Exploring Biomedical EngineeringExploring Biomedical Engineering

Pharmaceutical ResearchPharmaceutical Research

Biomedical Engineering - BMEBiomedical Engineering - BME

Applying the engineering design process to Applying the engineering design process to problems in problems in medicine and biologymedicine and biology

Typically requires master’s degree or PhDTypically requires master’s degree or PhD An extremely diverse field,An extremely diverse field,

in terms of contentin terms of content Includes people from Includes people from

many disciplinesmany disciplines

Engineering Design ProcessEngineering Design Process

Biomedical ResearchBiomedical Research

Your research team has successfully developed a Your research team has successfully developed a new prescription medication called new prescription medication called ““OutstandixOutstandix,,”” which is designed to slow or stop the process of which is designed to slow or stop the process of inflammation that causes pain in patients.inflammation that causes pain in patients.

Animal testing has gone smoothly and seems to Animal testing has gone smoothly and seems to

provide relief from inflammatory pain. provide relief from inflammatory pain.

So far, no negative side effects have been seen in So far, no negative side effects have been seen in the test animals, but this drug has been shown to the test animals, but this drug has been shown to drastically reduce the levels of a protein called drastically reduce the levels of a protein called OsteopontinOsteopontin in the blood, urine and joint (synovial) in the blood, urine and joint (synovial) fluid.fluid.

ResearchResearch

Includes reading scholarly articles on the subjectIncludes reading scholarly articles on the subject

If the information is not available, design an If the information is not available, design an experiment to learn moreexperiment to learn more

Begin by researching what others have already Begin by researching what others have already learned—saves time and money!learned—saves time and money!

Biomedical ResearchBiomedical Research

Although no side effects have been seen in animal testing, it is important to research all effects of Outstandix before beginning human testing

Today, we will research what others have already learned about Osteopontin

Read the following article excerpts and take notes on the effects of Osteopontin in the body

OsteopontinOsteopontin

Inhibits formation of calcium crystals in the bodyInhibits formation of calcium crystals in the body

Inhibits cell apoptosis (cancer implications)Inhibits cell apoptosis (cancer implications)

Aids in cell migration and attachmentAids in cell migration and attachment

Present at sites of inflammation and wound healingPresent at sites of inflammation and wound healing

Very important for bone mineralizationVery important for bone mineralization

OsteopontinOsteopontin

We are going to focus on the effect that Osteopontin has on inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salts out of solution in three areas of the body—blood, urine and joint fluid

OsteopontinOsteopontin

Body chemistry is very important for the Body chemistry is very important for the maintenance of lifemaintenance of life

NaNa++, K, K++, H, H++, Ca, Ca+2+2, Po, Po4-4-, Cl, Cl--

We get these chemicals from the food we eatWe get these chemicals from the food we eat

Most are dissociated into ions, but can re-Most are dissociated into ions, but can re-associate to form different chemicalsassociate to form different chemicals

PrecipitatePrecipitate

Forming a PrecipitateForming a Precipitate

3 CaCl3 CaCl22 + 2 K + 2 K33POPO44 = Ca = Ca33(PO(PO44))22 + 6 KCl + 6 KCl

Solid Solid calcium phosphate calcium phosphate forms and drops to the forms and drops to the bottom of the glassbottom of the glass

Similar to crystallization in the bodySimilar to crystallization in the body

Calcium apatite, oxalate, phosphate…. Calcium apatite, oxalate, phosphate…. are all solid forms of calcium saltsare all solid forms of calcium salts

Research ImplicationsResearch Implications

BloodBlood — Calcium phosphate crystals that form in — Calcium phosphate crystals that form in the blood can cause a pulmonary embolism, the blood can cause a pulmonary embolism, causing immediate death; smaller crystal causing immediate death; smaller crystal formations can lead to vascular calcification that formations can lead to vascular calcification that can cause problems later in lifecan cause problems later in life

UrineUrine — Calcium phosphate crystals that form in — Calcium phosphate crystals that form in urine often lead to kidney stone formationurine often lead to kidney stone formation

Synovial (joint) fluid Synovial (joint) fluid — Crystals in synovial fluid — Crystals in synovial fluid can lead to joint problems, and severe joint paincan lead to joint problems, and severe joint pain

Vascular CalcificationVascular Calcification

Calcification can form in the blood vessels, cardiac tissue or valves of the heart, causing stiffness

Stiff vessels can fail, causing rupture; in a large artery, this can cause death

Kidney StonesKidney Stones

Joint CrystalsJoint Crystals

ReferencesReferences

Center for Biomedical Engineering Research. Updated 2012. CBER, College of Engineering, University of Delaware. Accessed July 30, 2012. http://www.cber.udel.edu/research.html

Engineering Design Challenge. Last updated February 22, 2008. NASA Lunar Plant Growth Chamber. Accessed July 10, 2012 (Source of definitions, images and other information.) http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/plantgrowth/reference/Eng_Design_5-12.html