Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2015

Thesis Advisor(s)

Lakshmi S. Nair

Honors Major

Biomedical Engineering

Disciplines

Biological Engineering | Biomaterials | Biomedical | Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Electrical and Electronics | Equipment and Supplies | Hardware Systems | Medical Biotechnology | Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering | Systems and Integrative Engineering | Therapeutics

Abstract

Hydrogels are useful in wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications, but the available methods of injecting them quickly and noninvasively are limited. The medical industry does not yet have access to an all-purpose device that can quickly synthesize hydrogels of different shapes and sizes. Many synthesis procedures that have been developed result in the formation of amorphous hydrogels. While generally useful, amorphous hydrogels exhibit limited capability in tissue engineering applications, especially due to their viscous properties. This endeavor aims to modulate the appropriate gelation parameters, optimize the injection process, and create a prototype that allows for the extrusion of uniformly mixed precursor gelation solutions. It involves the designing and testing of a hydrogel applicator that is capable of quickly dispensing hydrogels of predefined shapes onto a wound for enhanced healing. Said hydrogels can also be used in applications such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery.

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