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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Tyler Hardy

  • BEng (University of Victoria, 2023)
Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Applied Science

Topic

Alginate Microspheres for Targeted Delivery of Emamectin Benzoate in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Aquaculture

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Date & location

  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026
  • 9:00 A.M.
  • Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Mina Hoorfar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
  • Dr. Karolina Valente, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

  • Dr. Makhsud Saidaminov, Department of Chemistry, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Dylan Cutler, Department of Biology, UVic

Abstract

Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) pose a significant challenge to coastal Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture, causing adverse effects on fish health and substantial economic losses. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding the transmission of parasites from open-pen salmon farming operations to nearby wild salmon populations. In this work, a targeted drug delivery system using alginate microspheres was developed to enhance the efficacy of the commonly used antiparasitic drug emamectin benzoate.

Microspheres were fabricated using microfluidics and extrusion techniques, with both methods yielding high encapsulation efficiencies. In vitro testing demonstrated that the microspheres provided protection under simulated gastric conditions and achieved a near 100% drug release after four hours in simulated intestinal fluid. Although the two microsphere formulations had significant size differences and relied on different crosslinking mechanisms, results of the release profile appeared independent of these factors. Instead, the drug release was primarily driven by a combination of polymer swelling and ionic exchange in the intestinal media.

Following verification of the pH-responsive release mechanism, probiotic viability was tested after extrusion-based encapsulation and 18-hours of exposure to simulated gastric conditions. Results demonstrated high (82%) viability, demonstrating the microsphere formulation and encapsulation method was applicable to a wide range of bioactive cargos.

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