Biomedical Engineering Masters Theses

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    On the Feasibility of Machine Learning Algorithms Towards Low-Cost Flow Cytometry
    (North Dakota State University, 2023-08-01) Vandal, Noah
    Utilization low cost, scalable architectures for detection of specific cells for both mass flow and minute incidence analysis is something that is attractive for the clinical researcher, in order to expand access to otherwise costly devices. We demonstrate the use of a low-cost microfluidics device that performs detection of beads and cells, both for cell counting and for discrete cell type identification. This was accomplished using polymer technology via implementation of polydimethylsiloxane microfluidics, which were created by using a 3-D printed mold, and machine learning technologies with algorithms that can inference and track analyte particles within the microfluidic of interest. Our demonstration of our microfluidics device is proof that creating low cost instruments for analyte detection using current machine learning models and hardware is possible. We foresee the scalability of this design to be immense, in terms of throughput rate, inexpensiveness of product, and multiple different parameters and classes that can be searched for.
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    A Narrative Review and Longitudinal Data Analysis Method to Evaluate the Association Between Head and Neck Cancer and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
    (North Dakota State University, 2022) Le, Toan
    The pathophysiological mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and head and neck cancers (HNCs) have not been fully investigated. Currently, investigating the relationship between HNCs and OSA is incomplete due to the restriction of histological, molecular, and clinical evidence. In this research, the first section reviews the common course of therapy in patients with HNCs and OSA, the causal relationship and association between HNCs and OSA, and the scope of statistical methods used to investigate the association between HNCs and OSA. According to the observation from the literature review, more rigorously designed studies with longitudinal data collection should be considered. To explore the potential in longitudinal data of HNCs patients with OSA, the second section concentrate on developing a framework that will determine the change over time of Apnea-Hypopnea index (AHI) in OSA patients and estimate the effect of treatment on the rate of change of AHI. Successfully address and confirm the relationship between HNCs treatment and OSA promise to support the management of cancer and OSA in adults.
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    Processing and Application of MXene (Ti3C2) for Plant Nutritional Stress Sensing
    (North Dakota State University, 2023) Koirala, Sampada
    Environmental stresses cause nutritional stresses which in turn lower crop yields, so understanding this complex relationship can improve crop growth and enable new precision farming methods. The aim of this study is to develop a new nanomaterial MXene-based sensing technology for the detection of the soybean plant nutritional stress released by the plant leaves in order to help plants early diagnosis and disease prevention. When terpenes were applied to MXene material using MILD method, the sensor had a significant response towards alpha-pinene and alpha-humulene with a minimal response showed for linalool terpene. Conversely, terpenes applied to MXene prepared using hydrothermal method showed a significant sensitivity response for only alpha-humulene. Using this low-cost sensing device has opened a new way to detect plant nutritional stress and offer precise measurement for plants growth and health.
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    Noise Reduction of Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing for Improved Extracellular Vesicles Profiling in Cancer Detection
    (North Dakota State University, 2022) Ejjigu, Nega
    EVs have much potential as sensitive, novel biomarkers because they represent the status of their cells of origin and can be used to detect cancer earlier than alternative biomarkers. The size of EVs can be determined by tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS). However, TRPS is susceptible to environmental noise, including mechanical and electrical noise that limits detection precision. To overcome these noises, an external device was designed, guided by flow simulations, to reduce noises that interfere with TRPS measurements. Both mechanical and electrical environmental noise reductions were observed after using the shield. The study also validated the noise reduction function of the shield by quantifying EVs from different cell origins. This study demonstrates innovation in designing shielding enclosures using composite material to improve the sensitivity of emerging tunable resistive pulse technology to quantify EVs below 200 nm, which is challenging using traditional quantification methods.
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    Wireless Wearable Device for the Acquisition of Bioelectrical Signals for Applications in Sleep Monitoring and Lucid Dream Induction
    (North Dakota State University, 2021) Nawrot, Andrew Shannon
    The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends at minimum seven hours of sleep per night, which means you would expect to spend a quarter of your lifetime asleep. Acute or chronic sleep deprivation can greatly impair quality of life, and lead to serious health problems. Many smart devices have begun to incorporate sleep monitoring functionalities; however, their claims and accuracy can leave users misguided or unsatisfied. Conversely, clinical sleep monitoring equipment is often too complex or impractical for consistent use. In order to address this gap, it is necessary to create a device that is wearable and non-obstructive, with the capabilities to record high-fidelity bioelectrical signals from the regions of interest. The Wearable Sleep Monitoring System (WSMS) device is a simple, lightweight, wearable device that records bioelectrical signals from the user in real-time, with the capability to communicate wirelessly with a paired smartphone application.
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    Optimizing Silk Protein Production Using an Engineering Approach
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Meester, Kalleigh Emmalyn
    The acquisition of spider silk is a complex and costly process that restricts its availability. Increasing applications stemming from the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors is driving the demand higher, necessitating the need for efficient large-scale production. This thesis investigates 1) recombinant protein expression systems, 2) major ampullate gland cell culture techniques for natural silk production, and 3) process optimization of recombinant silk protein expression. Using a process engineering analysis, the current E.coli system expression system was found to be a cost-effective and efficient technique for silk production. While a Box-Behnken predictive model was developed to optimize expression conditions based on small-scale E.coli expression data, it failed to translate to a larger-scale. Alternatively, the protein secreting cells that line the major ampullate silk gland were isolated and grown in conditions mimicking the native microenvironment, demonstrating a clear impact on growth of the cells and a potential new source of silk.
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    Label-Free CD8+ T-cell Purification and Electroporation in Relation to CAR T-cell Therapy
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Ringwelski, Beth Anne
    Immunotherapy is becoming recognized as a superior treatment for cancer. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy is among the immunotherapies that has had growing success rates. CAR T-cell therapy takes patient’s T-cells and encodes them with a CAR expressing gene, which can then target their cancer cells. However, there are some dangers associated with this therapy. If a cancer cell is mistakenly transfected with the CAR molecule, it can become resistant to the therapy. Using the electric properties of the cells, we have created a technique that can purify the T-cells from the remaining cancer cells using microfluidics and dielectrophoresis (DEP). Then, to further improve the therapy, the sample is electroporated following being patterned using DEP forces, which transfects the cells without using viral vectors and provides longer CD19 expression.
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    Label Free Micro-RNA Biomarker Detection in Serum Samples for Potential Diagnosis Application at Point-of-Care Settings
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Pokharel, Rounak
    The number of new cancer cases is projected to rise to 23.6 million by 2030 according to the National Cancer Institute. Obesity & cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide according to recent reports. Biomarkers— any molecules found within a human body that can be used to monitor an individual's health — have been shown to play a significant role in the detection of cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that in the diagnosis and screening of various human diseases, including cancer, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are important biomarkers. A crucial roadblock to using microRNA in screening applications is the lack of effective and low-cost microRNA detection. To address this issue, in this study, we have developed a viable method that combines the dielectrophoresis and electrical impedance. Results show this approach can measure very small concentrations of label-free microRNAs (1pM).