Imaging of poly(α-hydroxy-ester) scaffolds with X-ray phase-contrast microcomputed tomography

Porous scaffolds based on poly(α-hydroxy-esters) are under investigation in many tissue engineering applications. A biological response to these materials is driven, in part, by their three-dimensional (3D) structure. The ability to evaluate quantitatively the material structure in tissue-engineering applications is important for the continued development of these polymer-based approaches. X-ray imaging techniques based on phase contrast (PC) have shown a tremendous promise for a number of biomedical applications owing to their ability to provide a contrast based on alternative X-ray properties (refraction and scatter) in addition to X-ray absorption. In this research, poly(α-hydroxy-ester) scaffolds were synthesized and imaged by X-ray PC microcomputed tomography. The 3D images depicting the X-ray attenuation and phase-shifting properties were reconstructed from the measurement data. The scaffold structure could be imaged by X-ray PC in both cell culture conditions and within the tissue. The 3D images allowed for quantification of scaffold properties and automatic segmentation of scaffolds from the surrounding hard and soft tissues. These results provide evidence of the significant potential of techniques based on X-ray PC for imaging polymer scaffolds

CONTROLLED ARCHITECTURE OF HYDROGELS TO ALLOW VASCULARIZATION

Vascularization within biomaterial scaffolds is essential for engineered tissues. A sintering method is investigated in which spherical 106-125 micron poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres are used to create porous poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) hydrogels with varying interconnectivity for vascularized tissue invasion. The sintering method resulting in interconnectivity levels that increased with sintering time and temperature. Mechanical testing on hydrogels showed increasing interconnectivity of hydrogels decreases the elastic modulus. A rodent subcutaneous model was used to evaluate influence of hydrogel interconnectivity on in vivo response at 3 and 6 weeks. There was significant difference in tissue invasion between the groups at the two different time points. At week 3, higher interconnectivity hydrogels had twice as much invasion depth compared with the lower interconnectivity. The higher interconnectivity hydrogels had complete vascularization at 3 weeks. In conclusion, a technique for preparation of porous hydrogels with controlled pore interconnectivity has been developed and evaluated. This method has been used to show that higher interconnectivity enables deeper vascularized tissue ingrowth and thus holds great potential for tissue engineering applications.M.S. in Chemical Engineering, May 201

Design and Market Analysis of Condensate Recycling from Commercial HVAC Systems (Semester Unknown) IPRO 346: Design and Marketing Solutions For Condensate IPRO346 Project Plan Su10

IPRO 346 is put together to work with and assist Pentair Water Company. The main task is to collect condensate from commercial HVAC systems in attempt to quantify it and test the chemical content of it. These tasks will be completed so that a feasible use or uses can be developed for the condensate water. The use or uses will be backed by not only the collected data but market and business analysis as well. The uses for the collected condensate water and the data collected will be presented in a formal technical paper. This will include detailed information about the quantity and chemical content of the condensate. The uses proposed will be based on the amount of condensate produced and what Pentair products such as pumps and filters can be used to accomplish these uses. This will ultimately determine a „green‟ solution for condensate harvesting and will incorporate Pentair‟s existing products. The project plan is a report on the current work plan and the direction in which the IPRO is headed. This is subject to change as the summer semester progresses. It also includes a brief history and background about Pentair and condensate harvesting in general. Finally it includes a team breakdown which includes more specific tasks to be accomplished as well as a Gantt chart show the key deliverables and their deadlines.Sponsorship: PentairDeliverable

Design and Market Analysis of Condensate Recycling from Commercial HVAC Systems (Semester Unknown) IPRO 346: Design and Marketing Solutions For Condensate IPRO346 Brochure Su10

IPRO 346 is put together to work with and assist Pentair Water Company. The main task is to collect condensate from commercial HVAC systems in attempt to quantify it and test the chemical content of it. These tasks will be completed so that a feasible use or uses can be developed for the condensate water. The use or uses will be backed by not only the collected data but market and business analysis as well. The uses for the collected condensate water and the data collected will be presented in a formal technical paper. This will include detailed information about the quantity and chemical content of the condensate. The uses proposed will be based on the amount of condensate produced and what Pentair products such as pumps and filters can be used to accomplish these uses. This will ultimately determine a „green‟ solution for condensate harvesting and will incorporate Pentair‟s existing products. The project plan is a report on the current work plan and the direction in which the IPRO is headed. This is subject to change as the summer semester progresses. It also includes a brief history and background about Pentair and condensate harvesting in general. Finally it includes a team breakdown which includes more specific tasks to be accomplished as well as a Gantt chart show the key deliverables and their deadlines.Sponsorship: PentairDeliverable

Design and Market Analysis of Condensate Recycling from Commercial HVAC Systems (Semester Unknown) IPRO 346: Design and Marketing Solutions For Condensate IPRO346 Final Presentation Su10

IPRO 346 is put together to work with and assist Pentair Water Company. The main task is to collect condensate from commercial HVAC systems in attempt to quantify it and test the chemical content of it. These tasks will be completed so that a feasible use or uses can be developed for the condensate water. The use or uses will be backed by not only the collected data but market and business analysis as well. The uses for the collected condensate water and the data collected will be presented in a formal technical paper. This will include detailed information about the quantity and chemical content of the condensate. The uses proposed will be based on the amount of condensate produced and what Pentair products such as pumps and filters can be used to accomplish these uses. This will ultimately determine a „green‟ solution for condensate harvesting and will incorporate Pentair‟s existing products. The project plan is a report on the current work plan and the direction in which the IPRO is headed. This is subject to change as the summer semester progresses. It also includes a brief history and background about Pentair and condensate harvesting in general. Finally it includes a team breakdown which includes more specific tasks to be accomplished as well as a Gantt chart show the key deliverables and their deadlines.Sponsorship: PentairDeliverable

Design and Market Analysis of Condensate Recycling from Commercial HVAC Systems (Semester Unknown) IPRO 346: Design and Marketing Solutions For Condensate IPRO346 Poster Su10

IPRO 346 is put together to work with and assist Pentair Water Company. The main task is to collect condensate from commercial HVAC systems in attempt to quantify it and test the chemical content of it. These tasks will be completed so that a feasible use or uses can be developed for the condensate water. The use or uses will be backed by not only the collected data but market and business analysis as well. The uses for the collected condensate water and the data collected will be presented in a formal technical paper. This will include detailed information about the quantity and chemical content of the condensate. The uses proposed will be based on the amount of condensate produced and what Pentair products such as pumps and filters can be used to accomplish these uses. This will ultimately determine a „green‟ solution for condensate harvesting and will incorporate Pentair‟s existing products. The project plan is a report on the current work plan and the direction in which the IPRO is headed. This is subject to change as the summer semester progresses. It also includes a brief history and background about Pentair and condensate harvesting in general. Finally it includes a team breakdown which includes more specific tasks to be accomplished as well as a Gantt chart show the key deliverables and their deadlines.Sponsorship: PentairDeliverable

Design and Market Analysis of Condensate Recycling from Commercial HVAC Systems (Semester Unknown) IPRO 346

IPRO 346 is put together to work with and assist Pentair Water Company. The main task is to collect condensate from commercial HVAC systems in attempt to quantify it and test the chemical content of it. These tasks will be completed so that a feasible use or uses can be developed for the condensate water. The use or uses will be backed by not only the collected data but market and business analysis as well. The uses for the collected condensate water and the data collected will be presented in a formal technical paper. This will include detailed information about the quantity and chemical content of the condensate. The uses proposed will be based on the amount of condensate produced and what Pentair products such as pumps and filters can be used to accomplish these uses. This will ultimately determine a „green‟ solution for condensate harvesting and will incorporate Pentair‟s existing products. The project plan is a report on the current work plan and the direction in which the IPRO is headed. This is subject to change as the summer semester progresses. It also includes a brief history and background about Pentair and condensate harvesting in general. Finally it includes a team breakdown which includes more specific tasks to be accomplished as well as a Gantt chart show the key deliverables and their deadlines.Sponsorship: PentairDeliverable

Concurrent valvular procedures during left ventricular assist device implantation and outcomes: A comprehensive analysis of the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy With HeartMate 3 trial portfolio

BACKGROUND: Correction of valvular disease is often undertaken during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation with uncertain benefit. We analyzed clinical outcomes with HeartMate 3 (HM3; Abbott) LVAD implantation in those with various concurrent valve procedures (HM3+VP) with those with an isolated LVAD implant (HM3 alone). METHODS: The study included 2200 patients with HM3 implanted within the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy with HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) trial portfolio who underwent 820 concurrent procedures among which 466 (21.8%) were HM3+VP. VPs included 101 aortic, 61 mitral, 163 tricuspid; 85 patients had multiple VPs. Perioperative complications, major adverse events, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who underwent HM3+VP had higher-acuity Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profiles (1-2: 41% vs 31%) compared with no VPs (P \u3c .05). The cardiopulmonary bypass time (124 vs 76 minutes; P \u3c .0001) and hospital length of stay (20 vs 18 days; P \u3c .0001) were longer in HM3+VP. A higher incidence of stroke (4.9% vs 2.4%), bleeding (33.9% vs 23.8%), and right heart failure (41.5% vs 29.6%) was noted in HM3+VP at 0 to 30 days (P \u3c .01), with no difference in 30-day mortality (3.9% vs 3.3%) or 2-year survival (81.7% vs 80.8%). Analysis of individual VP showed no differences in survival compared to HM3 alone. No differences were noted among patients with either significant mitral (moderate or worse) or tricuspid (moderate or worse) regurgitation with or without corrective surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent VPs, commonly performed during LVAD implantation, are associated with increased morbidity during the index hospitalization, with no effect on short- and long-term survival. There is sufficient equipoise to consider a randomized trial on the benefit of commonly performed VPs (such as mitral or tricuspid regurgitation correction), during LVAD implantation