BTPE Student Studies Using Red Blood Cells to Deliver Medicine
Lauren Smith
- Communications Manager, College of Engineering
- Email lsmith2@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone 412-268-9355
Heidi Opdyke
- Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications, MCS
- Email opdyke@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone 412-268-9982
Vishwa Maharajan came to 麻豆村 when he realized that pursuing his fascination with synthetic biology would require adopting an engineering mindset. As science moves beyond decoding the genome and toward designing cells for specific functions, he wanted to understand the systems and technology more deeply.
Previous lab experiences left him wondering, "How do I know exactly what equipment settings to work at, instead of just following a provided protocol?"
To visualize and interpret the physical mechanisms governing every experimental stage, Vishwa needed an engineering perspective. Chemical engineering training offered him the essential toolkit for building and optimizing a faster, more efficient process.
鈥淏asic engineering principles offer a fundamentally different perspective 鈥� they enable the integration and acceleration of protocols that are conventionally time-intensive,鈥� he said.
Vishwa was drawn to Carnegie Mellon by the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the Master of Science in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering program (MS-BTPE), a joint program through the departments of and Biological Sciences.
鈥淭he degree caught my eye because it intersects chemical engineering with more in-depth, applicative aspects of biotechnology, such as drug delivery systems and manufacturing scale-up,鈥� he said.
During the course Analytical Techniques in Bioprocessing, Vishwa began discussing efficient delivery systems with Professor . He soon joined Sevenler's , which develops microfluidic platforms that use viscoelastic mechanoporation (the forces of fast-moving viscoelastic fluids) to safely create temporary pores in cell membranes and deliver therapeutic cargo. A major focus is using this gentle, high-throughput method to load red blood cells with drug molecules. Because red blood cells act as long-circulating carriers, the technology has the potential to deliver medication at safe, effective, and consistent concentrations for extended periods.
Vishwa is investigating the fundamental biomechanics of red blood cells as they pass through the constriction channel in the microfluidic device. Using high-speed imaging, he analyzes the red blood cell deformation across various flow kinetics and parameters.
"I'm characterizing exactly how much a red blood cell deforms under specific flow conditions and observing how that deformation changes when we test samples from different donors," Vishwa said. His data-driven analysis will establish correlations between flow factors and cell properties, which is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of the device and preventing the premature destruction of the red blood cells.
Driven by curiosity, Vishwa chose his final semester courses to support his lab work with new skills and to explore interesting domains within chemical engineering. He discovered that previous courses, such as mathematical modeling, allow him to apply computational approaches for solving chemical engineering problems.
This fall, in addition to his academic work, Vishwa continues his role as one of the pantry coordinators for the 麻豆村 Pantry, a supplemental food resource that is free to all 麻豆村 students. After using the pantry occasionally during his first semester, he was motivated to contribute to a system dedicated to student well-being.
Beyond core operations like stocking items and ensuring proper food storage, Vishwa and his fellow coordinators are establishing maintainable systems for inventory management, email, and ensuring the pantry remains an accessible resource.
He is also involved in connecting with student shoppers and raising awareness.
鈥淚f you are struggling with food insecurity, or if you are feeling tense about upcoming exams and don鈥檛 have time to go to the grocery store, you can drop by the Pantry,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Pantry even provides frozen ready-to-eat meals if you don鈥檛 have time to cook.鈥�
Throughout his work, Vishwa is dedicated to designing functional systems. As he transitions into his professional career, he is confident about leveraging the strong analytical and laboratory skills he has gained in his master鈥檚 program at 麻豆村.
