Team:UofC Calgary/Design
Applied Design
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 -a large factor preventing longer space flights.
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 resulting. This would result in the 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 B. subtilis 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).
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 helped to reduce the number of patches needed for a mission.
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.
