Design Project: Degenerative Disc Disease By: Nicholas Mirsky

Background Information Humans are prone to spinal issues Americans spend 50 billion dollars a year on pain medications. Overlook extremely important muscles in the back when working out. DDD, when vertebrae degrades over time causing serious issues.

Current Treatment Physical Therapy Pain Medication (temp.) Discectomy Surgery Lower back strength training.

How it Works Annulus Fibrosus Firm, stabilizing layer Acts as the dough in a jelly doughnut. Hold the nucleus in place. Grows larger and harder as degradation occurs. Concentric sheets of collagen fibers. Nucleus Pulposus Inner, soft, jelly like nucleus of the disc. Used as a shock absorber for the back. Prone to inflammation and dehydration as degradation occurs. Contains Aggecan, Fibrillar collagens and water. (main components.)

How it Works (cont.)

DESIGN Goal: keep disc hydrated over time, preventing the degradation of the disc and to allow for continual shock absorption. Creation of Aggrecan, a necessary component lost over time, as the collagen increases. Injected directly as an E. Coli bacterium. Gene used known as the ACAN Gene.

1. Outside Inducer: Fibrillar Collagen 2. Receptor: Integrin α11β1 3. Operon (Below) 4. Protein channel 5. Secretion of newly created Protein. 6. Happy hydrated disc

Operon

Protein Channel/ Protein Excretion

Potential Issues/ Unresolved Aspects Require invention of another Bacterium that would break down Collagen over time in miniscule amounts. Must add water or water substitute for continuous hydration. E. Coli may not survive well in area of spine, very little known bacteria there.