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Engineering and immunology. A synergetic relationship

Eric Michael Bachelder, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

In an era of cross-disciplinary research, fields as diverse as Engineering and Immunology have a common ground, that when explored, results in a unique and interesting results. In the following thesis, four distinct questions were asked. The first question asked was how do fed T-cells signal to naïve T-cells how to make a certain response against an antigen? The result found is that fed T-cells condition DCs which in tern condition naïve T-cells. The fed T-cells use IL-4 and IFN-γ to condition DCs. In addition by using microarray, a phenotype was discovered that identifies the unique expression of DCs that were conditioned by fed T-cells. This first question is an example of a basic immunology question that was explored with the use of microarray which is a quantitative enriched analysis. The second question asked was does the nanostructure of biomaterials change the inflammation response of macrophages on these materials? The results were macrophages become activated in the presence of Fe-Ni-Co nanowires but not flat surfaces of the same material. The cells seemed to be quiescent in the presence of nanofibrous polytetrafluoroethylene. The second question was important to study because inflammation is part of the mechanism of biofouling of biomaterials in vivo. This question combines engineering that designed the biomaterial with immunology that asked what the inflammatory response against this material would be. The third question asked was how to find an inexpensive method of quantifying T-cells? The results found were quartz crystal microbalance technology could quantify physiological T-cells. The third question combines immunology which needs to quantify T-cells in vivo for patients infected with HIV with engineering that developed the sensor that was used. The final question asked was how to prevent an immunological response against F. IX that is introduced in vivo? The results show that if F. IX is introduced orally before iv administration, a detrimental immune response is prevented. The final question combines engineering which manufactured an exogenous protein, with immunology that studies how this protein is responded against in vivo. With the combination of engineering and immunology unique questions can be asked and answered.

Subject Area

Chemical engineering|Rehabilitation|Therapy

Recommended Citation

Bachelder, Eric Michael, "Engineering and immunology. A synergetic relationship" (2006). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI3216412.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3216412

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