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Conceptual Framework and Physical Implementation of a Systematic Design Strategy for Tissue-Engineered Devices

Citation

Nawroth, Janna C. (2013) Conceptual Framework and Physical Implementation of a Systematic Design Strategy for Tissue-Engineered Devices. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/5ZTQ-2J09. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12172012-143708325

Abstract

Tissue-engineered and biologically inspired devices promise to advance medical implants, robotic devices and diagnostic tools. Ideally, biohybrid constructs combine the versatility and fine control of traditional building substrates with dynamic properties of living tissues including sensory modalities and mechanisms of repair, plasticity and self-organization. These dynamic properties also complicate the design process as they arise from, and act upon, structure-function relationships across multiple spatiotemporal scales that need to be recapitulated in the engineered tissue. Biomimetic designs merely copying the structure of native organs and organisms, however, are likely to reflect evolutionary constraints, phenotypic variability and environmental factors rather than rendering optimal engineering solutions.

This thesis describes an alternative to biomimetic design, i.e., a systematic approach to tissue engineering based on mechanistic analysis and a focus on functional, not structural, approximation of native and engineered system. As proof of concept, the design, fabrication and evaluation of a tissue-engineered jellyfish medusa with biomimetic propulsion and feeding currents is presented with an emphasis on reasoning and strategy of the iterative design process. A range of experimental and modeling approaches accomplishes mechanistic analysis at multiple scales, control of individual and emergent cell behavior, and quantitative testing of functional performance. The main achievement of this thesis lies in presenting both conceptual framework and physical implementation of a systematic design strategy for muscular pumps and other bioinspired and tissue-engineered applications.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:bioengineering; biomedical engineering; design; bioinspired; propulsion; fluid dynamics; jellyfish; medusoid; tissue-engineering
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Biology
Major Option:Biology
Awards:Everhart Distinguished Graduate Student Lecturer Award, 2012. Demetriades-Tsafka-Kokkalis Prize in Nanotechnology or Related Fields, 2013.
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Dabiri, John O.
Thesis Committee:
  • Dabiri, John O. (chair)
  • Hay, Bruce A.
  • Sternberg, Paul W.
  • Fraser, Scott E.
Defense Date:4 December 2012
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Naval Research and National Science Foundation Program in Fluid DynamicsUNSPECIFIED
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:12172012-143708325
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12172012-143708325
DOI:10.7907/5ZTQ-2J09
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7338
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Janna Nawroth
Deposited On:12 Apr 2013 22:26
Last Modified:03 Oct 2019 23:57

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