Difference between revisions of "Team:UofC Calgary/Design"

 
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<h3 class="c-font-uppercase c-font-bold">Applied Design</h3>
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<h3 class="c-font-uppercase c-font-bold"><a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/2/26/T--UofC_Calgary--Applied_Design.pdf">Applied Design</a></h3>
 
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<p> Through conversations with our targeted audience of astronauts, we learned there exists a challenging engineering problem of shielding astronauts from ionizing radiation. Current proposed solutions such as lead ship coating, use of carbon nanotubes filled with boron and a nuclear generator creating a force field are not cost effective due to the cost of launch and transport to deep space. This delivery system allows astronauts shielding against ionizing radiation which is a large factor preventing longer space flights. </p><br>
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<p> Through conversations with our targeted audience of astronauts, we learned that radiation shielding for astronauts is a complex engineering problem. Current proposed solutions such as lead coating on spaceships, carbon nanotubes filled with boron, or generation of a radioprotective magnetic field using nuclear reactors are too expensive due to the additional cost in weight during launch and transport to deep space. Our delivery system outlines a more cost effective and practical way for astronauts to be shielded against ionizing radiation, which is currently a large factor preventing longer space flights. </p><br>
  
<p>In order to the develop a sophisticated solution for the administration of BBI, a bio-therapeutic transdermal patch was considered. Through simulations, the therapeutic peptide (BBI) used for radio-protection in our project had a half-life of 4hrs. A typical mode of administration such as intravenous injections or peroral administration would have been quite difficult because it would have exhibited traditional sinusoidal pharmacokinetics results. This would cause lifespan reduction of BBI in the blood. Our transdermal patch design allowed us to have stable pharmacokinetics as there is a constant peptide production inside the patch from <i> B. subtilis </i> and continuous delivery into the body via diffusion. The application procedure is non-invasive and can maintain blood concentrations at a specified level for days (once fully optimized). </p><br>
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<p>In order to develop a sophisticated solution for the administration of our radioprotective peptide mBBI, a biotherapeutic transdermal patch was considered. The patch will house bacteria (<i>B. subtilis</i>) which are engineered to produce our radioprotective peptide mBBI, which will diffuse to the bloodstream through our patch system, giving radioprotection to the whole body. Through simulations, mBBI has a half-life of four hours. A typical mode of administration, such as intravenous injections or oral administration, would have been ineffective at maintaining a constant dose of peptide, as the peptide would be degraded by the body. After a period of time, mBBI would have to be readministered to maintain an effective dosage concentration, resembling a sinusoidal wave in drug administration. Our transdermal patch design allows us to maintain a stable concentration of mBBI in the blood. The peptide is constantly produced inside the patch by <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and continuously delivered into the body via diffusion. In addition, the application procedure is noninvasive.</p><br>
  
<p>To better integrate our project into existing infrastructure and for future space missions, we designed our delivery system for long term use and portability. Our patch design included four pockets in the corners. The first pocket stored the dry spores. When pressure was applied, the spores were rehydrated and activated. This allowed the long term storage of our patch when not in use. To extend the lifetime of the bacteria in the patch, the other three pockets include super rich media which can be added when the initial nutrients are depleted. This would help to reduce the number of patches needed for a mission. </p><br>
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<p>To better integrate our project into existing infrastructure and for future space missions, we designed our delivery system for long-term use and portability. Our patch design included four small pockets attached to one main large pocket. One pocket of the patch contains dry <i>B. subtilis</i> endospores. When pressure is applied, the pocket will release the spores into the main compartment, where the spores will be rehydrated and activated to their vegetative state. This allows our patch to be stored for long periods of time (as <i>B. subtilis </i> spores are resistant to desiccation and radiation)  when not in use. To extend the lifetime of the bacteria in the patch, the other three pockets include super-rich media, which can be added when the initial nutrients are depleted. These design considerations will help extend the shelf-life as well as lifetime of individual patches, reduce the total number of patches needed for a mission and reducing overall waste. The total weight of one of our patches checks in at about 15g, and the overall dimensions are 7cmx7cmx0.29cm. These specifications underly the portability aspect of our design, making our design the preferred form of radioprotection in terms of storage-space and weight.</p><br>
  
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<p>To ensure the durability of our patch during accidents such as punctures, tears, or the patch falling off the user, we researched materials used for transdermal delivery. Companies specializing in transdermal delivery were contacted for design, material, and manufacturing advice. We designed small-scale prototypes using SOLIDWORKS, and printed them in 3D to better understand the patch to scale. Finally, we prototyped our design using the researched materials. These materials were also tested in our laboratory for their ability to allow mBBI to diffuse through while retaining bacterial cells. To determine if our design was cost effective, we also looked into large-scale manufacture and the level of difficulty to manufacture multiple patches. This led us to develop a user’s manual for our patch and project design, where all information related to our applied design can be found. This user manual can be found below.</p><br>
  
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<p>To ensure durability in accidents such as punctures, tears or the patch falling off we researched materials used for transdermal delivery. Companies specializing in transdermal delivery were also contacted for design/material/manufacturing advice. Small scale prototypes were designed in SOLIDWORKS, then 3D printed to better understand the patch to scale and finally prototyped using the materials researched. The materials had also been tested in lab. To understand if our design was justified to be cost effective, we also looked into large scale manufacture and the level of difficulty to manufacture multiple patches for use. Finally, we developed a user’s manual for our patch and project design where all information related to our applied design can be found. </p><br>
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<br><br><center><p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/2/26/T--UofC_Calgary--Applied_Design.pdf">Click here to view the above PDF</a></font></p></center>
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Latest revision as of 23:13, 19 October 2016

iGEM Calgary 2016

Through conversations with our targeted audience of astronauts, we learned that radiation shielding for astronauts is a complex engineering problem. Current proposed solutions such as lead coating on spaceships, carbon nanotubes filled with boron, or generation of a radioprotective magnetic field using nuclear reactors are too expensive due to the additional cost in weight during launch and transport to deep space. Our delivery system outlines a more cost effective and practical way for astronauts to be shielded against ionizing radiation, which is currently a large factor preventing longer space flights.


In order to develop a sophisticated solution for the administration of our radioprotective peptide mBBI, a biotherapeutic transdermal patch was considered. The patch will house bacteria (B. subtilis) which are engineered to produce our radioprotective peptide mBBI, which will diffuse to the bloodstream through our patch system, giving radioprotection to the whole body. Through simulations, mBBI has a half-life of four hours. A typical mode of administration, such as intravenous injections or oral administration, would have been ineffective at maintaining a constant dose of peptide, as the peptide would be degraded by the body. After a period of time, mBBI would have to be readministered to maintain an effective dosage concentration, resembling a sinusoidal wave in drug administration. Our transdermal patch design allows us to maintain a stable concentration of mBBI in the blood. The peptide is constantly produced inside the patch by Bacillus subtilis and continuously delivered into the body via diffusion. In addition, the application procedure is noninvasive.


To better integrate our project into existing infrastructure and for future space missions, we designed our delivery system for long-term use and portability. Our patch design included four small pockets attached to one main large pocket. One pocket of the patch contains dry B. subtilis endospores. When pressure is applied, the pocket will release the spores into the main compartment, where the spores will be rehydrated and activated to their vegetative state. This allows our patch to be stored for long periods of time (as B. subtilis spores are resistant to desiccation and radiation) when not in use. To extend the lifetime of the bacteria in the patch, the other three pockets include super-rich media, which can be added when the initial nutrients are depleted. These design considerations will help extend the shelf-life as well as lifetime of individual patches, reduce the total number of patches needed for a mission and reducing overall waste. The total weight of one of our patches checks in at about 15g, and the overall dimensions are 7cmx7cmx0.29cm. These specifications underly the portability aspect of our design, making our design the preferred form of radioprotection in terms of storage-space and weight.


To ensure the durability of our patch during accidents such as punctures, tears, or the patch falling off the user, we researched materials used for transdermal delivery. Companies specializing in transdermal delivery were contacted for design, material, and manufacturing advice. We designed small-scale prototypes using SOLIDWORKS, and printed them in 3D to better understand the patch to scale. Finally, we prototyped our design using the researched materials. These materials were also tested in our laboratory for their ability to allow mBBI to diffuse through while retaining bacterial cells. To determine if our design was cost effective, we also looked into large-scale manufacture and the level of difficulty to manufacture multiple patches. This led us to develop a user’s manual for our patch and project design, where all information related to our applied design can be found. This user manual can be found below.


Your device does not support embed PDFs. Please click the following link to open up the PDF. Applied_Design.pdf

Click here to view the above PDF

iGEM

iGEM is an international competition promoting synthetic biology as a means to solve social, economic and humanitarian problems around the globe. The iGEM Jamboree is held in Boston annually. In 2016, over 300 teams are competing against each other.

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Our entire team received a full BioSafety education from the University of Calgary! This entailed going to classes to prepare for a final quiz that tested our ability to be safe in the lab. Several of our members also had radiation training and clearance to ensure that work done with radiation was safe!

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Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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