Master’s Project Defense
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Gateway Park, Room GP 1002
1:00pm — 2:00pm
“Real-Time Hemolysis Measurement and Ice Nucleation Detection in Supercooled Red Blood Cells”
Kathryn Woodland
Abstract: Red blood cells play a crucial role in transfusion medicine, and optimizing their storage conditions is vital to ensure their therapeutic efficacy. However, traditional storage methods only conserve blood for 42 days. A research group at the Center of Engineering and Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital has begun supercooling blood to increase its shelf life to upwards of 100 days. However, supercooling can increase the possibility of hemolysis and sporadic ice nucleation. Presented is a device designed to advance biomedical monitoring by concurrently measuring ice nucleation and hemolysis through noninvasive, continuous methods. To study the mechanisms of these phenomena, experiments were undertaken to examine hemoglobin absorbance, monitor hemolysis, and determine ice nucleation in four distinct samples characterized by differing hematocrit levels. Furthermore, the device successfully measured hemolysis and ice nucleation, enhancing its capacity to comprehensively evaluate blood sample quality. Validation of the device's efficacy was achieved through the measurement of blood sample absorbance using a plate reader, ensuring reliable data. The outcomes of this research have significant implications for blood transfusion practices, offering insights into improved blood storage protocols that enhance the availability and quality of stored blood products. Additionally, the monitoring device presents a promising tool for future studies in transfusion medicine, facilitating the development of tailored storage solutions to meet specific clinical needs and ensure the safety and efficacy of transfused blood products.
| Thesis Advisor: | Defense Committee: | |
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Sakthikumar Ambady, PhD Associate Teaching Professor Biomedical Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
Dirk Albrecht, PhD Associate Professor Biomedical Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
Ahmet Sabuncu Assistant Professor of Teaching Mechanical and Materials Eng. Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
For a zoom link, please email kharrison@wpi.edu or jnorton@wpi.edu