Design Engineering: Cell Encapsulation

DESIGN ENGINEERING: CELL ENCAPSULATION

Presented by: Audrey Gonzalez and Carlos Montalvo (CCISD)Faculty mentor: Dr. Zhengdong Cheng of the Artie McFerrin Chemical Engineering Department

CELL ENCAPSU

LATION

•Encapsulating cells of interest with therapeutic agent in a semi-permeable membrane•Implant cell capsules into human•Cells release therapeutic substance such as insulin for diabetics

CORE ELEMENT OF RESEARCH BEING BRIDGED INTO CLASSROOM PROJECT

DR. CHENG’S LAB: FOCUSED ON CHEMISTRY OF ENCAPSULATION

Encapsulation is made from Alginic acid which is insoluble in water/organic solvents and is biocompatible

The Alginic acid encapsulation is then covered by the polymer PNIPAM that exhibits controlled variations of permeability

MAKING ENCAPSULATIONS IN THE LAB1. Make a solution of calcium cholride and water and setup camera

2. Make a solution of alginic acid, water, and turgitol and place in syringe pump

3. Set up syringe pump and voltage source 4. Test electrospray and begin making encapsulations

TEXAS ESSENTIAL KN

OW

LEDG

E AND

SKILLS

CONCEPTS AND TEKS COVERED

IN PROJECT

Chemistry Concepts: properties of water, solubility, chemical/physical properties and changes, density and buoyancy, atoms (TEKS 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5A, 6A, (IPC 7A), 12A, 12C)

Physics concepts: interpreting graphs, measurements (time, density, mass, volume, buoyant forces, grams released per unit time), semi-permeable membrane, design engineering (TEKS 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D)

AP Biology concepts: Biomedicine (time release), cell encapsulation, cell processes (osmosis/diffusion, semi-permeability), biochemistry (hydrophobic/philic bilayer, chem/phys properties of membrane, chem/phys changes to encapsulation, properties of water), immune system role

CLASSROOM PROJECTTimeline: Cumulative project (7 weeks)Actual design, build, analysis phase (2 weeks)Objective: Lab groups will be defending a cell encapsulation design to a local pharmaceutical representative using knowledge based on research of given materials and data measurements.

CLASSROOM PROJECT

Proposal: A local pharmaceutical company is looking for a new way to encapsulate a drug. The actual encapsulation must be-

1. protective of the medicine inside 2. time released 3. selectively-permeable

WH

O CARES?

WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE?We need drugs on the market that are safe and work properly.

WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE?

About 176,500 people aged 20 years or younger have diabetes.

As of 2005, 20.8 million people have diabetes

The estimated economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was $132 billion. Of this amount, $92 billion was due to direct medical costs.

www.cdc.gov/diabetes

Diabetics

WH

AT IS THE RELEVAN

CE? The pharmaceutical

industry is a billion dollar industry

that has become a necessity in our

allopathic culture today.

 DESIGN PHASE Students will be

given 5 different semi-permeable materials to test

Size restriction A design proposal

will be submitted for approval

Research: physical and chemical

properties of membrane -Do they affect semi-permeability or density? (Chemistry)

Bioencapsulations/Immunosuppression of (AP Biology)

Advantages and disadvantages of time released (AP bio/chemistry/physics)

MEASUREMENT PHASEBefore building: Time that it takes for

small measured amount of Tums to diffuse through each membrane

Using ratios decide time for an entire packet of Tums quikpak to dissolve

Based on research decide if long or short diffusion is better

Rank membranes and choose material(s)

nylonnylon

Coffee filterCoffee filter

burlapburlap

fiberglassfiberglass

PantyhosePantyhose

MEASUREMENT PHASETesting of encapsulation: Mass before/after Volume Density: sink, float, or suspended in

water Find buoyant forces (physics) Measure mass released per

unit time (extrapolate at 2*t, 4*t, 6*t)

Selectively permeable?

ANALYSIS PHASE: AFTER TESTING AND DATA REVIEWED, DEFENSES WILL BEGIN

Groups must clearly and concisely defend their encapsulation product, design and material, to a local pharmaceutical rep

THE PRO

JECT

This encapsulation is made out of a double layer of nylon material that is surrounding an embroidery hoop.The “therapeutic agent” that is encapsulated is a Tums quikpak.

Time for Tums to diffuse out of encapsulation 2.14 min

This encapsulation is made of a double layer of filter paper surrounding an embroidery hoop and is encapsulating a Tums quikpak.

Time for Tums to diffuse out 3.53 min

RUBRIC FOR GRADING

Pre and post-test

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS•Dr. Zhengdong Cheng•Grad student Andres Mejia•Undergrad Lucas Kinard

Dr. Cheryl Page Dr. Karen Butler-Purry Dr. Robin Autenrieth Jacque Hodge Joy Monroe Dr. Andy Conkey Dr. Arun Srinivasa Dr. Jennifer Welch All E3 participants Dr. Chance Lewis

JOYS OF TEACHING

Ma and Pa video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfq5kju627c