66th Annual STS (2006-2007)
Finalists
Emma Kathryn Call

MARYLAND
Emma Kathryn Call, 18, of Baltimore, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with an engineering project focused on the fabrication of bioabsorbable three-dimensional (3D) microcontainers/microcubes for use in specific cell encapsulation and as chemical delivery vehicles. She developed a novel fabrication strategy to create hollow 3D cubes from two-dimensional (2D) precursors. Utilizing microengineering techniques, she fabricated a nickel-based 2D precursor with both solder- and polymer-based hinges. When the hinge is heated, the precursor folds into the 3D container in a self-assembly process that resembles origami on a microscale. To overcome bio-incompatibility, polymer hinges were used for microcube assembly in the presence of mouse fibroblast cells. This suggests the possibility of fabricating microcubes loaded with biological cells or drugs. Emma believes these tiny cubes can be used for tissue replacement and to treat diseases such as diabetes. She has authorship of two peer-reviewed papers and various abstracts, and is captain of the swim team at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. The daughter of Jeffrey and Diana Call, she hopes to attend Case Western Reserve or Johns Hopkins.