Hector Apodaca at the AIChE National Conference presenting his poster

Author: Hector Apodaca Reyes | Major: Chemical Engineering | Semester: Fall 2022

My name is Hector Apodaca, and I am a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering. My research focuses on the study of the stability of six bilayers of Heparin-Collagen Layer-by-Layer coatings when incubated in Phosphate Buffered Saline and cell media. That is, how the (HEP-COL)6 coatings degrade over a certain period and how cell behavior may be affected by the degradation level. Heparin and collagen (HEP-COL) layer-by-layer coatings have shown impressive results in forming polyelectrolyte multilayers, and due to being a simple, cost-efficient, and versatile option to fabricate thin biomimetic films. This self-assembly technique is one of the most effective methods to immobilize extracellular matrix (collagen and heparin) onto medical devices, implants, etc. (HEP-COL) LbL coatings possess specific properties that enhance cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Even though HEP-COL coatings improved cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and expansion of human Schwann cells (hSCs), the stability of these polymer coatings over time remains uncertain. With the set of experiments done in the lab, it was found that although the cell media treatment of the coatings initially offered better conditions to enhance cell behavior, it also rapidly deteriorated the coatings. To get to this conclusion, I ran experiments to determine the percentage of viable cells after 3 days of cell culture in (HEP/COL)6 coated plates that have been incubated prior to cell seeding from 0 days to 4 weeks with cell media or PBS. Another experiment focused on real-time monitoring of cell behavior for 3 days of cell culture in (HEP/COL)6 coated plates (incubated from 0 days to 4 weeks with cell media or PBS). Lastly, to study the stability of the coatings, a set of experiments was run for over 30 days to quantify the release of heparin over that time.

Last weekend, I got to go to Phoenix, AZ, and present my research at the AIChE National Conference. Having presented what I do in the lab, I got to interact with faculty from other universities that gave me some insight into what to do next in my research. Professionally, I was able to network not only with professors from other institutions but also with undergraduate and graduate students. A professor from another university and I talked about how using sensors and mass spectrometry can help my research to gather more data that can actually be modeled using transport phenomena principles.

My main takeaway from this experience was to see and learn from other students’ research and how some of what they do can be also implemented into my own research. I would encourage any student who does research with a faculty member at our university to ask them about conferences they can present their research and not be afraid of doing so. You have been working hard on your experiments and academic research, and presenting what you do at a conference is a rewarding experience. Next for me is to run more experiments and implement newly learned techniques that will provide me with more data to simulate the release of heparin in the coatings.