9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
sion vectors for heterologous recombinant protein expression. One of the enzymes of interest, Csac_2409, a B-xylosidase, has been characterized in our lab and four additional enzymes (Csac_1089, Csac_2405, Csac_2408, and Csac_2409) are currently being biochemically characterized. This work will present the status of biochemical studies on these enzymes.
Carbon Engineered Scaffolds May Provide an Optimum Balance of Biologic and Mechanical Properties for Use in Tendon Repair Surgery Chemical & Materials Engineering Graduate Research Advisor(s) - Robert M Joseph, Khalid Lafdi, Panagiotis A Tsonis Student(s) - Jarema S Czarnecki
9:00 AM-10:30 AM Kennedy Union - Ballroom
Tissue derived scaffolds lack a balance of mechanical strength and bioconductivity needed to span tendon deficits in surgery. Carbon engineered scaffolds were examined as an optimum mechanical and biologic alternative to tissue derived scaffolds. Properties of engineered carbon scaffolds (n=10) were compared to control samples of the dermal derived scaffold Graft Jacket (n=10). Scaffold porosity and tension failure were characterized with a Scanco MicroCT35 (7um/slice) and Mechanical Tester System (rate: 25.4mm/min). Bioconductivity was measured by fibroblast adhesion, morphology and actin organization on scaffolds invitro using metamorph software and fluorescence microscopy of Rhodamine (actin) and DAPI (nuclei) labeled cells. Statistical significances were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test with statistical significance assessed at p < 0.05. Load failure of carbon fabric at 55% porosity (56 +/- 3.8 N) and 70% porosity (26 +/- 3.3 N) was comparable to control (35% porosity). Carbon fabric and carbon veil had significantly greater elastic moduli (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0003) and maximum stress (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001) compared to control. The morphology and actin organization of fibroblast adhesion to fabric closely resembled adhesion to Graft Jacket’s vascular surface while adhesion to carbon veil closely resembled Graft Jacket’s dermal surface. Cell adhesion was quantitatively similar among scaffolds. Carbon’s high moduli, high maximum stress and fibroblast conductivity suggest that carbon engineered scaffolds may provide a balance of biomechanical and bioconductive properties suitable for use in tendon repair surgery.
Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Chirality Enrichment Using DNA Chemical & Materials Engineering Graduate Research Advisor(s) - Charles E Browning, Donald A Comfort Student(s) - Colin L Hisey, Hadil R Issa
9:00 AM-10:30 AM Kennedy Union - Ballroom
Due to their novel structure and properties, carbon nanotubes have been one of the main focuses in nanotechnology research over the past few decades. In particular, their mechanical and electrical properties, along with their extreme aspect ratio indicate their potential in nanoelectromechanical applications. In order to be realistically used in electrical applications, single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) must be purified with respect to chirality to up to 99.9999% homogeneity in order to exhibit predictable and uniform properties. However, while their methods of synthesis, properties, and methods of characterization have been extensively studied, an efficient method for separating single wall carbon nanotubes with respect to their chirality has not yet been fully developed. Due to a unique groove-binding and wrapping mechanism, DNA exhibits the ability to mediate SWNT separation. In this project, various aspects of using DNA as a chirality enrichment medium are explored in order to increase the separation efficiency, including using different types of genomic and synthetic DNA to explore the separation dependence on specific DNA sequences as well as using different types of bulk SWNT samples in order to examine the effects of their electronic structure on their enrichment potential. These results are verified and quantified using fluorescence, Raman, and optical spectroscopy. Once the enrichment process has been completed, the electronic nature of the purified single wall nanotubes is quantified by assembling field effect transistors using dielectrophoresis.
Detection of Bacteriophages Using Absorbance, Bioluminescence, and Fluorescence Tests Civil & Environmental Engineering & Engineering Mechanics Graduate Research Advisor(s) - Denise G Taylor Student(s) - Lindsey M Staley 52
9:00 AM-10:30 AM Kennedy Union - Ballroom