Abstract
In my technical project, my team designed a biomaterial scaffold to mimic Bruch’s
membrane and support retinal pigment epithelial cell growth. My STS research paper focused on
the Therac-25 radiation overdoses and examined those cases through the lens of actor-network
theory (ANT). Although the two projects differ in subject matter, ANT offers a useful framework
for understanding both. In my technical project, for example, biomaterial design success depends
not only on the scaffold itself, but also on the interactions among materials, cells, fabrication
conditions, and experimental evaluation. Viewing the project through this lens shows how
biomedical technologies succeed through the coordination of many human and nonhuman actors
rather than through design alone.
My technical project aimed to create a better model of Bruch’s membrane, a layer of the
retina that is essential for retinal health and is damaged in diseases such as age-related macular
degeneration. Our team constructed a biomimetic scaffold using electrospinning techniques to
better replicate the native structure and function of Bruch’s membrane. We used PEG-based
variants and tested different ligand conditions, including RGD, Fn9*, and Fn4G, while also
varying fiber thickness. ARPE-19 retinal cells were seeded onto the scaffolds and evaluated for
attachment, morphology, and monolayer formation through several assays, including ZO-1
staining, which indicates tight junction formation in ARPE-19 monolayers. The overall goal of
the project was to create a platform for retinal tissue engineering and disease modeling, since
there is currently no strong in vitro model of Bruch’s membrane and animal models do not
translate well to human retinal research.
My STS research paper analyzed the Therac-25 radiation overdoses as the product of
interactions among engineers, software, hardware, hospitals, operators, manufacturers, and
regulators. Safety was delegated too heavily to software, older hardware interlocks were
removed, and operators were expected to trust the machine without being fully informed about
error states or system risks. As a result, several patients suffered with severe complications and
others died. Using ANT, I argued that the Therac-25 accidents were produced by a destabilized
network of human and nonhuman actors rather than by a single technical defect alone.
Working on both projects sparked important reflection for me. My technical project
taught me about biomaterial engineering and how scaffold performance depends on specific
material design choices. I also learned that a successful scaffold does not just need the correct
physical properties, but must also account for how the construct will interact with cells, lab users,
future clinicians, manufacturing constraints, and safety expectations. My STS paper showed me
that even well-intentioned technologies can fail when designers focus too narrowly on technical
optimization and fail to account for the larger system around the technology. Working on these
projects simultaneously showed me that engineering is not simply about constructing a device,
but about building a stable and trustworthy network of actors around that device.
