there aren't enough pathologists to read the pap smear slides. In order to streamline this process, we developed a low-cost, digital pathologist using deep learning to read pap smear results as a form of preliminary testing in order to decrease mortality rates. Deep learning alone cannot provide a solution because a housing is required for the hardware. The industrial design aspect of this project is also important to create a medical device that is not only functional and robust but accessible and unintimidating for those in rural India.
Faculty Advisor: Wingate, David (Brigham Young University, Computer Science)
India has the world's highest rate of mortality due to cervical cancer. Despite this variant's high treatability, there aren't enough pathologists to read the pap smear slides. In order to streamline this process, we developed a low-cost, digital pathologist using deep learning to read pap smear results as a form of preliminary testing in order to decrease mortality rates. Deep learning alone cannot provide a solution because a housing is required for the hardware. The industrial design aspect of this project is also important to create a medical device that is not only functional and robust but accessible and unintimidating for those in rural India.
Flexible Wiring Systems in Biomechanical Sensing Devices
Pulsipher, Kyle; Despain, Dillon; Wood, David; Fullwood, David T.; Bowden, Anton E. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Fullwood, David (Brigham Young University - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)
Design and Testing of Flexible Wiring Systems in Biomechanical Devices
Kyle Pulsipher, Dillon Despain, David Wood, David T. Fullwood, Anton E. Bowden
A major challenge to wearable electronic devices is the implementation of required wiring and hardware that can accommodate large deformations and strain. For example, several current biomechanical engineering projects utilize a nanocomposite, wide-range, wearable strain sensing technology developed at BYU. Our research challenge was to create a wearable system of conductive links between a multi-sensor system and a microcontroller, while keeping the system low-profile, inexpensive, and functional when experiencing strains of at least 60%.
Several solutions were hypothesized and tested, including experimental silicone composite solutions with dispersed conductive nanofillers. Mechanical solutions were also contemplated, in the form of geometrically positioning a traditional wire in such a way that it could strain the required amount.
Our final solution utilizes a fine-gauge wire shaped into a sine curve, whose period and amplitude are controlled, such that the stretched length (the arc length of the sine curve) is a required strain factor longer than the period of the function. The wire is coated in an elastic silicone body that maintains the wire at the unstrained shape and length. Our implementation provides 130% of the wiring system and accommodates 16 independent sensor connections.
The wiring system is positioned in such a way that the wires are hidden in the artistic form of the sensing system. This electrical structure is both highly practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Fullwood, David (Brigham Young University - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)
Design and Testing of Flexible Wiring Systems in Biomechanical Devices
Kyle Pulsipher, Dillon Despain, David Wood, David T. Fullwood, Anton E. Bowden
A major challenge to wearable electronic devices is the implementation of required wiring and hardware that can accommodate large deformations and strain. For example, several current biomechanical engineering projects utilize a nanocomposite, wide-range, wearable strain sensing technology developed at BYU. Our research challenge was to create a wearable system of conductive links between a multi-sensor system and a microcontroller, while keeping the system low-profile, inexpensive, and functional when experiencing strains of at least 60%.
Several solutions were hypothesized and tested, including experimental silicone composite solutions with dispersed conductive nanofillers. Mechanical solutions were also contemplated, in the form of geometrically positioning a traditional wire in such a way that it could strain the required amount.
Our final solution utilizes a fine-gauge wire shaped into a sine curve, whose period and amplitude are controlled, such that the stretched length (the arc length of the sine curve) is a required strain factor longer than the period of the function. The wire is coated in an elastic silicone body that maintains the wire at the unstrained shape and length. Our implementation provides 130% of the wiring system and accommodates 16 independent sensor connections.
The wiring system is positioned in such a way that the wires are hidden in the artistic form of the sensing system. This electrical structure is both highly practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Transverse Curvature Measurements of Lumbar Vertebral Bodies
Brevin, Brevin; Taylor, Aubrie; Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)
The development of precise lumbar vertebral devices depends heavily on the varying dimensions of vertebrae themselves. Upon literature review it was found that while much data presents spinal measurements for curvature in kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis, as well as individual vertebral heights and diameters, little to no data has been published regarding the transverse curvature of the vertebrae. As this measurement is requisite for the designing of a lumbar vertebral clamp currently being developed in our laboratory, the purpose of this work was to measure a variety of lumbar vertebrae, specifically characterizing lateral length, sagittal width, vertebral height, and the transverse curvature at the minimum lateral length. Dimensions were measured manually from dissected human spine samples using dial calipers and a measuring tape. 13 lumbar vertebrae from 3 cadaveric spines were measured. The average lateral length was 1.63 in (+/- 0.20 in) and the average transverse radius of curvature was 1.01 in (+/- 0.12 in). In future work, these measurements will be incorporated into the device design process for the lumbar vertebral clamp.
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)
The development of precise lumbar vertebral devices depends heavily on the varying dimensions of vertebrae themselves. Upon literature review it was found that while much data presents spinal measurements for curvature in kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis, as well as individual vertebral heights and diameters, little to no data has been published regarding the transverse curvature of the vertebrae. As this measurement is requisite for the designing of a lumbar vertebral clamp currently being developed in our laboratory, the purpose of this work was to measure a variety of lumbar vertebrae, specifically characterizing lateral length, sagittal width, vertebral height, and the transverse curvature at the minimum lateral length. Dimensions were measured manually from dissected human spine samples using dial calipers and a measuring tape. 13 lumbar vertebrae from 3 cadaveric spines were measured. The average lateral length was 1.63 in (+/- 0.20 in) and the average transverse radius of curvature was 1.01 in (+/- 0.12 in). In future work, these measurements will be incorporated into the device design process for the lumbar vertebral clamp.
Water Entry Of Two Projectiles Side By Side
Mortensen, Chase (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Truscott, Tadd (College of Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department)
The aim of this project is to analyze water entry based cavity formation of two projectiles and how it affects their motion. The study will be conducted by dropping two horizontally spaced similar-sized hydrophobic spheres from different heights into a quiescent water pool. The results will look at the position, acceleration and forces of the two sphere system and how they differ from a single sphere water entry. In addition, the horizontally spaced spheres show a change in the accompanying cavity formation and evolution when compared to past studies of a single sphere entry. Preliminary data suggests that the closer you drop projectiles to one another in water, the resulting of cavity-seal time, cavity shape, drag experienced by the bodies while in water could differ from single projectiles entering the water.
Faculty Advisor: Truscott, Tadd (College of Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department)
The aim of this project is to analyze water entry based cavity formation of two projectiles and how it affects their motion. The study will be conducted by dropping two horizontally spaced similar-sized hydrophobic spheres from different heights into a quiescent water pool. The results will look at the position, acceleration and forces of the two sphere system and how they differ from a single sphere water entry. In addition, the horizontally spaced spheres show a change in the accompanying cavity formation and evolution when compared to past studies of a single sphere entry. Preliminary data suggests that the closer you drop projectiles to one another in water, the resulting of cavity-seal time, cavity shape, drag experienced by the bodies while in water could differ from single projectiles entering the water.
Effects of Curvature on Optical Coherence Tomography Images used for the 3D Reconstruction of a Deployed Stent
Keyser, Michael A.; Jiang, David; Timmins, Lucas H. (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Timmins, Lucas (University of Utah, Biomedical Engineering)
Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and is caused by a buildup of atherosclerotic plaque blocking blood flow in a coronary artery. Stents are used to restore blood flow to affected regions by reopening the blocked artery. Failure among stents is common, and a 3D reconstruction of a stent can be used to investigate the cause of failure. We have previously established a 3D stent reconstruction technique that utilizes optical coherence tomography (OCT) and micro-computed tomography imaging data to provide a high-spatially resolved stent reconstruction. However, analysis revealed that each OCT image was subjected to a curvature induced rotational drift due to the imaging process. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vessel curvature and OCT image drift. Four separate channels of constant curvatures, 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 were drilled out of Delrin using a CNC machine resulting in a 'U' shaped channel. Each channel was imaged, and the rotational drift for the curvature of that channel was determined by calculating the average change in image orientation. The orientation of an image was the angle of the top edge of the 'U' with respect to a horizontal line. Results demonstrated the rotational drift was -0.172, -0.598, -0.927, and -1.124 degrees for curvatures of 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 .We discovered the relationship between the curvature of the channel and the rotational drift of an image to be _=-19.12_-0.227 where _ is the curvature of the channel _ is the rotational drift of the OCT image in degrees. In conclusion, we demonstrated that there is a linear relationship between curvature and OCT image circumferential drift that can be used to improve the overall accuracy of the reconstruction.
Faculty Advisor: Timmins, Lucas (University of Utah, Biomedical Engineering)
Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and is caused by a buildup of atherosclerotic plaque blocking blood flow in a coronary artery. Stents are used to restore blood flow to affected regions by reopening the blocked artery. Failure among stents is common, and a 3D reconstruction of a stent can be used to investigate the cause of failure. We have previously established a 3D stent reconstruction technique that utilizes optical coherence tomography (OCT) and micro-computed tomography imaging data to provide a high-spatially resolved stent reconstruction. However, analysis revealed that each OCT image was subjected to a curvature induced rotational drift due to the imaging process. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vessel curvature and OCT image drift. Four separate channels of constant curvatures, 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 were drilled out of Delrin using a CNC machine resulting in a 'U' shaped channel. Each channel was imaged, and the rotational drift for the curvature of that channel was determined by calculating the average change in image orientation. The orientation of an image was the angle of the top edge of the 'U' with respect to a horizontal line. Results demonstrated the rotational drift was -0.172, -0.598, -0.927, and -1.124 degrees for curvatures of 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 .We discovered the relationship between the curvature of the channel and the rotational drift of an image to be _=-19.12_-0.227 where _ is the curvature of the channel _ is the rotational drift of the OCT image in degrees. In conclusion, we demonstrated that there is a linear relationship between curvature and OCT image circumferential drift that can be used to improve the overall accuracy of the reconstruction.
Engineering Origami-Inspired Furniture
Parkinson, Bethany; Andrews, David; Magleby, Spencer (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Magleby, Spencer (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)
Increasing worldwide urbanization is leading to a rising population of people living in apartments. Apartments typically have short leases, which lead to a high turnover rate, or number of renters that move in per year. For example, the 2018 turnover rate in New York City was 30.5%. People who move this often usually buy cheap furniture each time they change apartments, because carrying furniture on public transportation is impractical. The goal of our research is to create furniture that allows people who move often to avoid re-purchasing furniture. This goal leads to three design requirements. First, the furniture should be easily collapsed and deployed. This permits the furniture to be conveniently stored and transported. Ideally, the furniture could be deployed with one hand. Second, the furniture should be inexpensive, both in manufacturing processes and material selection. Lastly, the furniture should be aesthetically pleasing. We have utilized origami as a method to achieve these design objectives, because it can be deployed in one motion.
There are significant challenges to designing and implementing origami-inspired furniture. For example, any joints between the legs, seat, table, and back of the furniture need to allow not only for the furniture to be stable in its deployed state, but also to be flat in its non-deployed state. Additionally, the employed joints must account for the thickness of the material. Each type of joint that is adaptable to thick materials was therefore considered and analyzed in the specific loading situation of a chair. Using these criteria and three unique types of joints, a variety of chairs were conceptualized. After prototyping, each type of chair was expanded to create an entire family of furniture, including a table, stool, and couch. The principles and design approaches developed in this project have generated origami-inspired furniture that is easily transportable, functional, inexpensive, comfortable, and aesthetic.
Faculty Advisor: Magleby, Spencer (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)
Increasing worldwide urbanization is leading to a rising population of people living in apartments. Apartments typically have short leases, which lead to a high turnover rate, or number of renters that move in per year. For example, the 2018 turnover rate in New York City was 30.5%. People who move this often usually buy cheap furniture each time they change apartments, because carrying furniture on public transportation is impractical. The goal of our research is to create furniture that allows people who move often to avoid re-purchasing furniture. This goal leads to three design requirements. First, the furniture should be easily collapsed and deployed. This permits the furniture to be conveniently stored and transported. Ideally, the furniture could be deployed with one hand. Second, the furniture should be inexpensive, both in manufacturing processes and material selection. Lastly, the furniture should be aesthetically pleasing. We have utilized origami as a method to achieve these design objectives, because it can be deployed in one motion.
There are significant challenges to designing and implementing origami-inspired furniture. For example, any joints between the legs, seat, table, and back of the furniture need to allow not only for the furniture to be stable in its deployed state, but also to be flat in its non-deployed state. Additionally, the employed joints must account for the thickness of the material. Each type of joint that is adaptable to thick materials was therefore considered and analyzed in the specific loading situation of a chair. Using these criteria and three unique types of joints, a variety of chairs were conceptualized. After prototyping, each type of chair was expanded to create an entire family of furniture, including a table, stool, and couch. The principles and design approaches developed in this project have generated origami-inspired furniture that is easily transportable, functional, inexpensive, comfortable, and aesthetic.