This project explores novel formulations of PDMS-based films incorporating various encapsulation agents to enable controlled and sustained drug release. By comparing the effects of water, DCM, and an Ionic liquid on drug loading efficiency and release kinetics, the study aims to optimize polymer-drug interactions for biomedical use. Future applications include tuning these formulations for specific…

This project aims to develop and evaluate an open-source therapeutic video as a noninvasive intervention for individuals at risk of or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The video integrates heart-coherent breathing exercises, 40 Hz gamma frequency stimulation, and imagery—three nonpharmacological techniques associated with cognitive engagement and amyloid-beta plaque reduction. Currently in the data collection and development…

In partnership with ASU’s Neuromuscular Control and Human Robotics Lab, this project focuses on the design validation testing of a soft-back exosuit. The device is primarily composed of adjustable, elastic components with a small, active, pneumatic jamming system incorporated for additional support. This particular project is a motion capture study focused on testing the device…

This project investigates human-human physical cooperation using the KINARM robotic manipulandum to analyze haptic interactions in dyadic motor tasks. Specifically, I aim to determine whether the 0-400ms or 400-800 ms time window better captures key indicators of cooperation by examining how individuals adapt to disruptions such as target uncertainty and task effort. Data will be…

There are many well explored non-invasive methods of sensory feedback for prosthetic users. The purpose of this study was to explore pneumatic soft haptic feedback as a potential method of feedback for upper limb prosthetic users. A pneumatic bladder was integrated with the Softhand Pro, a system called wearable integrated soft haptics (WISH), to provide…

Surface Display for Phage Assisted Continuous Evolution (SurPhACE) enables the development of novel nanobodies with specific and heightened binding affinity to a given target. Automation of this method in one 96 well plate would enable 64x greater evolutionary speed compared to the previous manual method. My project developed a turbidostat to provide fresh bacteria to…

This project primarily focused on the analysis of immunohistochemical mice brain samples post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) to assess the targeting and retention of nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated with targeting and control peptides. The tissue sections analyzed were stained for cell nuclei (DAPI), blood vessels (CD31), neurons (Neun), microglia (Iba1), and astrocytes (GFAP) are used in addition…

This project focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of biomechanical feedback in improving soccer kicking accuracy among healthy adult participants. Participants were instructed to perform a series of kicks toward predefined target zones, with half receiving real-time feedback while the other half did not. Each kick was recorded on video, and a Python made script was…

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately, respiratory failure or death. Through the application of unsupervised clustering techniques, we identified three distinct ALS subgroups based on gene expression profiles and transposable element activity in the choroid plexus. Gene set enrichment analysis…

A point-of-care device for use in monitoring heart failure was tested using a prototype portable microscope to analyze its performance and versatility. This project builds on the previous work of Dr. Chao Chen, Ph.D., who developed the microfluidic digital immunoassay for point-of-care detection of NT-proBNP from whole blood. NT-proBNP, a commonly used biomarker for heart…