2023 Projects
Making Heart Tissue Dance
Mentor: Ruifeng Hu
Project Description: In our lab, we exercise engineered heart tissue to try to help it mature. Using tiny exercise machines that we control with precision actuators, we measure and control forces exerted by these small tissue bundles, which are comprised of a few thousand cardiomyocytes grown from stem cells. To further stimulate the tissues during exercise, we provide them with low voltage electrical pulses that cause them to beat like miniature hearts. This project will involve building a second-generation apparatus that can deliver the programmed electrical pulses to the tissues.
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Wide-and Zero-bandgap Two-dimensional Devices for Liquid
Mentor: Nicholas E. Fuhr
Project Description: Two-dimensional materials are atomically thin and readily couple to liquids at a phase interface resulting in perturbation of electrical transport. Monolayer graphene, a semimetal, can form heterostructures via van der Waals intermolecular forces with other two-dimensional materials like hexagonal boron nitride, a wide-bandgap semiconductor. Recently, both monolayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride have reached wafer-scale commercialization, affording an opportunity to increase throughput for characterization of two-dimensional heterostructures for biosensing applications. Contemporary diagnostics rely on expensive, time-consuming, optically-limited mechanisms that obstructs complete access to biomolecular profiles. Two-dimensional heterostructures may unlock the information needed to profile physiology and disease beyond current state-of-the-art technology.
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Activators and Monomers for 3D Printed Chemically Coalescing Liquid Metal Polymer Composites
Mentor: Chloe Kekedjian & Stephanie Zopf
Project Description: Room temperature liquid metals are ideal soft conductors but the complex rheological properties associated with liquid metals make them challenging to process into 2D and 3D geometries, limiting their use in functional devices. Though progress has been made by synthesizing liquid metal emulsions, which are capable of being being 2D and 3D printed through a variety of techniques, the resulting structures are not conductive. Recently, our group has made progress on formulating liquid metal emulsions with chemical activators that render conductive structures through a low thermal stimulus (80 C). These emulsions still require packaging and are limited to specific packaging chemistries. This REU will address this challenge by developing new chemically active 3D printable liquid metal emulsion polymer composites that simultaneously form conductive networks and a cross-linked polymer composite through a low temperature or light stimulus.
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Engineering Vascular Beds that Connect to Ex Vivo Tissue
Mentor: Terry Ching
Project Description: Following a myocardial infarction, the necrotic tissue in the infarction zone is replaced by a fibrotic scar. Even though this scar tissue helps hold the heart together and maintain its structure, it does not contribute to the heart’s function and can impair its ability to contract and relax properly. One of the main goals of Cell-MET is to engineer a vascularized cardiac patch that can be grafted onto scar tissue to assist the heart with its pumping action. To better study vascular engraftment, we are currently developing a vascular-engraftment-on-chip model that is composed of a microfluidic device with an engineered vascular bed and a living tissue explant. The REU will help with the design and manufacturing of diverse prototypes of the microfluidic chip and conduct ex vivo engraftment experiments with engineered vasculature.
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Characterizing SynNotch receptors to drive vascularization for improved cardiac regeneration.
Mentor: Jessica Teo
Project Description: To study tissue vascularization, the Chen lab is currently developing chimeric SynNotch receptors to enhance vascular barrier function. In these receptors, the extracellular domain is replaced by a fluorescein-binding antibody fragment (anti-FITC scFv). This modification allows us to activate Notch signaling using substrate-immobilized FITC instead of a native Notch ligand, which would activate multiple native Notch receptor isoforms in the cells. Additionally, mutations have been introduced into these receptors to decouple canonical transcriptional Notch signaling from barrier-enhancing cortical Notch signaling. This allows us to control specific signaling pathways while avoiding undesirable secondary effects. The REU student will help test the temporal dynamics of SynNotch receptors as well as identify receptors that enhance vascular barrier function from those that do not in human endothelial cells.
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Building a FPGA-based Electrical Circuit
Mentor: Monan Ma
Project Description: The student will conduct background research on hardware programming and build an all-electrical setup for precision measurement of an electro-mechanical resonator. The student will be provided with relevant hardware and software, including FPGA (field programmable gate arrays) boards, their corresponding IDEs (integrated development environment) and other pieces of electronics. The student will work closely with a graduate student and will be in charge of programming, building and testing the electrical circuit.
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RNA Delivery for Therapeutic Applications
Mentor: Jordan Smiley, Wyatt Becicka
Project Description: Therapeutic RNA delivery has applications in protein replacement, vaccine development, genetic engineering, and even the creation of fundamental research tools and cell lines. In this project, the student will start with a therapeutic target of interest encoded within a DNA plasmid and perform all steps necessary to successfully create RNA, transfect the developed product into a cell line, and finally analyze both the transfection efficiency and resulting protein expression. By moving a RNA design from concept to reality, the student will create a foundation for future experiments that analyze the translational capabilities of the delivered therapeutic.
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2D Heterostructures via Selective-area Atomic Substitution
Mentor: Zifan Wang
Project Description: Ling group developed an atomic substitution method to convert layered transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g. MoS2) to ultrathin metal nitrides, extending the 2D family significantly. This project is to realize patterned MoS2 structure and MoS2-MoN heterostructure by controlling and tuning the reaction dynamics. We also plan to explore the applications of the obtained structures.
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Magnetic Force-Assisted Biosensor
Project Description: StataDX is focused on the development of new diagnostic tests to support personalized therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from neurological conditions. Our platform selectively detects protein biomarkers captured by antibodies that are coupled to a nano-composite coating on the electrode surface. The goal of this project will be to develop an electrode chip with a magnetic force-assisted enrichment system to improve the detection of low-abundant biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis. Researchers working on this project will learn about the application of protein biomarkers for neurological conditions and some of the interdisciplinary challenges associated with developing near-patient diagnostics.
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Imaging Gas Vesicle Dynamics
Mentor: Francisco Sanchez
Project Description: Gas vesicles (GVs) produced by bacteria can be used as ultrasound contrast agents; however, because of their small size, they are difficult to detect. Strategies to enhance ultrasound sensitivity can involve exploiting the nonlinear response of GVs to sound waves. The goal of this project is to better understand the nonlinear responses of GVs by using optical imaging. The student will build a polarization microscope to image GVs and monitor their responses to ultrasound modulation.
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iCoagLab
Mentor: Shane Ward
Project Description: The iCoagLab Platform is based on patented technology developed by scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital. iCoagLab uses an optical sensor that detects intensity fluctuations of laser scattering patterns to measure blood clot stiffness over time. Coalesenz seeks to provide rapid viscoelastic coagulation profiling at the point of care. Currently, a device is in development with a greatly reduced form factor and instrument cost, with a disposable cartridge that uses a very small blood volume and provides rapid results in about 10 minutes. To help translate this research device into a commercial product, Coalesenz and the Nadkarni lab are working to develop reagent formulations that accurately and precisely trigger specific pathways in the coagulation cascade, while limiting optical interference and mixing defects. Together with research scientists at the Nadkarni lab and engineers at Coalesenz, the REU student will help to characterize reagent formulations through image processing and analytical testing and provide valuable design inputs to the clinician workflow of the microfluidic cartridge.
Design of a Soft Manipulator for Beating Heart Procedures
Mentors: Jacob Rogatinsky, Lorenzo Kinnicutt
Project Description: In the morphable biorobotics lab we have developed a soft robotic platform that can be inserted via the subclavian vein to reach the right atrium and perform a variety of procedures including tricuspid valve repair. This REU project will focus on the optimization of the design of the platform and demonstration of its capability to perform reconstructive procedures on in-vitro setups. The project will entail developing testing setups, design of components of the soft manipulator, design of instruments to be deployed through the manipulator, and experimental validation of the robot performance.
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Sculpting Light in Space
Mentor: Havva Begum Kabagoz
Project Description: Light beams that are non-Gaussian in shape have found a variety of applications in physics, engineering and biology. Their unique properties include the ability to carry orbital angular momentum and the ability to self-heal. Their use in any physical system must, however, contend with the fact that they are not naturally occurring ubiquitous states of light (most beams look like a Gaussian-shaped spot). In this project, we will develop new tools, using the principles of diffractive and dispersive optics, to develop devices that can generate, switch between, and spatially as well temporally manipulate such “structured beams.” The challenge will be to create devices that provide the desired functionality at low loss, low cost, and over any color and pulse width, on-demand.
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Hybrid Surgical Robot Project
Mentor: Hun Lee
Project Description: With the advancement of rigid surgical robots, they have been increasingly used for a wide range of surgical procedures, offering improved safety and precision. However, soft surgical robots have been developed to provide a safer interaction with surgical environments. Despite this, the controllability and ability to generate forces in the desired direction of soft robots remain limited. Hybrid robots that leverage the benefits of both rigid and soft robots have been introduced to address these limitations, with fluidic control being a common approach.
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An Optical Phantom to Mimic Skin Affected by Scleroderma
Mentor: Aarohi Mehendale
Project Description: Scleroderma, also known as Systemic Sclerosis, is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. An immune response triggers inflammation causing the body to make too much collagen. This excess of collagen in the skin and other tissues causes patches of tight, hard skin. Optical phantoms mimic the optical properties of human tissue such as the absorption coefficient, the scattering coefficient and the anisotropy coefficient, which is defined as the average cosine of the scattering angle. The overall objective of this project is to create an optical phantom that can mimic skin affected by scleroderma. Specifically, it would replicate different fiber structures (as seen in scleroderma) and melanin concentrations in skin.
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Development of High-Force Pneumatic Soft Robot Actuators
Mentor: Juan Carlos Pacheco Garcia
Project Description: This project will involve adapting a pneumatic (air pressure) system to create motion for soft robots. The Soft Robotics Control Lab currently uses electric artificial muscles for our soft robot arms, but we would like to adopt pneumatic valves and chambers for a comparison against our methods. Work will involve modifying our CAD designs and 3D printing molds for casting robots out of soft rubbery polymers. The project will also adapt off-the-shelf valves and control circuitboards to pressurize the robots.
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PointCheck Case Design
Project Description: Leuko is developing PointCheck, a noninvasive device for the screening of severe neutropenia. The goal of this project is to advance the design of the PointCheck carrying case through the use of CAD, 3D printing, and other rapid prototyping methods.
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Product Manufacturing Process Improvements and BOM Cost Reduction
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to identify potential cost savings in the PointCheck Bill of Materials (BOM) and improve certain processes in our manufacturing operation as we plan out the future of Leuko PointCheck Production. PointCheck is a noninvasive device for the screening of severe neutropenia. Major areas of focus are parts that are currently 3D Printed that could be made with more conventional mass manufacturing techniques.
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3D Printing of Miniature Optics
Mentor: Guorong Hu
Project Description: This project will design and prototype miniature optics with 3D printing techniques. The goal is to explore the capability of 3D printing techniques to fabricate customized miniature optics.