Alexander Salinas Email and Phone Number

Laboratory of Dr. Ferris PfeifferDr. Pfeiffer’s research focuses on understanding orthopedic tissue adaptation utilizing laboratory and computational models. His research also looks into the development of multiple orthopedic treatments including anterior cruciate ligament repair and fixation, cartilage preservation and transplantation and detection and treatment of osteoarthritis. My most recent project, under the direction of Dr. Ferris Pfeiffer, investigated the strength of pedicle screw-vertebrae constructs to understand how screws might fail and how the stresses in the vertebrae are affected. We worked with a spine surgeon to model salvage techniques using SolidWorks and used Finite Element Analysis software to investigate material properties around screw-vertebrae fixtures. I was personally responsible for modeling pedicle screws currently used fixation surgery as well as ALIF, TLIF, and XLIF cages. I also made modifications to screw parameters such as changing screw length and diameter to find the most stable construct.My previous project in this lab involved investigating the mechanical properties of articular cartilage. Working with a graduate student, we designed a loading apparatus using SolidWorks to hold osteochondral explants and applied both compressive and shear forces to simulate injury. Using a fluorescent microscope and MatLab, tissue deformation could be observed giving insight into how articular cartilage degrades.

Laboratory of Dr. Kevin GillisDr. Gillis’s research includes developing microchip devices to assay cell secretion. His research also seeks to characterize fast and slow Ca2+ sensing for exocytosis in individual cells using state-of-the-art optical and patch-clamp techniques, which allow both fine control of [Ca2+] and high-time-resolution measurements of the kinetics of exocytosis.My main projects under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Gillis, involved conducting assays on chromaffin cells to study the effects of L-dopa and Reserpine. The results we obtained from these assays were used as test cases to show how our custom hardware and software can be used for drug development and discovery. My lab’s patented microchip technology detects cellular exocytosis by recording changes in current around the cell membrane. I was personally responsible for preparing cell cultures with pharmaceuticals, loading cells onto microchips, and inducing exocytosis using a potassium bath solution. Using a custom LabVIEW program, I recorded changes in current as molecules oxidized on the surface of the electrodes. The changes in current were recorded as spikes. Using spike analysis software, I quantified exocytotic release of neurotransmitters. I compared results to literature and made changes to our technology and software to improve recording techniques and procedures. I was also involved in the fabrication and design of microchips by designing electrode arrays using drafting software.