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Project Overview

This project is being done as part of Drexel University's freshman engineering design curriculum. The task is to create a hydrogel using sodium alginate that is structured in such a way as to control the release of therapeutics over time. 

Goals

The goal of this project is to control the release rate of a therapeutic through the manipulation of the structure of alginate hydrogel. Our group decided to create a prototype of a wound dressing, which will be used specifically to treat first- and second-degree burns. This will require a process including many phases, with examples including research, design, construction, testing, etc.

Requirements

The major requirement of this project is the use of alginate hyrdogel, as the manipulation of this material to serve a purpose is the central goal of this project. Additionally, the prototype is required to be effective in controlling the rate of release of a theraputic agent. The controlled release is expected to allow the maintenance of a safe and effective concentration of the therapeutic agent in the patient's system over an extended period of time. This concentration is to be determined using the drug's therapeutic index.

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