Date of Graduation

8-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Biomedical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Morten Jensen

Committee Member

Hanna Jensen

Second Committee Member

Radwan Al-Faori

Third Committee Member

Jin-Woo Kim

Keywords

Cardiomyocytes, Cellulose Nanocrystals, CNC, Films, Gold Nanoparticles, PCL

Abstract

In this work, the potential for PEGylated gold nanoparticles for use as a platform for stem cell delivery in treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) is preliminarily investigated. Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death worldwide, with majority of mortality resulting from coronary artery disease and associated MI. The ensuing ischemic conditions resulting from MI cause substantial heart muscle tissue loss and scarring in the heart. Adverse tissue remodeling creates a significant loss in heart function that can result in the formation of cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular dilation and arrythmias. The long-term prognosis of patients who have suffered MI is poor, with conditions developing into chronic heart failure.

Nanotechnology based stem cell delivery could be used as a novel method to alleviate these conditions. The heart possesses poor regenerative capacity and the ability to deliver stem cells to the infarcted myocardium has already been shown to return limited functionality to the heart. Current methods, although promising have yet to show significant long-term results improving patient prognosis. Herein we present a novel idea for the use of gold nanoparticles as a means of directing stem cell delivery in-vivo through targeted and specific delivery with the hopes of improving patient conditions over current methodologies. The work involved in this THESIS is related to the establishment of protocols, investigation into particle toxicity, and the development of a perfusion bioreactor system capable of testing such a platform in-vitro.

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