Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
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- Creators: Pizziconi, Vincent
Description
The aim of the present study was to review the symptoms and current treatment options of the most common skin infections seen in outpatient settings and develop a preliminary alternative treatment solution. The specific skin infections evaluated were those caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacterial species, and are frequently treated with a wide variety of systemic antibiotics or topical ointments. Systemic antibiotics have shown increased occurrence of adverse side effects as well as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, these medications are usually overprescribed, which may further exacerbate negative side effects. Another issue that is addressed is the development of infections following treatment of a new laceration or other trauma to the skin. A patient may be treated for their wound with stitches or another alternative, but there is still the possibility of developing an infection later.
This study synthesizes information found from extensive research and provides a review of the most optimal techniques for developing an alternative to systemic antibiotics. The final deliverable is a report detailing the significant findings and discussing the ways that this solution may be developed further and implemented in a clinical setting. The solution is a hydrogel bandage designed to deliver antibiotics directly to the wound site, while also offering protection and enhanced wound healing. The target population is patients suffering from skin conditions in an outpatient setting. The antibiotics of interest for this solution are clindamycin, doxycycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), as they offer excellent treatment against gram-positive bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, other broad-spectrum antibiotics could potentially be incorporated to protect against gram-negative bacteria. The design features a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel that has shown many properties that are beneficial to biomedical applications, including biocompatibility, flexibility, high drug-loading capacity, high absorption of wound exudate, increased promotion of wound healing, and more. Preliminary mathematical models of the hydrogel’s drug delivery behaviors are also included. Due to the scope and timeframe of this project, the majority of findings herein are based on research of prior literature instead of development of the novel device. Future directions would include further research and development of the mechanisms behind the device, creation of a physical prototype, experimental testing, and statistical analyses to verify device specifications and capabilities.
This study synthesizes information found from extensive research and provides a review of the most optimal techniques for developing an alternative to systemic antibiotics. The final deliverable is a report detailing the significant findings and discussing the ways that this solution may be developed further and implemented in a clinical setting. The solution is a hydrogel bandage designed to deliver antibiotics directly to the wound site, while also offering protection and enhanced wound healing. The target population is patients suffering from skin conditions in an outpatient setting. The antibiotics of interest for this solution are clindamycin, doxycycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), as they offer excellent treatment against gram-positive bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, other broad-spectrum antibiotics could potentially be incorporated to protect against gram-negative bacteria. The design features a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel that has shown many properties that are beneficial to biomedical applications, including biocompatibility, flexibility, high drug-loading capacity, high absorption of wound exudate, increased promotion of wound healing, and more. Preliminary mathematical models of the hydrogel’s drug delivery behaviors are also included. Due to the scope and timeframe of this project, the majority of findings herein are based on research of prior literature instead of development of the novel device. Future directions would include further research and development of the mechanisms behind the device, creation of a physical prototype, experimental testing, and statistical analyses to verify device specifications and capabilities.
ContributorsTanner, Emily Christine (Author) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Thesis director) / Nguyen, Eric (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This thesis aims to incorporate exosomes into an electrospun scaffold for tissue engineering applications. The motivation for this work is to develop an implant to regenerate tissue for patients with laryngeal defects. It was determined that it is feasible to incorporate exosomes into an electrospun scaffold. This addition of exosomes does alter the scaffold properties, by decreasing the average fiber diameter by roughly a factor of three and increasing the average modulus by roughly a factor of two. Cells were cultured on a scaffold with exosomes incorporated and were found to proliferate more than on a scaffold alone. This research lays the groundwork for further developing and optimizing an electrospun scaffold with exosomes incorporated to elicit a tissue regenerative response.
ContributorsKennedy, Maeve (Author) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Thesis director) / McPhail, Michael (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The adaptive artificial-intelligence (AI) medical device industry is a novel industry in the United States offering innovations to the healthcare field. The rapid expansion of this industry in recent years has drawn attention from multiple stakeholders causing a heated debate about how to introduce these innovations into the market while maintaining patient safety and treatment efficacy. Since early 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been releasing statements in regards to the improvement of regulation for this new technology, but has yet to take further actions. Dilemmas including 1) a difficult regulatory process, 2) a heightening financial burden and 3) looming liability issues, are reasons adaptive AI medical devices have struggled to be advanced. By conducting a thorough analysis of these 3 issues, recognizing the intricacies of them separately and together, this study develops a better understanding of the landscape adaptive AI technology is facing and provides a clearer picture for the future of the industry.
ContributorsOgden, Ravyn Nicole (Author) / Coursen, Jerry (Thesis director) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Tissue engineering scaffold fabrication methods often have tradeoffs associated with them that prevent one method from fulfilling all design requirements of a desired scaffold. This undergraduate thesis seeks to combine 3D printing and electrospinning tissue engineering fabrication methods into a hybrid fabrication method that can potentially fulfill more design requirements than each method alone. The hybrid scaffolds were made by inserting electrospun scaffolds between layers of 3D printed scaffolds of increasing print temperature and effects on adhesion and mechanical properties were characterized. The fabrication method proved to be feasible and print temperature affected both adhesion and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. A positive, non-linear relationship was seen between print temperature and adhesion and resulting force. Insertion of electrospun mats led to increased damping of scaffolds. Evidence from characterization indicated factors other than print temperature were likely contributing to adhesion and mechanical properties. If studied further, this fabrication method could potentially be used to improve overall structure and regenerative potential of tissue engineering scaffolds.
ContributorsCornella, Joseph Paul (Author) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Thesis director) / McPhail, Michael J (Committee member) / School of Music (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Homeopathy is a brand of alternative medicine that has enjoyed a unique form of regulation for many years. This work aims to understand the regulation of homeopathic drugs in the United States by performing a literature review focused on three fronts: (i) homeopathy (theory, history in the United States and criticisms), (ii) U.S Food and Drug Administration (history and relationship to homeopathy), and (iii) interpretation of the law through reading guidance documents and the Code of Federal Regulations.
In 2015, the FDA began a process to reevaluate and update the regulations surrounding homeopathic products to better fit their present risk-based model. Past regulations were set in 1938; and as the world evolved, these have been found to set inadequate standards. By reviewing the agency’s guidance drafts and core regulatory documents, we come to understand that these changes are motivated by a desire for homeopathic remedies to follow high standards that apply to other products for the benefit of the U.S. consumers. FDA has made significant advances by proposing new Guidances on homeopathic products, listening to homeopathic community and consumers, and withdrawing the Compliance Policy Guide 400.400 issued in 1988.
We recommend for homeopathic manufacturers and practitioners to see the FDA as an ally and cooperate fully with the proposed changes for the regulation the agency gives out. Doing so will give the homeopathic community the best chance at continuing to sell their products and reach their consumers in the United States. In the same token, the FDA should do their best to involve homeopathic professionals in some way in this regulatory process, to encourage participation and compliance by the broader homeopathic community. Doing so ensures a climate of teamwork among different facets of the medical community in the United States.
In 2015, the FDA began a process to reevaluate and update the regulations surrounding homeopathic products to better fit their present risk-based model. Past regulations were set in 1938; and as the world evolved, these have been found to set inadequate standards. By reviewing the agency’s guidance drafts and core regulatory documents, we come to understand that these changes are motivated by a desire for homeopathic remedies to follow high standards that apply to other products for the benefit of the U.S. consumers. FDA has made significant advances by proposing new Guidances on homeopathic products, listening to homeopathic community and consumers, and withdrawing the Compliance Policy Guide 400.400 issued in 1988.
We recommend for homeopathic manufacturers and practitioners to see the FDA as an ally and cooperate fully with the proposed changes for the regulation the agency gives out. Doing so will give the homeopathic community the best chance at continuing to sell their products and reach their consumers in the United States. In the same token, the FDA should do their best to involve homeopathic professionals in some way in this regulatory process, to encourage participation and compliance by the broader homeopathic community. Doing so ensures a climate of teamwork among different facets of the medical community in the United States.
ContributorsRobayo, Juan Pablo (Author) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Thesis director) / Feigal, David (Committee member) / Frow, Emma (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05