Probing the potential of mucus permeability to signify preterm birth risk

Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality, and is frequently associated with intra-amniotic infection hypothesized to arise from bacterial ascension across a dysfunctional cervical mucus plug. To study this dysfunction, we assessed the permeability of cervical mucus from non-pregnant ovulating (n = 20) and high-(n = 9) and low-risk (n = 16) pregnant women to probes of varying sizes and surface chemistries. We found that the motion of negatively charged, carboxylated microspheres in mucus from pregnant patients was significantly restricted compared to ovulating patients, but not significantly different between high-A nd low-risk pregnant women. In contrast, charged peptide probes small enough to avoid steric interactions, but sensitive to the biochemical modifications of mucus components exhibited significantly different transport profiles through mucus from high-A nd low-risk patients. Thus, although both microstructural rearrangements of the components of mucus as well as biochemical modifications to their adhesiveness may alter the overall permeability of the cervical mucus plug, our findings suggest that the latter mechanism plays a dominant role in the impairment of the function of this barrier during preterm birth. We expect that these probes may be readily adapted to study the mechanisms underlying disease progression on all mucosal epithelia, including those in the mouth, lungs, and gut.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award DMR-0819762)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award 1122374

Commercialization of a masonry tool designed in a senior-capstone class through a licensing agreement

Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2018Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Many seemingly viable products are designed and built in MIT Mechanical Engineering's senior capstone design class, 2.009, but a small fraction make it to real markets. The 2017 2.009 Orange Team is commercializing their product through the company Rhino Tools and Equipment (RTE). The product, a rotary hammer attachment that guides the chisel bit as it moves within a mortar joint, was designed with the aim of improving the repointing work done by masons on brick exteriors. Given the real constraints on a team of soon-to-be graduating students and analysis of the market and the product, a licensing business model was chosen. The licensing business model is heavily reliant on intellectual property. Thus, an extensive prior art search was carried out to determine the product's novelty. By this analysis the product is patentable. Cash flows were projected to determine a fair allocation of economic benefit in a licensing agreement; RTE should expect to receive about 4.5% royalty on revenue. Moving forward, RTE should pursue funding to complete the patent process as well as a pilot program with masons, and continue to develop its connections within the tool industry.by Hannah R. Rudoltz.S.B.S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineerin