Project Team
Students
Yasmin Ali
Biomedical Engineering
Penn State University Park
Faculty Mentors
Scott Medina
Penn State University Park
Biomedical Engineering
Project
Project Video
Project Abstract
Antibiotic resistance poses a major cause for concern in the medical treatment of bacterial infections, as it emerges through the accumulation of resistance genes in drug-exposed flora of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In particular, the GI pathogen C. difficile exemplifies a common hospital-acquired infection that colonizes the dysbiotic gut resulting from antibiotics. Treatment of this deadly pathogen requires both the removal of the microbe and the reestablishment of the native, healthy microflora of the gut. To address these demands, this research presents a model for commensal-loaded biocapsules that not only possess an antimicrobial coating to clear pathogenic bacteria, but can also reflourish the environment with a defined consortium of encapsulated microorganisms known to support GI health. For Study 1, Comsol computational modeling is used to investigate the formation of the antimicrobial coating. In the formation of the particle, it is hypothesized that hyaluronic acid (HA) from the core reacts with polylysine (PLL) in solution to form the outer coating, termed the “corona.” The objective is to identify an optimal concentration range for HA corona growth with careful consideration of the solubility limitations of the biomaterial. Results of this model indicate that increasing HA concentration steepens the concentration gradient for HA diffusion and, accordingly, reaction with PLL. Moreover, preliminary data demonstrates that the biocapsule interior fosters a suitable environment for the growth of E. coli. With that in mind, Study 2 seeks to develop a model for the E. coli growth within the capsule using MATLAB software. This model is then expanded upon to model the expected growth kinetics of commensal microorganisms that could be loaded into the capsule. Results of Study 2 illustrate the expected growth patterns of commensals within the capsule prior to release into the human gut. Overall, this research will allow us to refine and improve the formulation of the biocapsules in preparation for preclinical studies.
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