Do environmental conditions effect the normal functioning of extracellular matrix tissue and if so what material prevents this effect?
WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
I was seven years old when my father had to have an open-heart surgery to replace his damaged aortic valve. I didn’t really understand what exactly that meant until I learned the complexities of science and bioengineering. How could a section of the heart be totally removed and replaced to have it function properly? As it turns out, my father’s aortic valve was replaced with an artificial valve made from the collagenous tissue of a pig’s intestines. I would learn that this kind of connective tissue is called extracellular matrix tissue and it’s used in the medical field primarily for its wide variety of stem cell interactions.
When I got paired with my mentor at Aziyo Biologics, I was eager to ask him about the uses of ECM in the medical field and how it is prepared for medical devices. The company develops products with the ECM material for things such as fast wound healing to securing a pacemaker to the skin. What was particularly interesting to me, was the strict conditions that had to be followed when extracting the tissue from the pig. This idea led me to my main focus concerning what conditions could cause the degradation of the ECM tissue, but I also wanted to understand how we could test for these changes and what material prevents the deterioration.
WHAT I KNOW OR ASSUME
The problem was that I didn't know much about what extracellular matrix tissue really was prior to my internship. My only knowledge about the material came from a brief lecture in my anatomy class. I knew that ECM contained strong fibers and ground substances to bind and support a medium. Additionally, I knew that it had the capability to manipulate the cells within the body. At first, I assumed that the material was specific to a certain area of the body - that is can only be used in cardiac repair. I later came to realize the many versatile uses of ECM.
As far as the packaging of the material goes, I had absolutely no knowledge. To be frank, I didn't really think that much in regards to the science of the packaging. I was too concerned with the actual ECM material, that I disregarded the necessity of the protective packaging. Furthermore, I didn't have any knowledge regarding the testing between the the ECM material that had been environmental conditioned and the ECM material that remained in ambient conditions. Clearly, I had a lot of research to do in order to answer my essential question.
THE SEARCH
I began my research by finding articles that explored the uses of ECM and what it was composed of in order to completely understand what kind of material I was working with. Through Galileo and Google Scholar, I found scientific articles and journals written by specialized doctors that discussed the functions of ECM and its composition. I read that the protein structure within the material can easily be altered when placed in different conditions, thus effecting the function.
Additionally, a quote from an article by Pengfei Lu states, “The biomechanical properties of the ECM belong to a subcategory of its physical properties that determine how the ECM reacts to various forms of force, including tensile, compressive, shear, and other types of force loads applied by cells residing in the matrix.” This directly links the the proper functioning of the ECM material to its tensile strength properties. In other words, I realized that if the tensile strength properties of the environmentally conditioned ECM differ from the material remaining in ambient conditions, then environmental stress does alter the normal functioning of ECM.
To find information regarding the packaging, called Tyveck, my mentor gave me sample protocols written by engineers at the company that discuss the properties of the material and the testing required. I was also able to conduct an interview (found below) with my mentor to gain insight regarding the process of testing for tensile strengths. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to tour other biomedical engineering companies such as, Biocure and Immucore, where I saw the process of properly packaging and handling certain materials, as well as the functions of many different machinery.
Perhaps the bulk of my research, however, is the experiment that I was able to conduct. Basically, I subjected 60 samples of ECM to accelerated environmental conditioning through a lab called WuxiApptec. Meanwhile, I kept 60 samples of ECM in ambient conditions. The diecut dogbone samples were then measured for tensile properties with a machine called an Instron. I was able to operate the machine independently after practicing with the operating system! This experiment was extremely important because it ultimately led me to the answer to my essential question.
INTERVIEW
1. Why did you decide to become a Biomedical Engineer?
I never really wanted to become an engineer growing up. I really wanted to become a doctor, but the situation was complicated and I couldn’t get into the upper division. Basically, both my professors at the time had very heavy accents so I knew I was never going to make it.
R: This is interesting because even if something doesn't work out in your original intentions, there are many different pathways to go into. It's encouraging to know that I shouldn't be so focused on one career that I ignore all other possibilities.
2. Explain the kind of education you went through to become a biomedical engineer.
I was a refugee from Vietnam and ended up staying in a refugee camp at the age of 14. I got adopted by an American family where I grew up and went to school. I was a very high achieving student. I would participate in things like debate club and Model UN. There was a man at a competition that I was participating in that took people to Canada during the Vietnam War so they wouldn’t have to get shipped out, so I eventually got in contact with him. We became close friends and he helped me get in Damon College, since he was a professor there. After I quit taking up pre-med classes, I got certified in Mathematics and Technology Basics. I then continued on the path by taking Industrial engineering courses, when I got offered 3 job placements. I took a job in Buffalo, NY where I really expanded my learning capacity. I learned about medical devices, packaging, and management. I went back to school to get my mechanical engineering degree from Rochester University. Now I have a job here working on projects, I’m a consult where I get paid to work on projects for other companies, and I own my own business.
R: This is a really encouraging and inspirational story. It shows that getting high grades isn't always the most important thing - it's more about motivation and a hunger for education. This education pathway is not what I expected. It's interesting to note that instead of having a biomedical engineer, he has a degree in mechanical engineering. I never realized that engineering is really just a huge sector of everything combined.
3. As an engineer, do you feel like you have the ability to be creative and analytical in the workplace?
Definitely. Every project requires an initial creative idea to get started, but of course you have to be able to analyze and evaluate the results after experimenting.
R: I think being able to express creativity was something that was an initial setback for me because I always thought that engineering was just math, but hearing this was encouraging. It's important to realize no project can get started without a initial innovative idea.
4. What are some different types of biomedical engineers?
I know multiple people who have biomedical engineering degrees, but do different things. You can be working in tissue repair, medical devices, biomaterials, biomechanics and more. One engineer can be working in the lab, while another is recreating the system from the research.
R: When I toured Immucore, I realized that biomedical engineering is a lot more than just medical devices. You can end up working in many different sectors that might surprise you. Research is something that has become high profile over the past couple of years.
5. Is there any biomedical projects you’ve been working on currently?
Several! Right now, I’m working on a system to inject bone material for bone repair and reconstruction. I also have be working on growing human hair on hairless rats by injecting them with human skin cells.
R: This was very interesting! There's a lot that can be done with biomaterials and the fact machines can be created to help with bone repair is really fascinating. The idea of creating human hair on hairless rats is amazing considering the many things that can be created with human skin cells.
6. How can we replicate the environmental effects?
We won’t be subjecting them to environmental effects and then waiting several months for it to take effect. There are labs, like Wuxi Apptec, that take the material and put them in machines set to temperatures of extreme cold, extreme hot, and tropical conditions. This process only takes about a week.
R: It becomes a lot more productive and efficient when this process can be sped up. The actual experimentation part can start quicker, so that there is more time to evaluate the results.
7. Can you explain how the Tyveck material protects the product through transportation?
Tyveck material is high-density polyethylene fibers, which really just means it is a very strong material. It is difficult to cut open, which is good during transportation.
R: The ECM material can be transported all over the world, so ultimately is has to keep its form throughout all conditions. The Tyveck material, being that is it made up of high-density fibers, can serve as an ideal protective covering.
8. Do you know of any other products made with extracellular matrix tissue?
ECM has a variety of functions. They can be used for abdominal wall reconstruction, plastic surgery, suture reinforcement, pelvic floor reconstruction.
R: Being that the ECM material is made up of collagen, it seems that the material would serve many purposes because it's a tough substance. Human skin cells can attach to the ECM material.
9. What is the process of extracting the ECM material?
We get the ECM material from pig intestines. The pig has to be fed a certain kind of food and it needs to be a certain weight before it can be sacrificed. Then the intestines are removed and cut into very thin sheets. These sheets are cleaned off with water and dehydrated with a machine that basically pulls the water out of the material. The sheets are then sterilized and ready to be used.
R: There's definitely a certain protocol that needs to be followed precisely so that the ECM material can be fully functional for use. Everything needs to be documented, dated, and signed off.
10. What is the importance of testing the tensile strength of the ECM material?
The tensile strength of the material is quite important to the proper functioning of the material. It needs to withstand a certain amount of pressure to be able to work properly. These components must be verified before use, otherwise you risk the possibility of complications.
R: Tensile strength is a way of determining if a material is fully functional. It is going to be important to compare the tensile strength of ECM in ambient temperatures and ECM from environmental conditioning.
WHAT I DISCOVERED
After gathering the results from the experiment and the knowledge from the articles, I discovered that environmental conditions do in fact affect the normal functioning of extra cellular matrix tissue and the material that prevents this degradation during shipping is called Tyveck. Tyvek is composed of high-density polyethylene fibers that essentially protects the ECM from any damage caused by harsh UV rays or freezing temperatures.
Before beginning my research, I assumed that the ECM material could only be used in certain areas like cardiac repair, primarily because of my father's surgery; however, I came to realize that the material carries an array of functions. When I was touring the other engineering companies, I saw how the ECM was used in many different aspects of science, thus I saw that learning the biomechanical properties of ECM can greatly impact the community around us. To create more beneficial devices, we first have to understand the properties and functions of the material. I hope to use my acquired knowledge in the future, even if I don't specialize in biomedical engineering.
I was seven years old when my father had to have an open-heart surgery to replace his damaged aortic valve. I didn’t really understand what exactly that meant until I learned the complexities of science and bioengineering. How could a section of the heart be totally removed and replaced to have it function properly? As it turns out, my father’s aortic valve was replaced with an artificial valve made from the collagenous tissue of a pig’s intestines. I would learn that this kind of connective tissue is called extracellular matrix tissue and it’s used in the medical field primarily for its wide variety of stem cell interactions.
When I got paired with my mentor at Aziyo Biologics, I was eager to ask him about the uses of ECM in the medical field and how it is prepared for medical devices. The company develops products with the ECM material for things such as fast wound healing to securing a pacemaker to the skin. What was particularly interesting to me, was the strict conditions that had to be followed when extracting the tissue from the pig. This idea led me to my main focus concerning what conditions could cause the degradation of the ECM tissue, but I also wanted to understand how we could test for these changes and what material prevents the deterioration.
WHAT I KNOW OR ASSUME
The problem was that I didn't know much about what extracellular matrix tissue really was prior to my internship. My only knowledge about the material came from a brief lecture in my anatomy class. I knew that ECM contained strong fibers and ground substances to bind and support a medium. Additionally, I knew that it had the capability to manipulate the cells within the body. At first, I assumed that the material was specific to a certain area of the body - that is can only be used in cardiac repair. I later came to realize the many versatile uses of ECM.
As far as the packaging of the material goes, I had absolutely no knowledge. To be frank, I didn't really think that much in regards to the science of the packaging. I was too concerned with the actual ECM material, that I disregarded the necessity of the protective packaging. Furthermore, I didn't have any knowledge regarding the testing between the the ECM material that had been environmental conditioned and the ECM material that remained in ambient conditions. Clearly, I had a lot of research to do in order to answer my essential question.
THE SEARCH
I began my research by finding articles that explored the uses of ECM and what it was composed of in order to completely understand what kind of material I was working with. Through Galileo and Google Scholar, I found scientific articles and journals written by specialized doctors that discussed the functions of ECM and its composition. I read that the protein structure within the material can easily be altered when placed in different conditions, thus effecting the function.
Additionally, a quote from an article by Pengfei Lu states, “The biomechanical properties of the ECM belong to a subcategory of its physical properties that determine how the ECM reacts to various forms of force, including tensile, compressive, shear, and other types of force loads applied by cells residing in the matrix.” This directly links the the proper functioning of the ECM material to its tensile strength properties. In other words, I realized that if the tensile strength properties of the environmentally conditioned ECM differ from the material remaining in ambient conditions, then environmental stress does alter the normal functioning of ECM.
To find information regarding the packaging, called Tyveck, my mentor gave me sample protocols written by engineers at the company that discuss the properties of the material and the testing required. I was also able to conduct an interview (found below) with my mentor to gain insight regarding the process of testing for tensile strengths. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to tour other biomedical engineering companies such as, Biocure and Immucore, where I saw the process of properly packaging and handling certain materials, as well as the functions of many different machinery.
Perhaps the bulk of my research, however, is the experiment that I was able to conduct. Basically, I subjected 60 samples of ECM to accelerated environmental conditioning through a lab called WuxiApptec. Meanwhile, I kept 60 samples of ECM in ambient conditions. The diecut dogbone samples were then measured for tensile properties with a machine called an Instron. I was able to operate the machine independently after practicing with the operating system! This experiment was extremely important because it ultimately led me to the answer to my essential question.
INTERVIEW
1. Why did you decide to become a Biomedical Engineer?
I never really wanted to become an engineer growing up. I really wanted to become a doctor, but the situation was complicated and I couldn’t get into the upper division. Basically, both my professors at the time had very heavy accents so I knew I was never going to make it.
R: This is interesting because even if something doesn't work out in your original intentions, there are many different pathways to go into. It's encouraging to know that I shouldn't be so focused on one career that I ignore all other possibilities.
2. Explain the kind of education you went through to become a biomedical engineer.
I was a refugee from Vietnam and ended up staying in a refugee camp at the age of 14. I got adopted by an American family where I grew up and went to school. I was a very high achieving student. I would participate in things like debate club and Model UN. There was a man at a competition that I was participating in that took people to Canada during the Vietnam War so they wouldn’t have to get shipped out, so I eventually got in contact with him. We became close friends and he helped me get in Damon College, since he was a professor there. After I quit taking up pre-med classes, I got certified in Mathematics and Technology Basics. I then continued on the path by taking Industrial engineering courses, when I got offered 3 job placements. I took a job in Buffalo, NY where I really expanded my learning capacity. I learned about medical devices, packaging, and management. I went back to school to get my mechanical engineering degree from Rochester University. Now I have a job here working on projects, I’m a consult where I get paid to work on projects for other companies, and I own my own business.
R: This is a really encouraging and inspirational story. It shows that getting high grades isn't always the most important thing - it's more about motivation and a hunger for education. This education pathway is not what I expected. It's interesting to note that instead of having a biomedical engineer, he has a degree in mechanical engineering. I never realized that engineering is really just a huge sector of everything combined.
3. As an engineer, do you feel like you have the ability to be creative and analytical in the workplace?
Definitely. Every project requires an initial creative idea to get started, but of course you have to be able to analyze and evaluate the results after experimenting.
R: I think being able to express creativity was something that was an initial setback for me because I always thought that engineering was just math, but hearing this was encouraging. It's important to realize no project can get started without a initial innovative idea.
4. What are some different types of biomedical engineers?
I know multiple people who have biomedical engineering degrees, but do different things. You can be working in tissue repair, medical devices, biomaterials, biomechanics and more. One engineer can be working in the lab, while another is recreating the system from the research.
R: When I toured Immucore, I realized that biomedical engineering is a lot more than just medical devices. You can end up working in many different sectors that might surprise you. Research is something that has become high profile over the past couple of years.
5. Is there any biomedical projects you’ve been working on currently?
Several! Right now, I’m working on a system to inject bone material for bone repair and reconstruction. I also have be working on growing human hair on hairless rats by injecting them with human skin cells.
R: This was very interesting! There's a lot that can be done with biomaterials and the fact machines can be created to help with bone repair is really fascinating. The idea of creating human hair on hairless rats is amazing considering the many things that can be created with human skin cells.
6. How can we replicate the environmental effects?
We won’t be subjecting them to environmental effects and then waiting several months for it to take effect. There are labs, like Wuxi Apptec, that take the material and put them in machines set to temperatures of extreme cold, extreme hot, and tropical conditions. This process only takes about a week.
R: It becomes a lot more productive and efficient when this process can be sped up. The actual experimentation part can start quicker, so that there is more time to evaluate the results.
7. Can you explain how the Tyveck material protects the product through transportation?
Tyveck material is high-density polyethylene fibers, which really just means it is a very strong material. It is difficult to cut open, which is good during transportation.
R: The ECM material can be transported all over the world, so ultimately is has to keep its form throughout all conditions. The Tyveck material, being that is it made up of high-density fibers, can serve as an ideal protective covering.
8. Do you know of any other products made with extracellular matrix tissue?
ECM has a variety of functions. They can be used for abdominal wall reconstruction, plastic surgery, suture reinforcement, pelvic floor reconstruction.
R: Being that the ECM material is made up of collagen, it seems that the material would serve many purposes because it's a tough substance. Human skin cells can attach to the ECM material.
9. What is the process of extracting the ECM material?
We get the ECM material from pig intestines. The pig has to be fed a certain kind of food and it needs to be a certain weight before it can be sacrificed. Then the intestines are removed and cut into very thin sheets. These sheets are cleaned off with water and dehydrated with a machine that basically pulls the water out of the material. The sheets are then sterilized and ready to be used.
R: There's definitely a certain protocol that needs to be followed precisely so that the ECM material can be fully functional for use. Everything needs to be documented, dated, and signed off.
10. What is the importance of testing the tensile strength of the ECM material?
The tensile strength of the material is quite important to the proper functioning of the material. It needs to withstand a certain amount of pressure to be able to work properly. These components must be verified before use, otherwise you risk the possibility of complications.
R: Tensile strength is a way of determining if a material is fully functional. It is going to be important to compare the tensile strength of ECM in ambient temperatures and ECM from environmental conditioning.
WHAT I DISCOVERED
After gathering the results from the experiment and the knowledge from the articles, I discovered that environmental conditions do in fact affect the normal functioning of extra cellular matrix tissue and the material that prevents this degradation during shipping is called Tyveck. Tyvek is composed of high-density polyethylene fibers that essentially protects the ECM from any damage caused by harsh UV rays or freezing temperatures.
Before beginning my research, I assumed that the ECM material could only be used in certain areas like cardiac repair, primarily because of my father's surgery; however, I came to realize that the material carries an array of functions. When I was touring the other engineering companies, I saw how the ECM was used in many different aspects of science, thus I saw that learning the biomechanical properties of ECM can greatly impact the community around us. To create more beneficial devices, we first have to understand the properties and functions of the material. I hope to use my acquired knowledge in the future, even if I don't specialize in biomedical engineering.