Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of biology and medicine. Biomaterials play a major role in bioengineering. This work employs a three level approach to study the various interactions of biomaterials with proteins, cells and tissue in vitro. In the first study, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the process of protein adsorption of two enzymes to two different surface chemistries, which are commonly used in the field. In the second study, we attempted to engineer a tissue construct to build a biocompatible interface between a titanium substrate and human skin. In the third study, an in-vitro model of the motoneuron-muscle part of the stretch reflex arc circuit was developed. Using a novel silicon based micro-cantilever device, muscle contraction dynamics were measured and we have shown the presence of a functional neuro-muscular junction (NMJ). These studies have potential applications in the rational design of biomaterials used for biosensors and other implantable devices, in the development of a functional prosthesis and as a high-throughput drug-screening platform to study various neuro-muscular disorders.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-2554 |
| Date | 01 January 2010 |
| Creators | Bhalkikar, Abhijeet |
| Publisher | STARS |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
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