Polymeric Materials for Controlled Release of NO with Zero Order Profiles  This technology offers a means for chemically synthesizing NO time releasing polymers that are insoluble in water. The technology was developed as a means to control the release of NO over a period of thirty days. Evidence of NO release observed in early experiments suggests first order kinetics. Additionally, this synthetic route offers a means for synthesizing new NO releasing polymers that achieve greater efficiency through removal of the BOC protection/ deprotection steps in traditional methods for producing NO releasing compounds. |
Center for Biomedical Research  This center supports state-of-the-art research facilities for biomedical research, promotes and publicizes biomedical research, and aggressively encourages and supports initiatives for support of biomedical research. The center sponsors research presentations and colloquia, provides funds to support pilot research projects, and identifies novel funding. In addition, the center assists with the development and submission of proposals for external funding of major multi-investigator equipment, (b) provides and maintains readily accessible multi-user equipment facilities, and (c) facilitates access to specialized facilities and services. In addition to supporting and promoting collaborations among its members, the center facilitates interactions between members and other institutions, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and promotes access to biomedical research equipment within the center. |
Two Dimensional Gas Chromatography Instrument At the heart of the technology for gas chromatography (GC) is a valve that accumulates a sample from a primary column for transfer to a secondary column in parallel. The primary column has a smaller fluid flow capacity than the combined fluid capacities of the secondary columns. In this manner, the chromatographic separations of the primary and secondary columns are matched to provide the best available separation of compounds in the sample. This technology relates to gas chromatography in that it provides a method and means to separate VOC’s faster and, more accurately, and potentially cheaper than traditional GC does. As an example, this novel multidimensional gas chromatography system can separate and quantify over one hundred compounds in less than ten minutes. A prototype exists and development of this technology continues through a series of projects that include establishing a retention time database of a wide variety of VOCs, writing improved software for instrument operation and data analysis, and developing theoretical methods to predict retention times from compound structures. |
Amphiphilic Silver Delivery of Bactericidal Delivery in Coatings  This technology is a method for embedding metals (specifically, silver) into coatings and textiles across a variety of applications. Silver has a variety of uses in pharmaceuticals and has found increasing application as a bactericide and in treatments for conditions ranging from severe burns to Legionnaires Disease. This technology enables textile coatings incorporating the bactericidal properties of silver into diverse range of products such as catheters, stents, implants, hospital garments, free flow filters, mattress covers, carpeting and air filters. |
MEMS Center in Wireless Integrated Microsystems  A multi-university National Engineering Research Center in Wireless Integrated Microsystems funded by the National Science Foundation gives MTU a strong base for microtechnology research. Among its first projects, the center will design a next generation cochlear implant for which MTU will design and build a |
Applied Mathematics Function to Map Evolutionary Processes This research is focused on fluid flow dynamics in porous material--more specifically in relation to nuclear waste contamination. It has recently been more focused on the development of mathematical models to predict disease progression, which includes HIV-1 dynamics, brain tumor progression, cholera colonization of the intestine, and early detection of specific antigens in the blood. While many of these projects are quite specific, the tools developed may be applied to mapping and predicting evolutionary processes in general. One of the projects that has spun out of the main effort focuses on the imaging, mapping, and progression prediction of brain cancer. The mathematical and statistical modeling is being integrated into a bioimplantable sensor for monitoring brain cancer. While this technology is still in a very early stage, it appears that there is at least a basic code that has been developed that is functional. Future work is focused on fine tuning the code and validating the brain cancer imaging and prediction function of the biosensors to allow for real time simulation. |
Embedded systems and Artificial Intelligence Derived Biosensor Devices This is application-driven research focused on the use of artificial intelligence and embedded systems in biosensors and imaging devices. One of the technologies that is being developed involves a device that traps and kills HIV infected cells. The device conceivably would be implanted into the lymph system and proactively recruit infected cells. Additionally, research is focused on a sensor to map the progression of brain cancer using 3-D mathematical modeling and an embedded systems approach. While these are early stage technologies, the architecture that enables functionality of the sensors involves the generation of a circuit without using a microprocessor. The research has yielded a way to use JAVA to create the circuit. This concept could have the potential to be used in a number of different applications, including wide use in the biosensor field. |
National Dendrimer and Nanotechnology Center The National Dendrimer and Nanotechnology Center is the catalyst for dendrimer-based research initiatives. The Center’s current research agenda focuses on several types of dendrimer and nanoscale sciences: Drug encapsulation, release and disease targeting protocols are being established and tested for cancer therapy and anti-flammatory drug systems using a range of dendrimer carrier structures; researching cytotoxicity of dendrimers and other nanoscale structures; the use of dendrimers as a catalyst in the production of carbon nanotubes at the lowest temperatures recorded; the attachment of oligonucleotides to dendrimers for targeting, amplification or detection in biological systems; development of nuclear magnetic reagents which allow higher resolution and site specific targeting to disease or inflammation; stabilization of nano-crystals or quantum dots with unique optical, electronic or other properties for use in bio-labeling, and flat panel display technologies; development of lower-cost synthetic routes to new proprietary dendrimers and dendritic polymers; development of dendrimers as in-vivo nano-diagnostic agents and devices. |
Evaporating and Condensing Flow in Single and Multitube Systems This research is forcused on large flow oscillations of the condensate in single-tube and multitube condensing flow systems that can substantially affect performance, control and safety. The governing equations features the System Mean Void Fraction (SMVF) Model, a one-dimensional, two-fluid, distributed parameter integral model describing the primary physical mechanisms within the two-phase region and incorporating a non-fluctuating system mean void fraction. This concept makes the problem open to closed-form analytical solution, and yields valuable insight into the relevant physical parameters of the transient characteristics of the condensing flow systems.
Specific research targets include prediction of Transients and Instabilities in Multitube Two-Phase Condensing Flow Systems; Influence of Heat Flux on Horizontal Single-Tube Condensing Flow Systems; Influence of Gravity in Vertical Condensing Flow Systems, Upflow and Downflow; Effect of Subcooled Liquid Inertia on Transient- and Frequency Response Characteristics of Single and Multitube Condensing Flow Sytems. |
Multivariate statistics and models A broad range of statistical skills and knowledge is available for both basic and applied problems including statistical quality control, industrial and biostatistical applications. Specific areas of specialization included multivariate analyses and repeated measures as well as linear models and experimental design with a broad spectrum of application interests. |
µMRI Techniques for Detection and Investigation of Articular Cartilage This research program is generally designed to use high resolution MRI and other microscopic imaging techniques to study a number of important engineering, biological and biomedical problems. More specifically, the research is focused on detecting cartilage degradation, an early event in osteoarthritis using µMRI. The techniques developed are capable of a transverse resolution of 14 microns across the full depth of the cartilage tissue layer. This microscopic resolution allows examination of tissue properties in individual histological zones in cartilage non-invasively and non-destructively. |
Ionic Liquid Chemical Sensing Devices This technology emerged from a long-term effort devoted to developing piezobiosensors and electrochemical sensors for detection in complex environments. The technology is designed to detect chemicals using novel ionic liquid technology. Critical features of the technology include: (1) methods to immobilize ionic liquids on solid supports, (2) capabilities for characterizing and elucidating the physicochemical properties of immobilized ionic liquids, (3) new ionic liquids incorporating functional groups capable of acting as anchors or tags for surface immobilization, and (4) ionic liquid thin films for array-based gas sensing and high-temperature gas sensing. |
Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to Analyze Surface Energy of Pull-off (Adhesion) Forces Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable of characterizing solid surfaces at the microscopic and sub-microscopic scales. As demonstrated in several laboratories in recent years, it can also be used to determine the surface tension of solids based on adhesion (pull-off) force measurements. Before AFM force measurements can become an accepted technique for particle-substrate adhesion characterization, individual problems causing irreproducibility of the measurement must be resolved. This is particularly important in the measurement of pull-off forces in very complex geometry systems that are of importance to the industry. For example, this research program has resulted in measures of the adhesion forces between pharmaceutical particles with irregular geometry and polymeric surfaces of varying roughness in a gas of controlled humidity level. |
Biointerfaces/Bioadhesion for Characterization and Modification of Implant Surfaces Metals and alloys, such as titanium and stainless steel, rely on the presence of an oxide film to act as a barrier preventing further oxidation in active environments, such as the human body. It is also the oxide film that forms the interface between the biomaterial and the body, with which cells and proteins interact. Oxide films vary in properties, depending in part on the method by which they are formed and the environment in which they are placed. These and other factors dictate the properties of the film such as thickness, roughness, composition, heterogeneity, electronic properties, and wettability, all of which play a role in cell interaction. This program of research is directed toward understanding the effect of surface properties of biomaterials on their biocompatibility. Students also chemically modify the surfaces of implant materials to improve osteoblast adhesion and differentiation. For example, a novel technology for formation and growth of bone-like apatite coatings on implants has been developed and then used in testing osteoblast cell activity on fabricated implant-apatite composites. |
Fibers and Composites for Orthopedic Applications This program of research interests is oriented toward fabrication and characterizing polymeric fibers and composites, particularly focused on orthopedic applications. As such, the program incorporates expertise for designing assistive technology devices. Extended capabilities include research on the nanomechanical properties of hot compacted composites and wear of hot compacted composites for total hip replacements, particularly, fabrication of low-wear materials for total hip replacements. The research program offers expertise in nano-mechanical properties of materials, the thermomechanical properties of polymers, fabrication and hot compaction of polymer fiber composites. |
Structural Roles of Water in Bone Observed by Solid-State NMR Vibrational spectroscopy is used to solve problems dealing with molecular structure. Nearly any type of sample can be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy because of the flexibility of using a focused laser beam as the light source. The current focus is on apatite, a form of calcium phosphate, which is the major constituent of bone and is also found as a natural mineral in rocks. The lab creates apatite substituted with ions typically found in bone in order to support Raman analysis of bone tissue. A silane hydrolysis process also is being explored, to develop a Raman detection method and study the kinetics of the process. The materials studied are diverse and have also included proteins containing the heme group (hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase), inorganic glasses (germanium diselenide doped with metals) and polymers (azoazromatic polyethers). Modern computational modeling of molecular structure and conformation augments experimental studies. |
Biomaterials synthesis with medical applications Hydrophilic polymers, specifically polysaccharides, are being examined because of their non-adhesive properties. These polymers are synthesized via enzymatic polymerization without toxic solvents or chemicals. Polysaccharide-based materials are used for the development of an improved, artificial, biodegradable skin scaffold for burn victims. Also in development is an anti-thrombogenic coating for artificial heart valves. The coating is being enzymatically synthesized under non-toxic conditions with various copolymers and polymer structures being tested. |
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