Difference between revisions of "Team:UofC Calgary/Safety"
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<li class="c0"><span class="c1">Contamination is an issue both on earth and in space, as the bacteria in the patch may be able to infect user's of the patch or colonize foreign planets should they be released. To prevent the bacteria from escaping from the patch, there are several engineering controls in place, such as the protective physical barriers that prevent bacteria from diffusing out of the patch, including the backing layer and the selective membrane.</span> | <li class="c0"><span class="c1">Contamination is an issue both on earth and in space, as the bacteria in the patch may be able to infect user's of the patch or colonize foreign planets should they be released. To prevent the bacteria from escaping from the patch, there are several engineering controls in place, such as the protective physical barriers that prevent bacteria from diffusing out of the patch, including the backing layer and the selective membrane.</span> | ||
<span>Although our initial diffusion assays have shown that bacteria can diffuse through our semipermeable membrane, we have begun testing with other smaller filters including peptide dialysis membranes and 0.2 micron size filters. We have also had success with membranes used to filter-sterilize liquids.</span> | <span>Although our initial diffusion assays have shown that bacteria can diffuse through our semipermeable membrane, we have begun testing with other smaller filters including peptide dialysis membranes and 0.2 micron size filters. We have also had success with membranes used to filter-sterilize liquids.</span> | ||
| − | <li class=" | + | <li class="c0"><span><li class="c0">See pages 15 - 16 of the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B25REnfhyiNWM0hsNGtjRl9GWkk/view?usp=sharing" style="padding-right:0px";>Device Manual</a> to tackle contamination issues.</span> |
| − | </li> | + | </li></li> |
<li class="c0"> Double auxotrophies are going to be implemented in the Bacillus subtilis to ensure the bacteria cannot survive outside the patch.</li> | <li class="c0"> Double auxotrophies are going to be implemented in the Bacillus subtilis to ensure the bacteria cannot survive outside the patch.</li> | ||
<h2><span><u>Future Considerations for Patch Design</u></span></h2> | <h2><span><u>Future Considerations for Patch Design</u></span></h2> | ||
Revision as of 01:33, 18 October 2016
Safety
Safety Considerations in the Lab
How we prepared for lab work
How we prepared for lab work
All Principal Investigators, mentors, and undergraduate researchers were required to complete lab safety training and safety courses developed by the University of Calgary's Environment Health and Safety (EHS) services prior to working in the lab. These mandatory safety training courses included courses on occupational health and safety, laboratory safety, hazard assessment, incident reporting and investigation, spill response, biosafety, bloodborne pathogens, and an updated versions of the WHMIS course. The courses cover biological containment protocols, handling of hazardous materials such as liquid nitrogen, and disposal of waste, as well as standard safety and laboratory practices. All required us to take a test following each course, which certified safe lab work under the EHS Guidelines. All team members, advisors, and mentors received credit for each course and training program listed, and supervisors were present in the lab at all times to oversee undergraduate work.
The University of Calgary has a university-wide Biosafety Committee, whose guidelines for safe biological laboratory practices were adhered to throughout the project. The team’s lab benches and experimental plans were assessed and deemed safe to proceed with by this Biosafety Committee. The Univerity's Environment Health and Safety (EHS) services provided additional training for individuals working with radiation and irradiated cells.
Our project utilized Bacillus subtilis and a commonly used lab-strain of Escherichia coli, TOP10. Both are non-pathogenic and non-infectious, and are classified as Biosafety Level 1 organisms (BSL-1). Therefore, these organisms posed no significant risk to researchers. Since the BSL-1 cells (E. coli and B. subtilis) have GRAS labelling, the main cloning component of out project did not require ethics approval by review boards. Some team members worked with HCT116 and 1BR3 primary cell lines, which are human colon carcinoma and human skin fibroblast cell lines and are classified as Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2).The cell lines were received from completely anonymous donors. We handled these cell lines at containment level 2 in accordance with the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Biosafety Committee guidelines.
Safety Considerations for the Device
Structure of the Patch
Choosing Patch Materials
Considering Human Use
Advantages of a Patch
Possible Problems with the Patch
In Vivo Mouse Trials
Containment
Future Considerations for Patch Design
If we can determine a better membrane that prevents the diffusion of the bacteria, we can use a two layer semi permeable system where the first layer prevents the diffusion of the bacteria and a second layer which further filters BBI for diffusion.
Safe disposal:
Safety Considerations of Biobrick Parts
Future Considerations
We would engineer inducible kill switches that could eradicate the bacteria if need be. Additionally, integrating mBBI in various essential genes required for amino acid synthesis could provide more opportunities for auxotrophy, increasing the safety of using B. subtilis in the device.
Safety Forms
