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- All Subjects: Biomaterials
- All Subjects: Immunology
- Creators: Harrington Bioengineering Program
- Creators: LaBaer, Joshua
- Member of: Theses and Dissertations
The goal of this research project is to create a Mathcad template file capable of statistically modelling the effects of mean and standard deviation on a microparticle batch characterized by the log normal distribution model. Such a file can be applied during manufacturing to explore tolerances and increase cost and time effectiveness. Theoretical data for the time to 60% drug release and the slope and intercept of the log-log plot were collected and subjected to statistical analysis in JMP. Since the scope of this project focuses on microparticle surface degradation drug release with no drug diffusion, the characteristic variables relating to the slope (n = diffusional release exponent) and the intercept (k = kinetic constant) do not directly apply to the distribution model within the scope of the research. However, these variables are useful for analysis when the Mathcad template is applied to other types of drug release models.
This study was conducted to determine how 3D cultured trophoblasts' secreted factors impact NK-92 activation and cytotoxicity during early pregnancy. In this study, 6 week gestational age human cytotrophoblast stem cells (iCTB) were cultured in 2D, 3D matrigel, and 3D synthetic hydrogels composed of 20 kDa 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-maleimide (PEG-Mal) modified with a GFOGR adhesive ligand (1 mM) and crosslinked with dithiothreitol (DTT), a non-degradable crosslinker. On day six, trophoblast supernatants were collected to investigate the influence of trophoblast organoid secreted factors on activated NK cell phenotype, measured by CD107a expression and levels of IFNγ secretion. Here we demonstrate that NK-92 cells possess a dNK2-like phenotype, and that supernatants of cytotrophoblasts cultured in 2D and synthetic hydrogels, but not matrigel, reduce activated NK-92 cytokine secretion.