| 09:00 |
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| 10:00 |
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| 11:00 |
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| 12:00 |
[12:00] UOC Seminar Kathryn Melzak
- Description:
- Dr Kathryn Melzak
Institute for Functional Interface (IFG), KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
Red blood cell storage and the effects of diethylhexylphtalate (DEHP) plasticizer
Abstract
Bags used to store blood for transfusions contain the plasticiser diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP). The DEHP is regarded as a potential toxin, and is on EU lists of chemicals to be restricted. One challenge with finding an alternate plasticiser is that the DEHP has a beneficial effect, improving the quality of the stored RBCs; replacements will therefore have to have similar effects in order to maintain the standards of the blood supply. The mechanism by which DEHP exerts its effects is unknown. The work presented here is about the interaction of the DEHP with the RBC membrane, with some comments on how this can affect the RBC shape during storage.
Date: 14/9/2017
Time:12:00 (coffee & cookies will be served at 00:00)
Place: FORTH Seminar Room 1
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| 13:00 |
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| 14:00 |
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| 15:00 |
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| 16:00 |
[16:00-17:00] MST colloquium
- Description:
- Thursday, September 14, 2017
Speaker: Dr. Sotirios Korossis
Affiliation: Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering Implant
Research and Development Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation &
Vascular Surgery,
Hannover Medical School
Title: From the Heart to the Lung and Back: Engineering the Path
Location: Computer Science Department, room A115 (ground floor), Voutes
Time: 16:00
Language: English
Abstract
Cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases are the leading causes of
morbidity and mortality, being among the top 3 diseases in terms of
healthcare spending worldwide. Valve replacement or repair is the 2nd
most common major heart operation in the western world, whereas vascular
stenting represents one of the most commonly performed procedures for
treating occlusive coronary artery disease. Moreover, lung
transplantation still remains the only viable option for the treatment
of patients with end-stage lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO) representing the current clinical practice as a bridge to
transplantation.
Currently, synthetic biomaterials chemically cross-linked animal or
human donor tissues are most commonly used for cardiovascular tissue
repair or replacement. However, conventional approaches only deliver
inert or biocompatible material solutions that prevent cellular
migration after implantation and cannot regenerate or grow with the
patient. Surgeons prefer autologous tissue since it will retain
viability and regenerate. However, autologous tissue is limited or not
available at all. Tissue engineering offers an attractive alternative
for cardiovascular tissue reconstructions, aiming to develop
tailor-made, functional substitutes for implantation, with the purpose
of fostering remodelling and regeneration of diseased tissue.
In the case of ECMO, the use of oxygenator devices is limited to a few
weeks due to contact of the patientʼs blood with the artificial
components of the device, and the consequent thrombus formation and
deposition of blood components within the device. The improvement of the
haemocompatibility of current ECMO devices does not only have the
potential to prolong ECMO usage in anticipation of a suitable lung
transplant, but it can also provide a destination therapy, as an
alternative to lung transplantation. To this end, surface
endothelialization has been considered an effective approach to enhance
long-term haemocompatibility of blood-contacting devices, such as
circulatory assist devices and stents.
This seminar will present an overview of the work undertaken at Hannover
Medical School in the fields of valvular tissue engineering and
biohybrid devices, including artificial lung and stents.
Host: Anna Mitraki 4095
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| 17:00 |
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| 18:00 |
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| 19:00 |
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| 20:00 |
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| 21:00 |
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September 2017
