PHD Research
2014-2020
Hemoglobin Based Oxygen Carriers in Cancer medicine.
Oxygen gradients in an artificial vascularized tumor perfused with hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier supplemented blood. Hypoxia within solid tumors resulting from increased oxygen consumption and abnormal vascularization limits the effectiveness of cancer therapies. This image depicts the oxygen gradient of a hypoxic tumor growing in a vascularized bed interjacent of arterial and venous nodes. Here, the tumor has altered the vasculature, reducing venular oxygen transport.
My previous doctoral research focused on the development of the hemoglobin based oxygen carrier, polymerized human hemoglobin for use in cancer medicine. This work incorporated synthesis of the oxygen carrier coupled with in silico and in vivo studies to access the effectiveness of the materials in oxygenating solid tumors. The results from this study are helpful both for implementation of hemoglobin based oxygen carriers in cancer medicine and for development of computational models to simulate and predict behavior. During this work I synthesized a sample batch of material and have observed success in preliminary in vivo models. I also developed an advanced nodal simulation of hemoglobin-facilitated oxygenation in a tumor vascular network.
Bioengineering Polymerized Hemoglobins.
I worked to develop a pilot scale hemoglobin purification and polymerization process capable of producing up to 250 g or material per week for preclinical trials. This work is exciting as we are now able to produce large quantities of material for use in a variety of applications. During this project, I worked to implement a full internal quality management system using a good laboratory practice protocol that is used to ensure traceability, accountability, and repeatability for all internal lab processes.
Apohemoglobin Process Development
I developed this project with the assistance of undergraduate researchers. We are currently investigating ways to prepare apohemoglobin that are cost effective, safe, and scalable. Our work has led to the development of a novel protocol for heme-extraction that we plan to patent within the next few months. To improve our quantification procedures we have also developed a new protocol capable of assessing protein activity, which I will submit with an undergraduate team as a co-first author within the next month.
Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers in Tissue Engineering.
At the start of my graduate career, I worked with to develop a hemoglobin based oxygen carrier formulation suitable for oxygenating tissue engineered constructs. I also implemented a previously used finite element model to assess the capability of the oxygen carrier solution to establish functional zonation in a tissue-engineered construct. We are currently awaiting the results of an animal study to validate the preliminary results from the developed computational model.
Undergraduate Research
Viscous Hearing Effect on Deactivating Helminths in Fecal Sludge.
My early career contributions focused on applying knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and viscous heating to design sanitation systems for application in developing nations. During these projects, I worked with a team of engineers, veterinarians, pathologists, and aid workers at Oklahoma State University and the University of Kwazulu-Natal to develop a low cost viscous heater. We designed the heater to deactivate the eggs of the intestinal parasite Ascaris Lumbricoides in human fecal waste. Initially, my role was to validate a computational finite element model with bench scale processing equipment and confirm adequate destruction of the Ascaris Suum eggs in pig fecal waste. During the final phase of the project I used the validated model to design prototype equipment to be used in field work. I then led the construction, operation, and analysis of the equipment with field tests on fecal samples in the Kwazulu-Natal province.