Undergraduate Research Day 2020

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/20158

With students involved in so many research opportunities, Undergraduate Research Day provides the perfect opportunity for them to share their work with the campus community. Held each April, Undergraduate Research Day showcases current research, scholarship, and artistic endeavors.

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End date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.ENGR

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
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    Linker Domain Size Does Not Impact Bivalent HER3 Targeting Affibody Efficacy
    (2020) Oubaid, Jinan; Schardt, John; Jay, Steven; Jay, Steven; Schardt, John
    The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) family of receptors, also called ErbB or HER family, is a group of tyrosine kinase transmembrane proteins that have many regulatory purposes including regulating cell proliferation and survival. Members of the HER family rely on forming dimers upon ligand binding to promote downstream signaling. Gene mutations can result in the deregulation of the HER receptors, further resulting in cancer. HER3, a receptor that is deregulated in many cancers including ovarian, breast, and lung cancer, has been found to be responsible for drug resistance to therapeutics that currently exist to target other members of the HER family. This can occur through increased phosphorylation and overexpression of the HER3 receptor. There are many HER3 targeted therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), that are currently in phase 1 and 2 of clinical studies; however, no HER3 targeted therapeutics have been approved by the FDA. In addition to this, previous studies have demonstrated that not every patient will respond to a specific treatment plan or therapeutic; therefore, the development of various treatment options is essential. An engineered protein known as the affibody, which in previous studies has shown to be highly soluble, thermally stable, and small in size allowing for effective tissue penetration, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer. In this study, it was found that multivalent affibodies, which are affibodies with more than one binding domain, are more effective at inhibiting HER3 activation, also known as phosphorylation, and inducing HER3 downregulation than monovalent affibodies in multiple cell lines. Inhibiting receptor activation can be effective at reducing cell proliferation and survivability. In addition, other modifications were made to optimize the affibodies, such as altering the length of the linker that tethers the binding domains in a multivalent affibody together, and to test for their efficacy. Finally, an albumin binding domain was incorporated into the affibody design to help increase affibody half-life, which would be essential for in vivo testing.
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    Investigating Magainin through Computational Molecular Modeling
    (2020) Holoman, Tyla; Klauda, Jeffery
    Magainin is a 23-residue, helical, antimicrobial peptide found in the skin of the Xenopus laevis, also known as the African Clawed Frog. Magainin is important because it can disrupt electrochemical gradients in the cell membranes of many bacteria, tumors, and fungi, which is extremely useful in pharmaceuticals for killing these organisms. Understanding how Magainin interacts with cell membranes is an important part of understanding how it could work medicinally, and one of the best ways to understand these reactions is through computational protein modeling. Ten membrane protein systems containing Magainin and a membrane bilayer were constructed to analyze Magainin’s behavior and interactions with a model for the outer skin membrane. These systems were simulated by a supercomputer for about 300 ns each to allow the peptide to fully interact with the membrane bilayer. Now that the simulations have been completed, they are being analyzed to determine exactly what patterns of behavior were exhibited by Magainin when placed near a model skin membrane.
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    Encapsulation of Candida albicans in Alginate Polymer
    (2020) Okunrinboye, Funke; Karlsson, Amy
    Candida albicans is a commensal opportunistic fungal pathogen. It is a polymorphic organism that exists in pseudo-hyphal, hyphal and yeast forms in human hosts. C. albicans causes superficial and systemic infections, including oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, and systemic bloodstream infections. Systemic candidiasis can be deadly in immunocompromised patients such as transplant recipients and patients that have HIV, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. C. albicans infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates yearly. The characteristics of C. albicans associated with an ability to cause infections involve cell adhesion, dimorphism, phenotypic switching, thigmotropism, and biofilm formation. These characteristics aid in yeast dispersal, virulence and resistance to current antifungal therapies. Due to the toxicity of antifungal therapies to human host cells, the resistance of C. albicans to antifungal therapies, and Candida’s ability to escape the white blood cells, newer approaches to better study C. albicans are needed. Encapsulation of yeast cells will allow observation of cell signaling, growth patterns, and, ultimately, enable the development of better alternatives to prevent biofilm formation and C. albicans hyphal growth, thereby limiting virulence. Anionic alginate polymers were used to mimic human host cells for Candida encapsulation observation. and C. albicans strain SC5134 was embedded in the capsules. The cells grew predominantly in the yeast form at 35 °C but showed significant hyphal growth at 37 °C, in both liquid growth medium and in the alginate capsules. The results also show that C albicans can successfully be encapsulated and that growth can be observed in the capsules.
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    Bacteria-mucus interactions & their role in chronic lung infections
    (2020) Curry, Keyona; Joyer, Katherine; Duncan, Gregg
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    Improving Non-Contact Tonometry through Advanced Applanation Techniques and Measurement of Corneal Deformation
    (2020) Muessig, James; Ackman, Moshe; Cho, Lauren; Do, Kun; Green, Aaron; Klueter, Sam; Krakovsky, Eliana; Locraft, Ross; Wu, Hongyi; Lin, Jonathan; Scarcelli, Giuliano
    Glaucoma, a disease characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eyes, is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Accurate measurement of IOP is essential to early diagnosis of glaucoma in order to begin treatment and prevent long-term vision loss. Currently, non-contact tonometry, known as an “air-puff test”, is the most common diagnostic method despite its inaccessibility, discomfort, high cost, and reliance on an expert to operate. In order to improve upon this method, we designed an accurate and less invasive measurement system utilizing a novel depth-mapping neural network and a microcontroller-driven valve system. We applanated eyes with a variable-intensity air puff while imaging the deformation with a single camera. Our neural network then processed the image data and generated a three-dimensional deformation map. We compared our results to accepted tonometry measurements in order to validate the accuracy of our system as an alternative diagnostic device. With a lower pressure puff and simplified imaging setup, we were able to accurately measure IOP, improving existing diagnostic techniques in optometry.
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    Development of 3D Printed Honeycombs for Crash Mitigation Applications
    (2020) Harvey, Rachel; Wereley, Norman; Mao, Min
    Honeycomb structures have been studied thoroughly to understand their in and out-of-plane mechanical properties. The ability of honeycombs to effectively absorb energy makes them ideal for usage in crash mitigation, particularly for helicopters and automobiles. Currently, when crushed by a dynamic load, there is an impulse in force prior to a steady absorption – which could be detrimental in such crash mitigation applications. In this study, 3D printed honeycombs are investigated for subsequent crush efficiency with quasi-static and dynamic crush tests. 3D printing, rather than conventional manufacturing, allows for structural modifications within the honeycomb that influence its force-displacement profile. Buckling initiators on the face and/or vertex of honeycombs should reduce the initial peak stress and increase the strain at which densification, the point at which the stress once again increases, begins. The experiment is not complete, but thus far, buckling initiators have proven to decrease the initial peak stress of tested honeycombs. Future directions for the project include testing honeycombs of other materials with buckling initiators, and the implementation of variations of current buckling initiator designs.
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    Robotic Habitat Technologies for Minimizing Crew Maintenance Requirements
    (2020) Broemmelsiek, Rachel; Calderwood, Micah; Callejon Hierro, Jaime; Cueva, Rachel; Harvey, Rachel; Holmes, Scott; Khawaja, Imran; Kleyman, William; Mnev, Peter; Orlando, Wilson; Queen, Jessica; Shenk-Evans, Micah; Skinner, Thomas; Akin, Dave; Bowden, Mary
    NASA’s Lunar Gateway aims to be deployed later in the decade and will serve as an outpost orbiting the moon. This habitat will be utilized as a base for lunar operations as well as future missions to Mars. Unlike the International Space Station (ISS), which maintains three to six astronauts at any given time, the Lunar Gateway will be uncrewed for eleven months out of the year. Over 80% of crew time onboard the ISS is dedicated to logistics, repair, and maintenance, leaving minimal time for scientific research and experimentation. In order to maintain Gateway, robotic systems must be implemented to accomplish maintenance and operational tasks. This paper discusses our team’s proposed dexterous robotic system, which will address routine and contingency operational and maintenance tasks on Gateway. The project is experimentally-based, and split into three approaches: cataloging robotic capabilities via robot/taskboard interactions, logistics management of Cargo Transfer Bags (CTBs), and software development of an AprilTag situational development system. This research project utilizes the unique capabilities of the University of Maryland (UMD) Space Systems Laboratory (SSL), which houses various dexterous robotic manipulators, mock-ups of space habitats, and the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility (NBRF), a 50-foot diameter, 25-foot deep water tank used to simulate microgravity conditions. By incorporating robotic systems into the architecture of the Lunar Gateway, it will allow for the lunar outpost to be continually operated and maintained while uncrewed, and will allow for astronauts, when present, to focus on maximizing scientific discoveries.
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    Ionic Liquid Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries
    (2020) Matthews, Jesse; Kofinas, Peter
    Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs) have emerged as the leading technology in energy storage, with potential applications ranging from consumer electronics to hybrid vehicles and storage of energy produced by photovoltaics. State-of-the-art LIBs utilize a liquid electrolyte that poses issues such as flammability, potential leakage from battery casings, and dendrite growth when used with lithium metal. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) show promise in replacing liquid electrolytes, as they offer decreased flammability and the potential for dendrite prevention, enabling the use of lithium metal. However, SPEs are often hindered by low ionic conductivities and poor contact with electrodes. In this work, a SPE is proposed that consists of a high molecular weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) matrix with an ionic liquid and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) as plasticizers. A range of different compositions of SPE were fabricated and their electrochemical and thermal properties were characterized using cyclic voltammetry, electrical impedance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Our experiments demonstrated a high lithium conductivity and wide electrochemical and thermal stability windows for the electrolyte. Cycling cells, constructed using lithium metal and a composite Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) electrode, demonstrated high coulombic efficiency and minimal capacity fade through cycling at both elevated temperature and room temperature. As a whole, the SPE compositions with a higher ratio of ionic liquid to polymer showed higher conductivity and improved cycling performance. These electrolytes with high ionic liquid content show promise as safe, stable, and conductive alternatives to liquid electrolytes for lithium ion batteries and are also commercially relevant due to their ability to cycle at a wide range of temperatures with commercially available electrodes.
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    Localizing Chemotherapeutic Drug Release to Treat Stage III Colorectal Cancer
    (2020) Sebastian, Ria; Atalla, Anthony; Coley, Morgan; Hamers, Matthew; Tiberino, Matthew; Nagler, Matthew; Nassar, Yomna; Nichols, Alison; Minahan, Eva; Karodeh, Nima; McGrath, Jennifer; Wendeu-Foyet, Kevin; Kofinas, Peter; Ayyub, Omar
    These studies focused on the incorporation of chemotherapeutic drugs into biodegradable polymers, specifically poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL), as a localized form of cancer treatment. In conjunction with the surgical resection of a tumor, this polymer can be used to deposit drugs directly at the site and minimize the risks posed by systemic chemotherapy. The methodology focused on Stage IIIA colorectal cancer due to its high recurrence rate and the common use of surgery as a form of treatment. In our experiments, data was collected to compare the various physical, chemical, and mechanical properties between PLCL fiber mats loaded with Capecitabine in order to evaluate the most ideal drug release pattern. Results found that the combinations we had tested thus far had shown a delayed release, meaning at least a week passed before initial drug dissociation from the polymer. Current results suggest a possible relationship between molecular weight and the delay period length, which has implications in future research. Different polymers will also be studied to assess the chemical impact on the release patterns we found in our data.
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    Utilizing macroalgae for heavy metal remediation of effluents from industrial wastewater
    (2020) Baitman, Benjamin; Chang, Justin; Croce, Bryan; Parker, Joshua; Seibert, Paul; Weiss, Emma; Weller, Joseph; Zhou, Wen; Andrade, Natasha
    Algae as a biosorbent is an emerging technology that offers a renewable and economically efficient means of removing heavy metals from wastewater effluent. While there are a multitude of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of algae as a heavy metal adsorbent, there are a lack of studies that attempt to use algal biosorption as their primary removal method. This study looks to examine the biosorption efficiency of inactive algae strands Spirilina and Uluthrix in a non batch reactor. Tannery effluent is used as a model for a generalized heavy metal effluent, because it is well defined in the literature. The algae was analyzed first at a lab scale to determine the maximum carrying capacity of the algae, examining the optimal conditions for adsorption. Our laboratory results are currently being run to determine optimal pH, temperature, and contact time for adsorption. A pilot scale system is currently being tested to determine how well a system can implement this novel approach to biosorption.