The Departments of Chemistry and Life Science (CLS) and Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) joined forces on a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded neuroscience research project to develop an automated system to extrude biological polymers. Dr. Mitropoulos and Dr. Loverde (CLS) collaborated with Mr. Jeff Butler and Mr. Eric Horne (CME) to develop a device to extrude implantable fibers that aid in nerve regeneration. The device can produce 15-micron diameter fibers (less than half the size of a human hair) at lengths of up to 5 meters. For implantation, overlapping layers of ~50 fibers are sutured and cut to match the size of the nerve defect, where they serve as a conduit to permit regeneration of axons across a gap. The ability to produce conduits that support axon growth beyond 3 cm in length is a fundamental challenge in repair of the nervous system, and is an area of active investigation within CLS.
The prototype device required mechanical, electrical, and machined components from CME which built a system to precisely control fiber extrusion and collection, which increases the quality, consistency, and yield of biopolymer fibers. In CLS, cadets Kylor Kiesewetter, Ted Lossing, and Isabelle Gates will use the device to produce Type I Collagen fibers which are evaluated in vitro using embryonic chicken neurons.