BMEBT MS Thesis Defense by Sean Crowley
Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology
BMEBT MS Thesis Defense by Sean Crowley
Date: June 11, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: TEX 219
Title: Comparison of Ribose and Glucose for In Vitro Glycation of Human Cortical Bone
Abstract: Patients with diabetes are at a much higher risk of experiencing bone fractures compared to non-diabetic populations. This happens despite diabetics having relatively normal or high bone mineral density, causing questions as to why this occurs. Past research has shown that diabetic bone tissue has a higher prevalence of non-enzymatic glycation, a spontaneous process where the aldehydes of sugars react with ε-amino groups on proteins in the bone matrix to eventually form advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs alter cross-links within the matrix, which can lead to stiffer tissue and deteriorated mechanical properties. High AGE accumulation can occur over decades, which makes it a challenge to obtain representative data from diabetic patients or cadaveric bone tissue in order to study these mechanisms. In vitro incubation simulations have been successfully used to reflect the process of non-enzymatic glycation in bone tissue, with AGE accumulating in a matter of days/weeks. These simulations normally use ribose as the extracellular sugar source. Even though glucose is more physiologically relevant, it has little documentation in its usage in these simulations. This project investigates the effectiveness and differences in reactions of both ribose and glucose with human cortical bone. Bone samples were incubated with control, ribose, and glucose solutions, and were then tested to measure key mechanical properties as well as AGE accumulation. Differences in results are reported, analyzed, and discussed within this thesis, providing more insight into the mechanisms of non-enzymatic glycation’s effect on bone properties.
Advisor: Dr. Lamya Karim, Dept. of Bioengineering (lkarim@umassd.edu)
Committee Members:
Dr. Tracie Ferreira, Dept. of Bioengineering
Dr. Qinguo Fan, Dept. of Bioengineering
All BMEBT graduate students are encouraged to attend, and all interested parties are invited.
TEX 219
Lamya Karim
5089998560
lkarim@umassd.edu