Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 12-16-2023

Abstract

The goal of this work was to leverage soft colloid fabrication through droplet microfluidics to improve the biomedical fields of radiotracer microspheres for selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and 3D hydrogel tissue constructs for cell culture with future potential as a platform to study liver diseases and drug response. The importance of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging microspheres infused with positron-emitting radioisotopes such as Ga-68, Cu-64, and F-18 is that they accurately map tumor-to-liver uptake (TLR) ratio and lung shunting factor of hepatocellular carcinoma. These pretreatment radiotracers model the intravascular accumulation behavior of radioactive therapeutic Y-90 SIRT microspheres. Qualifying patients, who are determined to have acceptable TLR based on radiotracer findings, and accuracy of radiation dosimetry can be maximized with minimal damage to healthy tissues because of infused-microsphere PET radiotracers. This work presents a droplet microfluidic process for rapid vi fabrication of copper, gallium, and fluorine infused silica microspheres. Building on this rapid soft colloid synthesis platform, radioactive Ga-68 silica microspheres were also fabricated. For the creation of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)-based hydrogel microspheres loaded with HepG2 liver cancer cells, a high throughput centrifugal droplet microfluidic platform was adopted. Uniform sized droplets are formed in air using centrifugal force after which the droplets are crosslinked to form stable microgels infused with cells. Customizable ELP hydrogels simulate extra cellular matrix milieus to enhance artificial tissue constructs by granting structural support and cell-binding binding domains, with additional bioactive modifications possible. Cellular viability and growth response to the ELP microgel environment was investigated.

Language

English

Keywords

microfluidics, silica, tissue spheroid, microgel, microsphere, ga-68, PET, Hepatocellular carcinoma

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biomedical Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Biomedical Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Nick Carroll

Second Committee Member

Reed Selwyn

Third Committee Member

Gabriel Lopez

Fourth Committee Member

Andrew Shreve

Download

Share

COinS