Menstrual cups have become increasingly popular in recent years for their environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, and user comfort. Most menstrual cups are made using silicone, taking advantage of its flexible and leak-proof material properties. However, there has been limited research on the hydrolytic degradation of silicone biomaterials, particularly in the acidic vaginal environment, raising potential safety concerns. The objective of this research project is to study the hydrolytic degradation of silicone under acidic conditions to better understand the safety profile of biomedical devices like menstrual cups. Our initial study tested 40 silicone samples over a 29-day period at 37 °C and 67 °C in a 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Results of this accelerated study indicated a maximum mass loss of 11.4 %. Future studies will be performed using a vaginal fluid simulant (VFS) primarily composed of a lactic acid buffer system to assess physiologically relevant degradation behavior and to characterize potentially toxic degradation products. Ultimately, this research aims to develop a standardized workflow for studying the degradation of polymeric biomaterials in a VFS that could also be applied to other biomedical devices such as intravaginal ring (IVR) drug delivery systems.
Plastic pollutants are a significant environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics are a large area of research because if plastics are accidentally released into the environment, biodegradable plastics will break down into harmless byproducts. A blister pack is a type of packaging that consists of plastic pockets that hold individual pills. Current blister packs on the market are not biodegradable and contribute to environmental harm. The goal for this research project is to find an eco-friendly material to replace current blister packs that can also handle chemical reagents (such as medical reagents). Initial testing focused on developing a film from cassava starch that was adapted from the literature. The standard ASTM D543 was used to evaluate the resistance of the material to chemical reagents. The samples were placed under strain using a 3D printed strain jig, the chemical reagent was applied, and the samples were held at fixed temperature for varied amounts of time. After chemical exposure, the samples were tested to determine changes in mechanical properties. These results will be used to determine if cassava starch can replace traditional plastic blister packs to open the door to many environmentally friendly swaps in the medical field.
Tumor ablation is an effective, minimally invasive technique for cancer removal. The procedure uses medical imaging and a needle-like probe, which is guided to the target cancerous tissue where it is subsequently heated or cooled to a cytotoxic level. Thus, surrounding tissue must be separated from the cancerous tissue to prevent damage to healthy tissue. Saline and carbon dioxide are current methods of separation, but both migrate from the site due to gravity and cause risk of postoperative pain. To create a stable, stationary, and thermally protective barrier, a biocompatible foam has been developed with FDA-approved materials to optimize tissue separation for a typical 60 minute procedure. As progress continues, further characterization of the foam is being tested using rheology, which mimics deformation during foam injection and quantifies stability as a function of time and deformation rate. Current project goals involve developing a freeze-dried procedure that maximizes the shelf life of the foam and minimizes preparation steps for future commercialization and clinical use. Continued testing is essential for confirming previous qualitative tests of the foam’s material properties and providing data required for publication and implementation of these foams in a clinical setting.
This project seeks to develop a mechanically flexible cooling pad that can be used by medical patients to provide targeted pain or inflammation relief to injured or surgical areas. We are seeking to develop a device that is fully temperature controlled and can be used for long intervals of time up to several hours. We have identified several possible configurations to maximize cooling power while retaining as much geometrical flexibility as possible. We are currently pursuing two distinct cooling methods, and working to engineer a complete system for both methods that is able to sense and adjust temperatures produced by the cooling pad. In this poster we will describe some of the key geometrical and experimental variables under study, and work needed for continued improvement.
Architectural coatings are categorized as either solvent-based or water-based, with the latter gaining popularity due to their lower volatile organic compound (VOC) content and simplified manufacturing process. However, their performance can be limited compared to oil-based alternatives. To address these challenges, dispersants are incorporated to enhance stability and prevent titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particle aggregation, the primary pigment in the majority of architectural coatings. Our research investigates the structure-property relations of stimuli responsive polyethylene glycol:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) [PEG:PDMAEMA] block copolymers and specifically their application as an eco-friendly TiO₂ dispersant in water-based coatings. These block copolymers were synthesized via ARGET ATRP (Activators ReGenerated by Electron Transfer - Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization), a process which allows for precise control of block length with minimal catalyst use. Various block length ratios were synthesized and characterized, with stress-dependent flow properties analyzed using rheometry and interfacial activity assessed via pendant drop tensiometry. Paint formulation performance was compared to a market standard through Leneta chart and water droplet testing, evaluating opacity, gloss, and resistance to leeching. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating PEG:PDMAEMA polymer dispersants into architectural coatings as a viable alternative to solvent-based coatings while maintaining essential performance properties.
Small-diameter grafts have revolutionized artery repair since their introduction in 1954, providing life-saving solutions for patients with vascular diseases. These grafts are typically manufactured by extruding expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) into tubes. This research focuses on optimizing the tooling and flow cavity design for paste extrusion of small-diameter vascular graft components. One critical parameter in the extrusion process is the reduction ratio, or the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the material before and after extrusion. By varying tooling position and dimensions, we aim to create optimal reduction ratio profiles for various graft dimensions to facilitate successful extrusion processes.
Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts are commonly used to repair and reconstruct blood vessels in vascular bypass surgeries and peripheral arterial reconstructions. However, current ePTFE grafts often cause scar tissue formation due to their dense structure, limiting long-term effectiveness and integration with the body. The goal of this research is to create an ePTFE graft with properties similar to cells found in an organism so it can fully penetrate, and not have a reaction making a scar tissue. To reach our goal, we expanded and characterized Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), transforming it into ePTFE. The research is currently in a testing phase, where we are evaluating the graft’s performance using Tensile Test, to test their break point, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to evaluate how the material behaves under different thermal conditions, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to evaluate the melting and thermal behaviors of the sample. These tests help optimize the graft's properties, thermal stability, and biocompatibility, ensuring it can perform effectively within the body and integrate with surrounding tissues.
Composite Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-x (Bi-2212) wire has great potential as a material for high temperature superconducting magnets, which can conduct electricity with no resistance and achieve magnetic fields exceeding 20 T. However, Bi-2212 wire needs to realize improved geometrical homogeneity in order to be effective for large magnet applications, and there are a large number of geometrical variables that can impact the overall homogeneity. By measuring intrinsic characteristics of the wire and submitting them to a Principal Component Analysis (PCA), high dimensional data can be diminished, while identifying important trends in the data. The broader goal of this algorithm is to specify the variables that contribute to the inhomogeneity and allow us to give design feedback to wire manufacturers, so that they can improve their wire fabrication techniques. An example of this is the ability of the PCA to find trends between the area and the coefficient of variation of area, such that the uniformity of the wire area can be seen.
Rare-earth doped barium copper oxide, more commonly referred to as REBCO, is a high temperature superconductor that can carry extraordinarily high levels of electric current (many kiloamps) at magnetic fields above 20T. In previous research, we discovered that the secondary phases in the tap can vary in size from 0.24µm2 to 0.41µm2, reducing the tape homogeneity and limiting its performance capacity. To explore the source of these defects, 30 cm long samples were obtained from 6 different manufacturers and 1 cm samples were cut from each end. Samples were etched and imaged using scanning electron microscopy, then thresholded to isolate secondary particles located on the REBCO layer through ImageJ software. Python code was developed to compare trends between samples. Manufacturers A and B have an average particle area of 0.701µm2 and 0.368µm2, respectfully. Manufacturer A also has an increase of 42.5% in particle area from edge to edge at the same longitudinal position, showing variation along the width, length, and between the producers. This research provides valuable insight for manufactures into the discrepancies present among different samples and helps establish a baseline for variation along the length.
Superconductors are materials that can carry electricity without resistance at cryogenic temperatures, which is useful for large magnet applications such as particle accelerators. Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-x (Bi-2212) is a superconductor capable of producing very large magnetic fields (>20 Tesla), but processing the Bi-2212 into usable, filamentary round wire forms is challenging. The fluctuations in the size and shape of Bi-2212 filaments in a composite wire can affect processing capability and wire performance. The focus of this project was to create a programmed application that would simplify the image analysis process. The program takes as input a series of black-and-white thresholds of transverse wire cross-sections. The program then returns as output a spreadsheet with filament measurements and basic statistical data on the filaments over the series of images. The key measurements of a filament are its area and circularity. The key statistical data of a filament is its coefficient of variation, which provides information about its homogeneity along the wire. Previously, this analysis took up to 5 hours of manual analysis and data manipulation. Using the new program has reduced this time to up to 5 minutes of automatic analysis, improving productivity by 60 times.
