2020 Summer Undergraduates Expanding Boundaries Students
Joenid Colón-Mateo
Joenid Colón-Mateo is a rising senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, majoring in Biology. She is collaborating in Dr. Murat Guvendiren’s lab, which studies the stem cells response to hydrogels with spatiotemporal properties. After graduating, Joenid plans to pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering.
Research Abstract:
Patterning Surfaces for Inducing Cardiomyocyte Alignment
Joenid A. Colón-Mateo, Andrea N. Plaza-Castro, Christian Tessman
Wrinkles are a property found in many biological tissues. Scientists have tried to mimic these surface patterns to understand how cells mechanically interact with their microenvironment. Controlled surface patterns on gels have been shown to affect cell alignment, morphology, gene regulation, and differentiation. Here, wrinkle patterns were fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates to regulate human cardiomyocyte (hCM) alignment, which is important for proper tissue function. PDMS sheets were subject to ultraviolet and ozone (UVO) treatment, with an initial strain of 20%, to form a thin film surface with a higher Young’s modulus than the bulk. Exposure time was modified to determine its effect on wrinkle wavelength, amplitude and film thickness. Analysis of microscope images of the PDMS sheets showed that wrinkle wavelength and amplitude increased linearly with UVO exposure time, and that critical strain decreased linearly with time. The effect of wrinkling on hCM nuclei alignment was also investigated by culturing hCMs on flat and patterned PDMS sheets. Analysis of microscope images of the hCMs showed the average direction of nuclei alignment was similar for both topographical conditions: 84.7±48.0 degrees for flat and 88.1±13.3 degrees for patterned on day 4. However, the standard deviation of nuclei alignment on flat substrates was approximately three times greater than for patterned substrates. This indicates more uniform cellular nuclei alignment on patterned substrates. Development of materials that can mimic surface topography of tissues promises a greater understanding of the morphological response of cells leading to more diverse biomedical applications.
Kathryn Driscoll
Katie Driscoll is a rising junior at Rowan University studying Biomedical Engineering with minors in Arabic, History, and Chemistry, and concentrations in the Honors College and Global Health. She (clearly) has a lot of interests and isn’t sure what she wants to do in the future but will likely be in school for a very long time. This summer she is very excited to be working on identifying scaling relationships of particular genes from cancer patients in the Discher Lab.
Research Abstract:
Scaling Relationships and Patient Prognosis for COL1A1 and ACTA2 in Human Urinary Tract Cancers
Bulk mRNA-seq data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) can be used to elucidate gene expression and gene scaling relationships across cancers in order to identify common genes and groups of genes that predict significant survival changes in a cohort of patients. In this analysis, gene scaling relationships among two fibrosis-associated genes of interest (COL1A1 and ACTA2) and four urinary tract cancers were assessed for survival trends across data sets. Bladder cancer (BLCA), Kidney Chromophobe Cancer (KICH), Kidney Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC), and Kidney Papillary Cell Carcinoma (KIRP) were chosen for this analysis because they represent a common system and each cancer expressed gene scaling for each gene of interest. For COL1A1, a gene associated with fibrosis and positive survival trends in other cancers1, KIRC and KIRP showed significantly decreased survival of high expressors of the gene and none of the cohorts showed improved survival. Further, in ACTA2, a gene associated with cancer metastasis and fibrosis, only KIRP and BLCA showed significantly reduced survival with KICH indicating non-significant positive survival with high ACTA2 expression. A significant finding in this analysis is that COL5A1, COL6A3, and COL1A2 not only scaled with COL1A1 in all four cancers, but also predicted significantly poor survival with elevated expression in two of the four urinary cancers. These genes are associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis in both urinary cancers and cancers from other systems2,3,4,5. Furthermore, PLN and CNN1 scaled with ACTA2 across all four cancers and indicated negative survival in two of the four. CNN1 has been identified as a possible oncogene in bladder cancer related to poor survival outcomes and PLN has not been previously explored in the context of cancer prognosis6. Taken together, these genes have potential as targets for gene therapies and as prognostic biomarkers. Since many of these genes indicate fibrosis, emerging ultrasound technology could be used as a non-invasive detection tool for urinary cancers7.
- Vashisth, M., Cho, S., Irianto, J., Xia, Y., Wang M., Hayes B., Jafarpour, F., Wells, R., Liu, A., Discher, D. (2020). Scaling concepts in ‘omics: nuclear lamin-B scales with tumor growth and predicts poor prognosis, whereas fibrosis can be pro-survival [unpublished manuscript]. Physical Science Oncology Center at Penn, University of Pennsylvania.
- Di, Y., Chen, D., Yu, W., & Yan, L. (2019, 1 28). Bladder cancer stage-associated hub genes revealed by WGCNA co-expression network analysis. Hereditas, 156(1), 7.
- Kang, C., Wang, J., Axell-House, D., Soni, P., Chu, M.-L., Chipitsyna, G., . . . Arafat, H. (n.d.). 2013 SSAT PLENARY PRESENTATION Clinical Significance of Serum COL6A3 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
- Li, J., Ding, Y., & Li, A. (2016, 11 29). Identification of COL1A1 and COL1A2 as candidate prognostic factors in gastric cancer. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 14(1), 297.
- Liu, W., Wei, H., Gao, Z., Chen, G., Liu, Y., Gao, X., . . . Xiao, J. (2018, 7 30). COL5A1 may contribute the metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. Gene, 665, 57-66.
- Liu, Y., Wu, X., Wang, G., Hu, S., Zhang, Y., & Zhao, S. (2019, 1 1). CALD1, CNN1, and TAGLN identified as potential prognostic molecular markers of bladder cancer by bioinformatics analysis. Medicine, 98(2), e13847.
- Correas, J. M., Anglicheau, D., Joly, D., Gennisson, J. L., Tanter, M., & Hélénon, O. (2016). Ultrasound-based imaging methods of the kidney-recent developments. Kidney international, 90(6), 1199–1210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2016.06.042
- Phillips, J., Pavlovich, C., Walther, M., Ried, T., & Linehan, W. (2001). The genetic basis of renal epithelial tumors: Advances in research and its impact on prognosis and therapy. Current Opinion in Urology, 11(5), 463-469.
- Takahashi, M., Rhodes, D., Furge, K., Kanayama, H., Kagawa, S., Haab, B., & Teh, B. (2001, 8 14). Gene expression profiling of clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Gene identification and prognostic classification. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 98(17), 9754-9759.
Bruce Enzmann
Bruce Enzmann is a rising junior at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Materials Science & Engineering with a concentration in biomaterials. This summer, Bruce is working in Dr. Jason Burdick’s Polymeric Biomaterials Laboratory with Dr. Claudia Loebel to analyze patterns of nascent matrix with respect to properties of three-dimensional hydrogels. After graduation, Bruce plans to pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering to develop translational regenerative medicine.
Research Abstract:
Image Analysis to Examine Spatial Properties of the Pericellular Matrix within 3D Hydrogels
Biomaterials, such as hydrogels, can be engineered with biophysical cues that enable the study of three-dimensional microenvironments that simulate aspects of native extracellular matrix and modulate cellular functions such as differentiation and matrix deposition. Recent data showed that the accumulation of deposited matrix in the pericellular region influences the interactions between cells and their engineered hydrogel environment; however, little is known about the spatial localization and density of newly secreted (nascent) matrix at the cell-hydrogel interface. Using a metabolic labeling technique, we fluorescently labeled nascent proteins deposited by bovine chondrocytes within 7 days upon encapsulation in covalently crosslinked 5 kPa and 20 kPa hyaluronic acid hydrogels. To examine spatial properties of these nascent proteins, we used ImageJ to generate nascent protein intensity profiles and developed new analysis tools to quantify nascent protein area and average intensity. Our results show significant increases in nascent protein area and intensity around chondrocytes embedded within 5 kPa hydrogels compared to 20 kPa hydrogels. These findings suggest that secreted matrix within 5 kPa hydrogels distributes further into the hydrogel, whereas the more densely crosslinked 20 kPa hydrogels restrict nascent matrix distribution. Moreover, lower nascent protein average intensity and area within 20 kPa hydrogels indicate that densely crosslinked hydrogels reduce nascent protein deposition. Ongoing work is analyzing the effect of culture time and local mechanical properties on nascent matrix deposition and distribution. We anticipate that these results have implications on hydrogel design for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Samantha Hall
Samantha Hall (Sam) is a rising senior at Bryn Mawr College majoring in Mathematics. Sam is an Accelerated Masters student enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing an MSE in Systems Engineering. She is from Downingtown, a small suburban town outside of Philadelphia. This summer, Sam is part of Dr. Ravi Radhakrishnan’s lab, which is developing a multiscale computational model for targeting drug-filled nanoparticles to the inflamed lung regions to combat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which manifests in a majority of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms.
Research Abstract:
Towards a Multiscale Computational Model of the Human Complement System for Predicting Immune Response in COVID-19 Patients
Virion envelope flexibility and receptor spatial arrangement impacts immune modulation, recruitment, and internalization. Given the pandemic’s topical nature, it is advantageous to investigate the mechanics of virion elicited immune response, and how it manifests in patients under pulmonary duress. The majority of COVID-19 deaths occur in patients who have Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), an acute, diffuse, inflammatory lung injury caused by a variety of insults, most commonly pneumonia, sepsis, trauma, and COVID-19. ARDS affects 200,000 patients each year in the US, has a 40% mortality rate, and occurs in 25% of hospitalized COVID-19-infected patients, yet there are currently no FDA-approved drugs for ARDS. Inflammatory conditions resulting from ARDS are caused by the interaction between the virus and immune cells, namely neutrophils and macrophages. These signaling interactions are primarily mediated via the complement pathway, a part of the immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies to clear pathogens, playing a role in inflammation, host defense, and signaling adaptive immunity. In this project, using methods of systems biology, we look towards signaling models of the complement system to compartmentally understand this complex system. COPASI is a computer software that creates and solves mathematical models, encoding differential equations of biological processes, and was a part of the methodology behind this research. A previously existing computational model involving the enhancement and suppression mechanisms that regulate complement activity provided a template model in Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) format, a standard form of systems biology XML codes (Liu et al, 2011). Plots were produced of complement regulation with inhibitors under infection inflammation conditions in terms of mediator protein deposition, and of positive feedback amplification of neutrophil activation. Results focused on three aspects: validation of existing data, exploring the amplification modules of the complement pathway, and characterizing emergent properties such as bistable switches regulating the complement cascade. The broader question to be explored in next steps involves how this modeled mechanism would work on the viral surface. Because the complement cascade occurs on the surface of the virus during neutrophil interaction, we believe that the mechanics of the virus, whether it is crystalline or noncrystalline (COVID-19 is noncrystalline), in conjunction with the spatial arrangement of the cascade proteins determine this behavior. Future work involving spatial and stochastic models will involve looking at mechanical and spatio-temporal criterion in virion interaction.
Katherine Kerr
Katherine Kerr is a rising junior at Purdue University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She is working in Dr. Paul Janmey’s lab, measuring the shear rheology of soft biomaterials.
Research Abstract:
Viscoelastic Properties of Tofu as a Phantom for Liver Disease Diagnosis
Liver disease is the cause of approximately two million deaths globally each year. Many liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, are characterized by alterations in the mechanical properties of liver tissues. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) provides a noninvasive tool to diagnose and monitor liver disease by measuring the mechanical properties of tissues. To ensure accurate evaluations of tissue properties, materials called phantoms are often used to calibrate an MRE device. Traditional phantoms, such as polymeric gels, can be expensive, difficult to produce at large scales, and lack complex structures associated with liver tissue. Tofu offers a phantom candidate that is cheaper and easy to manufacture. In this work, the rheological properties of two types of commercial tofu, varying in firmness, were studied at different compression levels, making use of a home-made torsion pendulum. The pendulum was compromised of two aluminum plates, a labjack to which the tofu was fixed, and a rotary motion sensor. A cylindrical tofu sample was sandwiched between the labjack and plates. The plates were rotated by a small angle and then released. The subsequent oscillation angle was measured and used to infer the viscoelastic properties of tofu at various compression levels up to fifty percent. It was found that both types of tofu exhibited compression stiffening and shear softening properties, being qualitatively similar to liver properties. Our results suggest that tofu could be used as a tissue mimicking phantom to calibrate and validate MRE results.
Nadja Maldonado Luna
Nadja is a rising senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She is currently working in Rebecca Well’s Lab on the study of lipid droplets and their effect on the development of liver diseases. After finishing her Bachelor’s Degree, Nadja is determined in pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and continuing a career in academic or industry research. In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Research Abstract:
Quantifying repair factors in lipid loaded hepatocytes through image analysis
Nadja M. Maldonado Luna, Mariah A. Turner
Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, often occurs in people with chronic liver diseases, and the presence of cirrhosis is seen as the most significant risk factor [1]. Cirrhosis is characterized by alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM), including increased deposition of collagen and alignment of the ECM architecture, which drastically increases tissue stiffness [2]. Although HCC is often associated with cirrhosis, it can also arise in non-cirrhotic livers in the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [3]. Lipid accumulation in the liver cells, characteristic in NAFLD, fills the cell cytoplasm and compresses the nucleus. Based on this morphology, the Wells Lab has hypothesized that the lipid droplets act as a mechanical stress on the nucleus, functioning similarly to tissue stiffness [4]. Nuclear deformation from external sources of mechanical stress, such as migration through constricted environments or culture on stiff substrates, has been shown to increase the frequency of nuclear rupture, leading to depletion of nuclear repair factors and the accumulation of DNA damage [5]. We suggest that deformation due to lipid droplets may similarly lead to the depletion of important repair factors and increased accumulation of double-stranded DNA breaks, which may increase the risk of HCC development in NAFLD livers. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of lipid accumulation in liver cells (hepatocytes) on the amount of DNA damage repair factor in the cells.
Materials and Methods: Cell culture: Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were seeded onto collagen-coated polyacrylamide (PAA) gels with storage modulus values of 500 and 10 kPa that are representative of the stiffness of normal and cirrhotic livers, respectively. Cells were also cultured on glass, which is non-physiologically stiff. Fatty acid treatment: After the seeding period, PHH cells were incubated for 48 h in the presence of 400µM oleic acid and 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution in DMEM. Oleate is the second most common fatty acid in the human diet and is easily packaged into lipid droplets. Cell staining, microscopy, and image analysis: To identify the lipids and assess gross nuclei morphology, cells were stained with BODIPY and DAPI, respectively. To look at the amount of repair factor, BSA control and oleate-treated cells were stained for Ku80. Cells were imaged using a confocal microscope. Nuclei morphology (area, circularity, and solidity) was analyzed using semi-automated image segmentation and detection of individual nuclei in ImageJ. Ku80 mean intensity and integrated density of the nucleus was measured. One-way ANOVAs were used to test the statistical significance of lipid accumulation on nuclear deformation and on Ku80 staining intensity.
Results and Discussion: Nuclear area, circularity, and solidity for oleate-loaded cells tended to decrease compared to controls, consistent with previous work [4]. Also, Ku80 repair factor means intensity and integrated density decreased with lipid loading of cells seeded on the stiffest substrates. Ku80 mean intensity was associated with the nuclear area, however no strong association was seen for any of the measured shape parameters.
Conclusions: The results of these experiments were consistent with previous work from the lab, showing increased nuclear deformation and compression, and decreased repair factor intensity in oleate-treated cells. Ku80 mean intensity was also correlated with nuclear area, suggesting that nuclear compression may be a contributor to Ku80 decrease in oleate-treated cells. Furthermore, differences between the groups were highest on the stiffest substrates, indicating that some level of tissue stiffening may be required for lipid droplets to act as a mechanical stress. Future work aims to determine if lipid- droplet accumulation increases DNA damage accumulation, through a number of different potential mechanisms.
References: [1] Masuzaki+2009 J Hep. [2] Asselah+2009 Gut. [3] Kanwal+2018 Gastroenterology. [4] Chin+2020 AJP-Gastrointest Liver Physiol. [5] Ivanovska+2019 Biophysical Journal.
Evan Morris
Evan Morris is a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He is currently working in Dr. Nathaniel Huebsch’s lab, studying biomaterials and tissue engineering. Evan will be assisting in understanding how mechanical cues within cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts affect heart development and tissue fate, thus expanding possibilities for 3D modeling and medical interventions for cardiac tissue modeling and regeneration.
Research Title:
Assessing Nucleus Pulposus Phenotype Expression and Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Interaction via Mimetic Peptides in relation to Intervertebral Disc (IVD) Degeneration
[Abstract redacted]Sorina Munteanu
Sorina Munteanu is a rising Junior at University of California Merced majoring in Bioengineering. Sorina is working in Dr. Guy Genin’s lab analyzing oocytes from Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) to determine the effects ultrasounds have on mechanosensitive ion channels. In the future, Sorina would like to become a physician scientist and conduct translational research on neurodevelopmental diseases.
Research Abstract:
Strain Mapping to Identify the Mechanisms by which Ultrasound Activates Ion Channels
Ultrasound imaging can be used as a therapeutic tool for neurological disorders through stimulation of certain mechanosensitive ion channels. However, the molecular mechanism through which these ion channels are activated is unknown. We hypothesize that ultrasound can cause a mechanical force that deforms the cells, thus activating ion channels. To test this hypothesis, Xenopus oocyte membranes will be analyzed in vitro by confocal microscopy to further elucidate the deformation caused by ultrasound. To evaluate whether ion channel activation relates to mechanical strain, these experiments require real-time estimations of strain fields over the oocyte membrane. We therefore developed a method by which stacks of confocal images could be computationally and quantitatively observed to reveal mechanical changes. Through strain mapping under two- and three-dimensional conditions, the deformation is quantified through displacement tracking. With three-dimensional renderings of the oocytes under strain, normal vectors reveal the expansion or shrinkage of the membrane in the xy plane. Thus, the strain fields could be estimated for subsequent correlation with the activation of mechanosensitive ion channels. We show that the controlled membrane expands laterally and retracts longitudinally as tension is applied at magnitudes that are reasonable estimates of those expected from loading by ultrasound. Elucidating the mechanisms of ultrasound on mechanosensitive ion channels may provide the field of neuroscience with a powerful tool that is comparable to techniques such as optogenetics. The underlying mechanisms of ultrasound could be applied clinically as a therapeutic modality for diseases such as Parkinson’s, depression, and anxiety.
Lily Murchison
Lily Murchison is a Junior studying Engineering in a 3/2 program at Scripps College in Claremont, California. This summer Lily is a part of Dr. Ram Dixit’s lab and is investigating the causes of twisted growth as a result of the spiral1-3 and kclr1 twisted mutants in Arabidopsis. More specifically Lily will be analyzing how these microtubule defects effect cell morphology, growth rate, and microtubule orientation in the root of the plant.
Research Abstract:
The Role of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in Helical Growth in Plant Roots
Roots are critical organs for finding needed nutrients for plants and using directional growth to avoid foreign obstacles. Plant roots, which are anatomically symmetrical, grow via turgor pressure-driven cell expansion. Plant cells are encompassed by cortical microtubules that guide the deposition of cell wall materials which reinforces the cell wall along the transverse axis in elongating cells and direct cell growth in the vertical direction. Mutations in proteins that interact with microtubules can cause helical growth. The spr1-3 mutant is a point mutation that tracks the growing plus-end of microtubules and produce a right-handed growth pattern. A skewed orientation of the microtubule array has been implicated in causing twisted plant growth in mutants, however the role of skewed microtubules in promoting twisted root growth is not well understood. Furthermore, it is unclear if twisting also occurs at the cell level. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, a commonly used plant for cytoskeletal research, we compared the spr1-3 mutant to wild-type Col-0 to better understand the role microtubule orientation has within this twisted phenotype and what relationship the microtubules have with the morphology of the cells, ultimately aiming to understand how patterns at the cytoskeletal and cell level contribute to this twisted phenotype. To assess if microtubules are skewed prior to the onset of root twisting, microtubule orientation in Col-0 and spr1-3 roots expressing a GFP-TUB6 marker were measured using the FibrilTool ImageJ tool. We found that microtubules in spr1-3 roots adopt a left-handed skew before twisting occurs, suggesting that skewed microtubule array may be what drives the twisting phenotype to occur at the organ level. To assess twisting at the cell level, morphometry of wall lengths and angles were compared between wild-type Col-0 and spr1-3 roots using ImageJ. From this we found that at the cell level symmetry breaks in lateral wall lengths whilst maintaining its symmetry in cell angles. This study will help further inform us how microtubule-level mutations affect cell-level and organ-level directional growth and can be used for future modeling of root skewing.
Andrea N. Plaza-Castro
Andrea is a rising senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey majoring in Biology. She is originally from Ponce but now considers herself from Cayey as well. This summer she is working in Dr. Guvendiren’s Lab. In the future she wants to conduct biomedical research involving stem cells and regeneration in hopes of discovering effective methods to treat metabolic bone diseases.
Research Abstract:
Patterning Surfaces for Inducing Cardiomyocyte Alignment
Andrea N. Plaza-Castro, Joenid A. Colón-Mateo, Christian Tessman
Wrinkles are a property found in many biological tissues. Scientists have tried to mimic these surface patterns to understand how cells mechanically interact with their microenvironment. Controlled surface patterns on gels have been shown to affect cell alignment, morphology, gene regulation, and differentiation. Here, wrinkle patterns were fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates to regulate human cardiomyocyte (hCM) alignment, which is important for proper tissue function. PDMS sheets were subject to ultraviolet and ozone (UVO) treatment, with an initial strain of 20%, to form a thin film surface with a higher Young’s modulus than the bulk. Exposure time was modified to determine its effect on wrinkle wavelength, amplitude and film thickness. Analysis of microscope images of the PDMS sheets showed that wrinkle wavelength and amplitude increased linearly with UVO exposure time, and that critical strain decreased linearly with time. The effect of wrinkling on hCM nuclei alignment was also investigated by culturing hCMs on flat and patterned PDMS sheets. Analysis of microscope images of the hCMs showed the average direction of nuclei alignment was similar for both topographical conditions: 84.7±48.0 degrees for flat and 88.1±13.3 degrees for patterned on day 4. However, the standard deviation of nuclei alignment on flat substrates was approximately three times greater than for patterned substrates. This indicates more uniform cellular nuclei alignment on patterned substrates. Development of materials that can mimic surface topography of tissues promises a greater understanding of the morphological response of cells leading to more diverse biomedical applications.
David Reynolds
David Reynolds is a rising senior currently studying mechanical engineering at Iowa State University. He is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Amit Pathak’s lab, utilizing computational models to investigate cell migration both under noninvasive and invasive states. After earning his bachelor’s degree, David plans to pursue a PhD in bioengineering.
Research Abstract:
Modeling fibroblast-led collective invasion of carcinoma cells with differing mechanically mediated factors.
David Reynolds, Sabrian Shafi
Prevention of cancer cell dissemination and secondary tumor formation is a major goal of cancer therapy as a majority of cancer deaths are related to metastasis. Metastasis is initiated by the collective invasion of carcinoma cells into local epithelial tissue. Carcinoma cells are able to migrate away from the initial site by following the mechanically-mediated signalings produced by the stromal fibroblasts. Computational modeling offers a simplistic way of isolating the key factors responsible for cancer cell invasion, which is not a possibility in vivo and in vitro studies. By utilizing CompuCell3D software, our model reveals that force-applied fibroblasts with low adhesion energies between fibroblasts and cancer cells demonstrate characteristics of cancer cell invasion as described in the literature. In the future, protease-mediated pathways can also be integrated into the model to better represent the biological phenomena. Using computational models to reproduce cancer cell migration can identify key modulators of its early metastasis.
Sabrina Shafi
Sabrina is a rising senior at The City College of New York studying biomedical engineering. She is working in Dr. Amit Pathak’s lab, where she is analyzing collective cell migration using computational modeling. Sabrina plans to attend graduate school to pursue research in tissue engineering.
Research Abstract:
Modeling fibroblast-led collective invasion of carcinoma cells with differing mechanically mediated factors.
Sabrian Shafi, David Reynolds
Prevention of cancer cell dissemination and secondary tumor formation is a major goal of cancer therapy as a majority of cancer deaths are related to metastasis. Metastasis is initiated by the collective invasion of carcinoma cells into local epithelial tissue. Carcinoma cells are able to migrate away from the initial site by following the mechanically-mediated signalings produced by the stromal fibroblasts. Computational modeling offers a simplistic way of isolating the key factors responsible for cancer cell invasion, which is not a possibility in vivo and in vitro studies. By utilizing CompuCell3D software, our model reveals that force-applied fibroblasts with low adhesion energies between fibroblasts and cancer cells demonstrate characteristics of cancer cell invasion as described in the literature. In the future, protease-mediated pathways can also be integrated into the model to better represent the biological phenomena. Using computational models to reproduce cancer cell migration can identify key modulators of its early metastasis.
Mythili Subbanna
Mythili Subbanna is a rising junior from Scarsdale, NY. She studies Mathematics – while also taking biology, chemistry, and physics coursework – at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. This summer, in the Anderson/Shenoy Lab, she will measure plant cell volumes and model water/ion flow in and out of cells to understand how these processes are influenced by cell wall mechanics, and how they affect cell pressurization and stomatal dynamics. In the future, she hopes to do applied mathematical modeling research, as well as pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering or materials science engineering.
Research Abstract:
Measuring and Modeling How Turgor Pressure-Driven Mechanical Forces Between Guard and Pavement Cells Underlie Stomatal Opening and Closing
Mythili Subbanna, Emily Walter
Stomata are pores in the plant surface that facilitate photosynthesis and transpiration. In Arabidopsis thaliana, stomatal complexes comprise two kidney-shaped guard cells, and are flanked by neighboring pavement cells. The pathways by which cytosolic pressure changes, brought about by ion flux, drive cell inflation and deflation during stomatal opening and closing have been widely studied. However, the dynamic mechanical interactions between guard and pavement cells remain poorly understood. Here, we sought to identify how changes in guard cell shape might influence surrounding pavement cells. We hypothesized that during stomatal opening, guard cell area would increase, imposing stress on neighboring pavement cells, thus decreasing neighboring pavement cell size, with opposite trends for both during stomatal closure.
We incubated seedlings in either fusicoccin plus light or abscisic acid (ABA) plus darkness to induce stomatal opening or closure, respectively, and measured changes in cell area over 2.5 hours. Fusicoccin-treated guard and non-neighboring pavement cells expanded relative to neighboring pavement cells. Conversely, ABA-treated guard cells shrank while ABA-treated neighboring pavement cells expanded. We developed a theoretical model to simulate stimulus-dependent changes in ion flux, osmotic potential, and guard and pavement cell size. Loading induced by guard cell expansion was predicted to cause pavement cell shrinking via an increase in hydrostatic pressure that drives fluid and ionic efflux. Realistic cell models were constructed using finite element software. Simulations were consistent with our hypothesis that stomatal opening imposes stress on neighboring pavement cells. These results provide new insights into plant mechanotransduction and turgor pressure regulation.
Christian Tessman
Christian Tessman is a rising senior at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. This summer he is working with Dr. Murat Guvendiren’s lab to determine how surface patterning on hydrogel scaffolds affects the shape and alignment of cells cultured on hydrogel culture platforms. Christian plans to pursue a graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering after graduating.
Research Abstract:
Patterning Surfaces for Inducing Cardiomyocyte Alignment
Christian Tessman, Joenid A. Colón-Mateo, Andrea N. Plaza-Castro
Wrinkles are a property found in many biological tissues. Scientists have tried to mimic these surface patterns to understand how cells mechanically interact with their microenvironment. Controlled surface patterns on gels have been shown to affect cell alignment, morphology, gene regulation, and differentiation. Here, wrinkle patterns were fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates to regulate human cardiomyocyte (hCM) alignment, which is important for proper tissue function. PDMS sheets were subject to ultraviolet and ozone (UVO) treatment, with an initial strain of 20%, to form a thin film surface with a higher Young’s modulus than the bulk. Exposure time was modified to determine its effect on wrinkle wavelength, amplitude and film thickness. Analysis of microscope images of the PDMS sheets showed that wrinkle wavelength and amplitude increased linearly with UVO exposure time, and that critical strain decreased linearly with time. The effect of wrinkling on hCM nuclei alignment was also investigated by culturing hCMs on flat and patterned PDMS sheets. Analysis of microscope images of the hCMs showed the average direction of nuclei alignment was similar for both topographical conditions: 84.7±48.0 degrees for flat and 88.1±13.3 degrees for patterned on day 4. However, the standard deviation of nuclei alignment on flat substrates was approximately three times greater than for patterned substrates. This indicates more uniform cellular nuclei alignment on patterned substrates. Development of materials that can mimic surface topography of tissues promises a greater understanding of the morphological response of cells leading to more diverse biomedical applications.
Harold Treminio
Harold Treminio is a junior undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Psychology. He is from Herndon, Virginia and is conducting research in Dr. Dennis Discher’s lab.
Research Abstract:
Gene Scaling of ACTA2 and COL1A1 in Predicting Survival of Patients with Female Gynecological Cancers
Cancer is responsible for one of the biggest counts of death in the world and continues to be studied for understanding survival and cures. Many components go into the growth and survival of tumors, but they all share common characteristics such as tissue stiffness. The regulation of specific genes in tissues often involve physicochemical processes which cause tissues to become stiff. Within the extracellular matrix (ECM), gene-gene power laws can be used to determine gene scaling with tumors found in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and their respective RNA-seq data. Out of the thirty-two possible cancer options, four were studied because of their relationship in mostly affecting females: ovarian (OV), cervical (CESC), uterine (UCS), and breast (BRCA) cancer. The two genes that were studied were COL1A1 and ACTA2, two genes which positively correlate with tumor metastasis and fibrosis. From generated survival plots, it was observed that COL1A1 is highly involved in ECM organization, while ACTA2 is involved in angiogenesis and cell migration with respect to their strong scaling genes. Many of the trends showed no significant predictions of survival within the scaling genes. However, data suggested that strong scaling genes with ACTA2 in Ovarian and Cervical cancers were also significantly involved in ECM organization. When further compared, the genes that scaled strongly with ACTA2 and COL1A1 had significant overlap, which was not observed within the other gynecological cancers. Although breast and uterine cancers do not spark any outstanding data, ovarian and cervical cancers suggest that there are other processes occurring in these tumors which are not normally occurring in other tissues.
Mariah Turner
Mariah Turner is from the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She recently just graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Science from Prairie State Community College. She is now am a rising senior at Alabama State University majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in tissue engineering. Mariah is also am minoring in chemistry and mathematics. She is unsure of the exact career path she wants to pursue in graduate school but is certain a Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering is in her future. This summer, she is working in Dr. Becky Wells’ lab.
Research Abstract:
Quantifying repair factors in lipid loaded hepatocytes through image analysis
Mariah A. Turner, Nadja M. Maldonado Luna
Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, often occurs in people with chronic liver diseases, and the presence of cirrhosis is seen as the most significant risk factor [1]. Cirrhosis is characterized by alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM), including increased deposition of collagen and alignment of the ECM architecture, which drastically increases tissue stiffness [2]. Although HCC is often associated with cirrhosis, it can also arise in non-cirrhotic livers in the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [3]. Lipid accumulation in the liver cells, characteristic in NAFLD, fills the cell cytoplasm and compresses the nucleus. Based on this morphology, the Wells Lab has hypothesized that the lipid droplets act as a mechanical stress on the nucleus, functioning similarly to tissue stiffness [4]. Nuclear deformation from external sources of mechanical stress, such as migration through constricted environments or culture on stiff substrates, has been shown to increase the frequency of nuclear rupture, leading to depletion of nuclear repair factors and the accumulation of DNA damage [5]. We suggest that deformation due to lipid droplets may similarly lead to the depletion of important repair factors and increased accumulation of double-stranded DNA breaks, which may increase the risk of HCC development in NAFLD livers. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of lipid accumulation in liver cells (hepatocytes) on the amount of DNA damage repair factor in the cells.
Materials and Methods: Cell culture: Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were seeded onto collagen-coated polyacrylamide (PAA) gels with storage modulus values of 500 and 10 kPa that are representative of the stiffness of normal and cirrhotic livers, respectively. Cells were also cultured on glass, which is non-physiologically stiff. Fatty acid treatment: After the seeding period, PHH cells were incubated for 48 h in the presence of 400µM oleic acid and 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution in DMEM. Oleate is the second most common fatty acid in the human diet and is easily packaged into lipid droplets. Cell staining, microscopy, and image analysis: To identify the lipids and assess gross nuclei morphology, cells were stained with BODIPY and DAPI, respectively. To look at the amount of repair factor, BSA control and oleate-treated cells were stained for Ku80. Cells were imaged using a confocal microscope. Nuclei morphology (area, circularity, and solidity) was analyzed using semi-automated image segmentation and detection of individual nuclei in ImageJ. Ku80 mean intensity and integrated density of the nucleus was measured. One-way ANOVAs were used to test the statistical significance of lipid accumulation on nuclear deformation and on Ku80 staining intensity.
Results and Discussion: Nuclear area, circularity, and solidity for oleate-loaded cells tended to decrease compared to controls, consistent with previous work [4]. Also, Ku80 repair factor means intensity and integrated density decreased with lipid loading of cells seeded on the stiffest substrates. Ku80 mean intensity was associated with the nuclear area, however no strong association was seen for any of the measured shape parameters.
Conclusions: The results of these experiments were consistent with previous work from the lab, showing increased nuclear deformation and compression, and decreased repair factor intensity in oleate-treated cells. Ku80 mean intensity was also correlated with nuclear area, suggesting that nuclear compression may be a contributor to Ku80 decrease in oleate-treated cells. Furthermore, differences between the groups were highest on the stiffest substrates, indicating that some level of tissue stiffening may be required for lipid droplets to act as a mechanical stress. Future work aims to determine if lipid- droplet accumulation increases DNA damage accumulation, through a number of different potential mechanisms.
References: [1] Masuzaki+2009 J Hep. [2] Asselah+2009 Gut. [3] Kanwal+2018 Gastroenterology. [4] Chin+2020 AJP-Gastrointest Liver Physiol. [5] Ivanovska+2019 Biophysical Journal.
Serin Varughese
Serin is a senior at Drexel University, majoring in Biology. She is currently working in Dr. Joel Boerckel’s developmental mechanobiology lab. Through the UEXB program, she will be working on using gene ontology analysis to characterize the differential gene expression of YAP/TAZ depleted ECFCs and trying to identify potential candidate genes that are associated with the transcriptional regulators, YAP and TAZ. After graduation, Serin plans to matriculate into Drexel Univeristy’s College of Medicine as a part of the school’s accelerated BS/MD program.
Research Abstract:
Nonbiased Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals that YAP and TAZ co-Transcriptional Activators Regulate Survival
Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are two mechanically activated transcriptional regulators that have been found to play a significant role in osteoprogenitor proliferation and differentiation during embryonic bone development and fracture healing. However, the specific gene interactions and pathways by which YAP and TAZ activate or repress these processes remains unclear. Therefore, the goal of this project was to analyze the differential expression of genes in YAP/TAZ depleted cells, and to use a non-biased gene ontology approach to identify which cellular processes these genes were involved with. In order to study gene expression changes in the absence of YAP and TAZ, we analyzed an existing data set generated in our laboratory in which bulk RNA expression profiles were measured in endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) transfected with siRNA to deplete YAP and TAZ. A differential gene expression analysis using this bulk RNA sequencing data identified 2,241 downregulated genes and 2,508 upregulated genes in YAP/TAZ siRNA samples. The gene expression profile of the YAP/TAZ siRNA samples reveals a relatively equal distribution of up and downregulated genes, suggesting that YAZ and TAZ may interact directly or indirectly with signaling pathways to either promote or suppress certain biological processes in the cell. To investigate these findings further, a gene ontology (GO) analysis was conducted in order to classify these up or downregulated genes into clusters based on the cellular processes they are involved in. The results of this analysis showed that YAP/ TAZ knockdown significantly reduced expression of several processes associated with cell cycle and functional protein synthesis, both of which play an integral role in cell proliferation and differentiation, respectively. A GO term analysis of genes that were upregulated in samples with YAP/ TAZ knocked down revealed an enrichment of genes associated with the positive regulation of apoptotic processes. Taken together, these results indicate that when YAP/TAZ is absent, cells are not only experiencing decreased proliferation, but they are also actively undergoing cell death, suggesting that YAP and TAZ play a significant role in regulating the survival of the cell. By classifying differentially expressed genes based on their involvement in specific biological processes, these gene ontology results have provided us with a streamlined set of candidates YAP/TAZ associated genes that can be investigated in future experiments to determine the specific mechanisms that underly proliferation and apoptosis.
Emily Walter
Emily Walter is a rising junior at University of Missouri-Columbia, majoring in Plant Sciences. She is working in the labs of Dr. Charlie Anderson and Dr. Vivek Shenoy investigating how water and ion flow between cells relate to cell wall mechanics and stomatal opening and closure using computational modeling and image analysis.
Research Abstract:
Measuring and Modeling How Turgor Pressure-Driven Mechanical Forces Between Guard and Pavement Cells Underlie Stomatal Opening and Closing
Emily Walter, Mythili Subbanna
Stomata are pores in the plant surface that facilitate photosynthesis and transpiration. In Arabidopsis thaliana, stomatal complexes comprise two kidney-shaped guard cells, and are flanked by neighboring pavement cells. The pathways by which cytosolic pressure changes, brought about by ion flux, drive cell inflation and deflation during stomatal opening and closing have been widely studied. However, the dynamic mechanical interactions between guard and pavement cells remain poorly understood. Here, we sought to identify how changes in guard cell shape might influence surrounding pavement cells. We hypothesized that during stomatal opening, guard cell area would increase, imposing stress on neighboring pavement cells, thus decreasing neighboring pavement cell size, with opposite trends for both during stomatal closure.
We incubated seedlings in either fusicoccin plus light or abscisic acid (ABA) plus darkness to induce stomatal opening or closure, respectively, and measured changes in cell area over 2.5 hours. Fusicoccin-treated guard and non-neighboring pavement cells expanded relative to neighboring pavement cells. Conversely, ABA-treated guard cells shrank while ABA-treated neighboring pavement cells expanded. We developed a theoretical model to simulate stimulus-dependent changes in ion flux, osmotic potential, and guard and pavement cell size. Loading induced by guard cell expansion was predicted to cause pavement cell shrinking via an increase in hydrostatic pressure that drives fluid and ionic efflux. Realistic cell models were constructed using finite element software. Simulations were consistent with our hypothesis that stomatal opening imposes stress on neighboring pavement cells. These results provide new insights into plant mechanotransduction and turgor pressure regulation.
Summer Undergraduates Expanding Boundaries Alumni
2019 UExB Alumni
Naira Abou-Ghali
Naira is a rising senior at New Jersey Institute of Technology where she studies biology. She works in Dr. Assoian’s Pharmacology lab, which studies the mechanobiology of aging and its relation to cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. The lab has also taken interest in Hutchinson- Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS), which serves as a model for vascular aging. In particular, Naira’s project focuses on characterizing the altered mechanotransduction of vascular smooth muscle cells in the arteries of mice with HGPS.
Research Abstract:
Molecular mechanisms regulating arterial stiffness in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
Hutchinson- Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare autosomal genetic disorder characterized by premature aging in children and death by accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Blood cholesterol levels are normal in HGPS children, but their arteries are abnormally stiff. Arterial stiffness is a major cholesterol-independent risk factor for CVD. Arterial stiffening is characterized by increased ECM production by vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) of the arterial medial layer. vSMCs can exist in a contractile (differentiated) state, characterized by expression of differentiation markers such as smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (Myh11), and a synthetic (dedifferentiated) state that produces ECM and ECM-modifying proteins such as lysyl oxidase (LOX). Using an HGPS- mouse model, we have previously shown that decreased mRNA expression of Myh11 in HGPS-SMCs correlates with increased LOX expression. Here, we examine the role of Myh11 in regulating LOX production and explore the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) in arterial stiffness. Knockdown of Myh11 in WT-vSMCs increased LOX mRNA expression, suggesting that reduced Myh11, in the absence of genetic variables intrinsic to HGPS-vSMCs, is sufficient to increase LOX levels. As recent studies by others have shown that NO is a regulator of Myh11, we also explored the role of eNOS and NO in Myh11 and Lox regulation. RT-qPCR showed that Nos3 expression is significantly downregulated in HGPS-arteries. Moreover, addition of an exogenous NO donor to isolated HGPS-vSMCs increased Myh11 and decreased LOX gene expression. Our results indicate that nitric oxide may regulate SMC phenotype and identify defective NO signaling as a potential mediator of arterial stiffness in HGPS.
Elijah Begin
Elijah Begin is a rising senior at Ouachita Baptist University, majoring in Biology and Chemistry. Elijah is working in Dr. Marcus Foston’s lab, studying the efficient use of cellulose in biofuels, particularly the stress/strain properties of cellulose-based hydrogels.
Research Abstract:
Cellulose is the primary component of the plant cell wall that is composed of repeating glucose subunits with hydroxyl surface groups that can be functionalized. Cellulose can be extracted by acid hydrolysis as long nanocrystals, which have a high elastic modulus. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been used as a nano composite for the biodegradable plastic poly-lactic acid (PLA) and have been shown to increase the mechanical properties of the material they are blended with while keeping the sustainability of the material. Spider silk fiber can be used as a material with tensile strength proportional to the subunit molecular weight. High molecular weight silk protein has a low yield when created by microbes, so this project focuses on how to increase the tensile strength of high yield, low molecular weight silk fibers. Here we show that cellulose nanocrystals can be used as a reinforcing agent in a spider silk protein matrix to increase its mechanical properties without affecting its sustainability. (Still waiting on results here, should have data soon )This composite could be used as an alternative to the high molecular weight form of spider silk that is much less cost effective to produce industrially. The composite can be used in materials that call for high tensile strength fibers and will progress the material industry toward a more sustainable future.
Dax Craig
Dax is an undergraduate researcher in the Wells lab studying the recapitulation of key functions of the bile duct via organ-on-a-chip technology. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dax is a rising junior at Alabama State University. Post-graduation, Dax aims to gain a graduate degree in an engineering or mechanobiology discipline to further his goal of conducting biomedical research in industry. Outside of his research goals, he hopes to also do outreach work in Africa and start a mentoring program for the Black youth in his home city.
Research Abstract:
Studying Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis with a Vascular Biliary Model
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease in which inflammation and fibrosis lead to multi-focal biliary structures. PSC is commonly associated with damage to the barrier function of the epithelium. This project seeks to create an in vitro model of the vascular biliary system capable of replicating full barrier function of cellular monolayers. Cholangiocyte mice cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were isolated, injected, and cultured within a three-channel microfluidic device. The cells formed confluent monolayers over 5-6 d. After the formation of confluent monolayers, the cells were fixed, permeabilized, and blocked before the addition of antibodies and fluorescent stains. Immunofluorescence microscopy was performed on the monolayers to observe the expression of antibodies–higher levels of expression being attributed to proficient barrier function. We found that cholangiocytes and endothelial cells could be cultured within the same in vitro environment in the form of a microfluidic device, along with the cells forming confluent monolayers that displayed full barrier function. These findings allow for further research in the pathogenesis of PSC, where injection of immune cells and a toxin can replicate transmigration within this vascular system.
Alejandra Jiménez Escobar
Alejandra Jiménez Escobar is completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology at UNAM, Mexico City. For her independent research, she is studying the changes in fibroblasts focal adhesions depending on the substrate stiffness in LANSBioDyT, Mexico City. This summer, she is working in Rebecca Wells’ lab on a project to determine the nuclear and cytoskeletal mechanical stress generated by short chain fatty acids. Post-graduation, Alejandra will apply for graduate school to continue mechanobiology research.
Research Abstract:
Nuclear and cytoskeletal mechanical stress generated by short chain fatty acids in HuH7 cells
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) predominantly occurs in patients with cirrhotic liver and is associated with increased matrix stiffness. Yet, in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), HCC can occur without increased liver stiffness. In NAFLD, hepatocytes are characterized by lipid droplets that occupy most of their cytoplasmic space. Our group has hypothesized that accumulation of intracellular lipid may generate nuclear and cytoskeletal mechanical stress, either through the physical presence of lipid droplets or the disruption of cellular mechanosensing. As lipid accumulation is impacted by fatty acid composition, here we investigated the effect of three different short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on mechanosensing in a HCC cell line. HuH7 cells were cultured in PAA hydrogels of 500 Pa (normal liver stiffness), 10 kPA (cirrhotic liver stiffness) and glass and they were treated with different SCFAs (acetate, propanoate, and butyrate). IImmunofluorescence staining was completed to mark actin fibers (rhodamine-phalloidin), lipid droplets (Bodipy) and the nucleus (DAPI). Somewhat surprisingly, we found that treatment with SCFAs does not induce lipid droplet formation in HuH7 cells; however, normal mechanosensing appears disrupted. Specifically, acetate treatment increases cell spread area on all stiffness substrates over BSA control. Cell area then linearly decreases as carbons are added to the fatty acid chain . Additionally, SCFA treatment decreases actin intensity. YAP nuclear intensity and localization increases with stiffness for all treatment groups, yet we also find that SCFAs may impact YAP localization on stiff substrates. Hence, we propose that SCFAs alter the mechanosensitivity of HuH7 cells.
Aidan Flynn
Aidan Flynn is a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Biology. Aidan is working in Dr. Liz Haswell’s lab, studying how mechanosensitive channels in animals and plants respond to forces, particularly MSL10 dynamics in roots after osmotic shock.
Research Abstract:
Responding to the movement of water into and out of the cell and the turgor changes that correspond with this movement is a vital function in plants. An increase in turgor may occur in response to various external and internal stimuli, with two of the most prominent forces being mechanical stressors and exposure to a hypoosmotic environment that thereby results in a movement of water into the organism. If turgor becomes too high, plants become vulnerable to damage such as cell wall harm and cell bursting. Hypoosmotic stresses are in part alleviated by multimeric MscS-Like (MSL) ion channels that are present throughout cell and compartment membranes. MSL channels couple internal stimuli like changes in membrane tension with ion flux to alleviate osmotic swelling. MSL10, one of the most studied MSL proteins, has been linked to a suite of functions, including functioning as an anion-preferring ion channel that opens in response to increased cellular membrane stress as well as induction of cell death when expressed transiently in tobacco that is separable from its ion channel activity. Although it has been implicated in the osmotic response pathway, its relationship to and dynamics during hypoosmotic shock are yet to be characterized. Here we show that levels of MSL10-GFP are decreased after introduction of a hypoosmotic shock to the cell. Via confocal microscopy imaging, we found that MSL10-GFP fluorescent signal decreases by about 50% in the hour following downshock. This property has been determined to be reliant on the launching of a downshock, as no change in MSL10-GFP signal was seen when an isosmotic shock was provided to the cell. Our results reveal an additional functional link between MSL10 and other members of the MSL family of proteins that have already been shown to act as an osmotic safety valve in the instance of a downshock. These findings also improve our understanding of the purpose of mechanosensitive ion channels and their conserved regions.
Emma Glass
Emma Glass is a junior studying computational and applied mathematics and statistics (CAMS) with a biomathematics concentration at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. This summer Emma is part of Dr. Ravi Radhakrishnan’s lab and is working on a multi-scale computational PK/PD model for nanoparticles used in targeted drug delivery. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in academic or industrial research.
Research Abstract:
Determining Nanoparticle Biodistribution Using a Time Dependent Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Multi-Scale Model
In translational settings, nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being explored as vehicles for targeted drug delivery to healthy and cancerous tissues. Because there are nearly endless NP constructs (e.g., rigid, spherical, polymeric, etc.), sizes (nm to microns), and experimental models for translational studies, researchers are beginning to turn toward physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to guide in vivo experimentation and understand NP targeting behavior and performance in the human body. The purpose of this study is to create a novel multiscale model that describes NP dynamics at the subcellular, cellular, and vascular/organ levels to determine temporal biodistribution of NP in five target organs. We first developed a multicompartment organ-scale model to describe the flow of an intravenous concentration of NPs through the body and organ tissue using a combination of algebraic and ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We then created a cellular-scale model consisting of three ODEs to describe the movement of the NPs from the capillaries through the ECs and ultimately into the organ tissue. The ODEs of both scale models are solved in a coupled fashion (using a stiff ODE solver in MATLAB) to determine the temporal biodistribution of the NPs. We have successfully developed and validated a biophysically inspired multi-scale model that can describe the temporal biodistribution of NPs using experimental data, and achieving high correlation values (R). In the future, this model could be modified to include arterial branching, which will include NP uptake constants. Using PBPK models to predict NP biodistribution will ultimately result in more effective drug therapy development for humans.
Keith Hayes
Keith Hayes is a rising senior at Alabama State University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He is working in Dr. Guy Genin’s lab, studying mechanical testing of rotator cuff design to reduce surgical failures, and imaging of collagen interactions with fibroblasts.
Research Abstract:
Fibroblast remodel collagen in three-dimensional matrix
The mechanism by which cells remodel their microenvironment are critical to the mechanobiology of development and wound healing. Although these interactions have been studied extensively in two-dimensional (2D) microenvironments, little is known about them in three dimensional (3D) microenvironments. Here, we identified the mechanism by which fibroblasts interact with their 3D collagen matrices and showed that fibroblast protrusions assist with the efficiency of remodeling and tension generation at the early stages of cell-matrix interactions. While the protrusion tips compressed the matrix, laterally they retracted the matrix to accumulate collagen, generated tension, and reduced the energy needed to retract cell protrusions. Using experimental strain mapping with computational theoretical model, we quantified the mechanical tension generated by fibroblast protrusions and found that actin microfilaments and microtubules are necessary for the generation of tension at the early stages of cell-matrix interactions. We showed that as tension increases at the cell-matrix interface, microtubules in cell protrusions experienced higher compressive forces, which in turn prevented them from growing in length and number. Along with these observations, inhibiting the generation of tension at the early stages of cell-matrix interaction leads to the formation of microtubule-rich thin and long protrusions. Taken together, our results could be used to develop treatment for fibrosis or cirrhosis, that create an abundance of fibrotic tissue.
Christina Hummel
Christina Hummel is originally from Long Island, New York. She attends Clemson University in South Carolina, where she studies bioengineering and chemistry. She is currently working in Dr. Jason Burdick’s Polymeric Biomaterials lab with Dr. Claudia Loebel. Through the REU program, she will be working to optimize hydrogels for therapeutic applications in patients who are suffering from lung fibrosis. In the future, Christina would like to work on researching and developing new therapies for disease.
Research Abstract:
Microstructured Hydrogels for Controlled Formation of Bronchial Organoids
Epithelial organoids are emerging as cell culture platforms for epithelial tissue disease modeling and regenerative therapy such as in acute and chronic lung injuries. However, current organoid systems are traditionally based on mixed cultures with mesenchymal cells. These approaches limit understanding mesenchyme-epithelial cell paracrine signaling events during epithelial organoid formation as well as contributions of biophysical cues such as matrix mechanics and topography. Thus, we designed a synthetic hydrogel platform containing microwells to generate lung epithelial organoids physically separated from mesenchymal cells and within a microenvironment that mimics aspects of the native distal lung microenvironment. The hydrogels were fabricated from norbornene-modified hyaluronic acid with various microwell sizes and a range of different elastic moduli with high patterning fidelity. Human lung fibroblasts (hLFs, Lonza) were encapsulated in the hydrogels at 5 million cells/mL and human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs, Lonza) were seeded at 66 cells per microwell. Hydrogels promoted the formation of hBECs spheroids when cultured in 500/200 μm microwells, which depended on hydrogel mechanics. When compared to larger microwells (800/300 μm) hBECs formed organoid-like structures with higher cell viability and increased diameter after 3 days, indicating that matrix topography guides hBEC self-assembly and organization. The fabrication of microstructured hydrogels facilitated the formation of epithelial cell organoids physically separated from the mesenchymal cell population. Both microwell size and hydrogel stiffness determined cell fate, viability, and overall epithelial cell organoid formation, which can be extended to the generation of other epithelial organoids. Future work will elucidate the contribution of matrix mechanics and degradability and extend to alveolar epithelial cells for therapeutic applications.
Caleb Jones
Caleb is a rising senior at Kansas State University studying bioengineering. He is currently working in Dr. Joel Boerkel’s lab studying the mechanobiological properties of embryonic bone development. Caleb plans to advance to a PhD program in biomedical engineering after graduation.
Research Abstract:
Osteoprogenitor Lineage Progression is Spatiotemporally Determined in Embryonic Bone Morphogenesis
Long bone morphogenesis requires the spatiotemporal coordination of osteoprogenitor invasion and lineage progression. During endochondral ossification, osteoprogenitors mobilize into the hypertrophic cartilage anlage and differentiate into osteoblasts that highly express collagen 1. Osteoblast lineage progression is coordinated by a series of morphogenic and mechanical cues in vitro, however, the spatial regulation of osteoblast maturity in utero is unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that immature osteoprogenitors present preferentially near the line of remodeling cartilage within the primary spongiosa, relative to other bone regions. We used a dual transgenic fluorescent reporter mouse model that co-expresses cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the 3.6kb (Col3.6) and 2.3kb (Col2.3) fragments of the collagen 1 promoter, respectively. The Col3.6-CFP reporter marks immature osteoblasts/precursors, while the Col2.3-GFP reporter marks mature, further differentiated osteoblasts. Using cryohistology and fluorescent microscopy, E17.5 femurs were evaluated in ImageJ. Reporter-positive areas were evaluated by region of interest analysis in the primary ossification center (POC) and the bone collar. The bone collar exhibited a higher proportion of Col2.3(+) and Col3.6(+) cells per area than the POC, with peak expression occurring at the distal and proximal ends. Immature osteoblasts were found at a higher rate in the POC and are primarily present at the leading edge of the primary spongiosa. Comparatively, the immature osteoblasts in the bone collar were more uniformly distributed axially through the tissue. Together, these data reveal that lineage progression of osteoblasts is spatially regulated along the primary axis of these regions. This enhanced understanding of spatiotemporal lineage progression will aid in further characterization of microenvironmental factors that facilitate proper bone formation.
Emma Ricci-De Lucca
Emma Ricci-De Lucca is majoring in Engineering and minoring in French at Swarthmore College. She is from the suburbs of Philadelphia as well as from Pisa, Italy. This summer, Emma is conducting research in Dr. Dennis Discher’s lab and exploring how cancer cells that undergo constricted migration in stiffer tissues experience nuclear envelope rupture and therefore DNA damage and genomic variation. Emma plans to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering.
Research Abstract:
Hypotonic Versus Hypertonic Microenvironments Respectively Suppress or Enhance Nuclear Rupture During Cell Migration Through Micropores
During tumor growth and metastasis, cancer cells squeeze through interstitial pores, across basement membrane barriers, and into micron-sized blood capillaries. Along with these and other solid stresses, cancer cells also endure fluid stresses due to tumor microenvironments that can be dysregulated in terms of pH, osmolarity, and more. How osmolality influences a cancer cell’s migration through a constricting pore, or how the combination of constriction and osmotic stress impacts the integrity of the nucleus, are poorly understood issues. U2OS human osteosarcoma and A549 human lung cancer epithelial cells were seeded on a Transwell migration assay and the cells were incubated in hypoosmotic (~120 mOsm/kg), hyperosmotic (~650 mOsm/kg), or normal (~300 mOsm/kg) culture medium. After migration, the pore membranes were formaldehyde-fixed, stained for DNA, lamin-A/C, and lamin-B1, and imaged using a Leica TCS SP8 confocal microscope. For both cancer cell lines tested, hypoosmotic stress causes elevated cell death on a pore membrane—or possibly failure to adhere to the membrane—as well as reduced migration rate through both constricting 3 µm and larger 8 µm pores. Importantly, hypoosmotic stress also reduces the frequency of nuclear envelope rupture during constricted migration, as indicated by a ~25-30% decrease in nuclear bleb formation. Tumor growth and metastasis depend on cell migration, and cancer cells that squeeze through stiffer tissues—and therefore smaller interstitial pores—experience greater mechanical stress, which can also be induced by varying the osmolalities of the solutions in which cells migrate. Cytoskeletal organization might be altered and could provide insight into these differential effects.
Sebastian Naranjo
Sebastian Naranjo is a rising senior from Rowan University, NJ. He is working in Dr. Deep Jariwala’s lab, studying the direct identification of mesenchymal stem cell mechanisms in the presence of a dynamic graphene based electrical field. Sebastian is from Kinnelon, NJ, and hopes to complete a PhD in efforts to one day conduct independent and cutting-edge cancer research.
Research Abstract:
Graphene-Based Microdevices to Probe Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Stem Cell Behavior
Graphene monolayer has been shown to not only promote hMSC adhesion, but also accelerated and controlled osteogenesis. In the presence of an applied voltage, the graphene and the Si substrate behave as capacitor plates while the SiO2 behaves as a dielectric. The 2D material (graphene) behaves as a leaky capacitor plate. The electrical field that penetrates through the graphene monolayer is easily modulated to produce an electrical stimulus that spans approximately 20 nm, giving the induced electrical field the capability to specifically probe cell transmembrane receptor-ECM binding junctions. Epoxy resin was used to seal off all device circuitry from the cell culture, leaving only the graphene monolayer in contact with the cell culture. Microwells were then manufacture by placing pieces of PDMS on top of the epoxy resin. A 170 mV/mm electrical field was generated using a wave function generator and determined to be far too high and resultant in cell death. However, preliminary results indicate that graphene promotes cell spreading compared to the polystyrene petri dish after overnight incubation. Enhanced migration and proliferation were also observed with the on the chip that was incubated the entire duration of the experiment compared to the petri dish. However, cells that were seeded in the PDMS microwells died due to excess drying. Graphene has been shown to accelerate a spindle shaped cytoskeleton and aggregation was also qualitatively and statistically observed throughout preliminary, but more elaborate immunostaining is necessary to confirm this phenomenon.
Milagros Fernandez Oromendia
Milagros Fernandez Oromendia is from both Buenos Aires, Argentina and the suburbs of St.Paul, Minnesota, where she is currently studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. This summer, she is working in Dr. Dan Huh’s lab on two projects. First, she will be working on the placenta-on-a-chip model and using it to see how shear stress affects the differentiation of trophoblasts (placenta specific cells). Next, she will be working on the development of a continuous stiffness measuring sensing device for engineered tissues. After graduation Mili plans on pursing a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering.
Research Abstract:
Integrated Sensing for Lung Fibrosis-on-a-Chip
Lung fibrosis is a deadly disease that currently affects over 130,000 people in the United States. This disease is characterized by the stiffening of the lung tissue caused by the excess fibroblast deposition of extracellular matrix. Although there are currently two pharmaceuticals on the market to help reduce symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease, there continues to be no cure. Furthermore, there are still many gaps in our understanding of lung fibrosis as well as a lack of good in vitro models of the disease. Therefore, we developed an integrated sensor organ-on-a-chip model that allows for real time monitoring of the functional properties [ex. Contract stiffness] of engineered cell hydrogel constructs. The device fabrication process includes the creation of a PDMS deformable membrane followed by screen printing a carbon black-PDMS mixture over the membrane. After fabrication, the devices were calibrated using in-house engineered circuity, an ammeter, a pressure sensor and pump, and microscopy. In order to optimize the sensitivity of the sensors, we tested multiple carbon black to PDMS concentrations to find a ratio that was conductive enough to transmit a signal even when stretched, but resistive enough that even slight changes in membrane deformation can be detected. The optimal concentration for sensor sensitivity as found to be a 12% Carbon black to PDMS by weight ratio. Future work involves further optimization of the sensor geometry as well as the addition of hydrogels to the device.
Cydne Ratliff
Cydne Ratliff is a rising junior at Drake University, majoring in Biology. Cydne is working in Dr. Lucia Strader’s lab, using confocal fluorescent microscopy to study peroxisomes in Arabidopsis to determine how cells moderate peroxisome growth and numbers.
Research Abstract:
The plant hormone auxin regulates plant growth and development via auxin response factors (ARFs). In Arabadopsis, these DNA-binding proteins can form biomolecular condensates, protein aggregates with unknown functions. Condensate-forming proteins often contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) that are thought to contribute to protein aggregation. However, the direct role of IDRs in condensate formation and maturation is currently unknown. Here we show, switching the IDR regions of varying ARFs can induce changes in condensate morphology. Drastic differences in size, shape, and condensate number were observed when ARFs with swapped IDRs were expressed. By interchanging IDRs in ARF proteins, we have identified that IDRs contribute to the morphology of condensates. We anticipate that these results will aid in the identification of crucial regions within ARF proteins as they relate to condensate formation. Since the structure and physiology of ARF condensates are widely unknown, a better understanding of their IDRs may aid in future studies regarding these condensate-forming transcription factors and their roles in auxin pathways.
Chloe Simchick
Chloe Simchick is a rising junior at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, majoring in BioMolecular Engineering. Chloe is working in Dr. Ram Dixit’s lab, characterizing patterns of twisted growth mutations in Arabidopsis by studying their mechanical properties.
Research Abstract:
Directional growth is a key survival trait in plants—growth towards light or deep into soil enables plants to capture maximal sunlight and obtain necessary nutrients, respectively. In elongating plant cells, microtubule arrays are organized laterally around cells and direct the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in the cell wall. These microfibrils resist tensile force exerted by inner turgor pressure, and thus constrict lateral cell expansion to drive anisotropic growth in the vertical direction. Arabidopsis thaliana ‘twisted’ mutants with skewed microtubule arrays adopt a left or right-handed skewed growth direction. It is assumed that this twisted growth is driven by a skewed cellulose microfibril array, but this has yet to be determined. Due to its imaging tractability and well-characterized anatomy, this work focuses primarily on twisted growth of the root. Current data has shown that while the direction of root twist is consistent, the magnitude of twist is not uniform across the length of the root. However, how twist affects root growth kinetics is unclear. Here we show that growth rates vary significantly between mutants spr1-3, spr2-2, and tua4 and the wild-type Col-0, and these differences are further magnified with the presence of microtubule-interfering drugs, oryzalin and taxol. Preliminary imaging of cellulose arrays using TIRF microscopy indicates that microfibrils align with cortical microtubules, but this will have to be further investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Our investigation of root growth kinetics is critical for determining how twisted growth impacts plant development. By implementing microtubule-interfering drugs we demonstrated the importance of microtubule stability in directing growth. This work will further our understanding of how helical growth is directed and better inform us of the origins of growth chirality.
Tal Sneh
Tal Sneh is an undergraduate researcher working in the Shenoy lab this summer. He is researching computational models of cell-cell junctions. After graduation from Arizona State University, Tal plans to pursue graduate school in materials science engineering.
Research Abstract:
Recruitment of the Arp2/3 Complex Reverses Cadherin-driven Contractile Cytoskeletal Reorganization and Contributes to the Closing of Endothelial Gaps
Endothelial junction gaps are involved in a range of processes, from angiogenesis to cancer cell extravasation, and have garnered interest as a potential target for the prevention of tumor metastases. It has been experimentally realized that chemo-mechanical positive feedback signaling regulates cell contractility and junction behavior, with high contractility facilitating the opening of regular gaps bordered by regions of highly aligned actin stress fibers. However, it remains unclear what produces cytoskeletal re-organization into stress fibers or by what mechanism these fibers start to reduce in contractility, eventually disassemble, and close endothelial gaps. The Arp2/3 complex has been observed to act as a nucleation site for actin polymerization near the cell boundary, with such polymerization producing forces that may act counter to stress fiber contractility. In this study, we develop a continuum model of a symmetric two-cell junction to investigate Arp2/3-induced polymerization as a candidate mechanism for countering the positive cell contractility feedback loop, leading to the closing of endothelial gaps. The model is solved using COMSOL finite element analysis software. We demonstrate that increased polymerization at the junction can disassemble stress fibers and allow endothelial gaps to close. We further show that junction stability requires a specific balance of contractility and Arp2/3 recruitment. This work provides an important mechanistic understanding of mechanical signaling and cytoskeletal endothelial restructuring, demonstrating the key role of cadherin-complex strain-stiffening behavior in determining cell behavior and explaining that of Arp2/3 in recovering paracellular junction gaps to maintain endothelial integrity.
Gustavo Soto
Gustavo Soto is an undergraduate researcher from University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. He is working in Dr. Kathleen Stebe’s lab.
Research Abstract:
3D Printing Micron-Scale Molds
Soft matter has been found to respond to curvature cues. These effects were initially observed in such materials as liquid crystals and particles trapped at a liquid-liquid interface, and they have now been extended to include the more complex responses of mammalian cells. Variation in surface topography can be used to determine how cells adapt to and influence their mechanical environment. Unlike isotropic, spherical particles, anisotropic particles affect their planar surroundings due to their variations in curvature field. The shape of a particle defines how it will interact with a surface or another particle, and a curved microfluidic interface is vital for the assembly and guidance of the particle structural formation. A computer-aided design program called FreeCAD was used to design molds with various curvature fields, such as sine waves, spheres-with-skirts, and cylindrical posts. The sine wave surfaces had a cross-sectional area of 1mm x 1mm and the sphere-with-skirt surfaces had a cross-sectional area of 2mm x 1mm. The feature size of these molds were at the micrometer scale, which prompted the use of the Nanoscribe Photonic Professional GT to 3D-print them on indium tin oxide (ITO) slides. A profilometer was used to measure the roughness of the curved surfaces after they were printed, and the results proved that the Nanoscribe printed smooth surfaces with radii of curvature at the micron scale. The ability to 3D print these smooth-curved surfaces gives us the opportunity to seed cells and particles to study how they interact with each other and their environment.
Aaron Sykes
Aaron Sykes is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Yale Goldman’s lab. He attends Villanova University.
Research Abstract:
In vitro Investigation of Eukaryotic Translation using Single-Molecule FRET
Nonsense mutations lead to approximately 7000 genetically transmitted disorders including Cystic Fibrosis and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Nonsense mutations give rise to premature termination codons (PTC), which are replacements of an amino acid codon in mRNA by one of the three stop codons, and lead to inactive truncated protein products. Sometimes, translational readthrough occurs where selected near cognate tRNAs at the PTC position insert the corresponding amino acids into the new polypeptide, restoring the production of full length functional proteins. However, the specific molecular mechanisms by which this process occurs are still not well understood. Studies of readthrough using animals, intact cells, or cell extracts show a variety of mechanisms of readthrough, and so attempts to determine the precise mechanisms of action are complicated. To try to investigate the details of the mechanisms of readthrough that directly affect the ribosome pathway, single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) on a highly purified, eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis system is being developed. A critical component of this assay are the Glutamine and Tryptophan tRNAs labeled with fluorescent cyanine dyes, Cy3 and Cy5, that are used for the smFRET. To obtain large enough quantities for the assay, the optimization of the charging of these tRNAs is necessary. Different charging conditions were tested to optimize the charging conditions for Cy5-labeled Tryptophan tRNA including the incubation time of the charging reaction, concentration of ATP, pH of the Tris-HCl buffer solution, and concentration of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase. The amount of charging is then quantified by measuring the amount of ionizing radiation from the incorporation of a mixture of amino acids that are radioactive and non-radioactive. Preliminary results show that an incubation time of 10 minutes, buffer pH of 7.8, 10 mM of ATP, and equal volume of synthetase to tRNA yield the most amount of charged tRNA. Further work will be done to optimize these conditions and test their activity with an octapeptide synthesis assay and with the smFRET assay. Optimization of the preparation of the tRNA and the other components of this assay will allow the direct investigation of translation and translational readthrough on the single molecule level and lead to the development of new therapeutic agents to treat nonsense mutation related disorders.
Gabriela Villalpando Torres
Gabriela Villalpando Torres is a rising senior currently studying bioengineering at the University of California Merced. She is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Robert Mauck’s lab, investigating regulators that dysregulate SMAD signaling in cells with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Gabriela plans to pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering.
Research Abstract:
Substrate stiffness and contractility regulate Nesprin expression in 3T3 cells
Mechanotransduction is the process by which cells convert mechanical stimuli to biochemical cues1. The cytoskeleton transfers forces from the ECM to the nucleus via the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex. One component of the LINC complex is nesprin, a family of large proteins that can bind cytoskeletal elements and are required for cytoskeletal-nuclear mechanotransduction. While much is known regarding the role of the LINC complex in mechanotransduction, less is known about how the LINC complex itself is regulated by mechanical forces. To address this, we investigated nesprin expression in response to changing microenvironmental stiffness and alterations in cytoskeletal architecture and tension. Nesprin expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with primers designed for each isoform of nesprin 1 and 2. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to evaluate nesprin localization, nesprin-cytoskeletal engagement, and qualitative expression based on intensity. 3T3 cells were seeded on polyarylamide gels and stained by IF for cytoskeletal components and Nesprin 1/2 to investigate the effects of substrate stiffness. To study the effects of contractility, the same experiment was repeated with exposure to a contractility antagonist (Y-27632) or agonist (CNO3). Decreasing substrate stiffness (from glass to 5kPa) on either fibronectin- or laminin-coated PA gels resulted in an increase in nuclear nesprin 1 and 2 staining intensity. Inhibition and promotion of contractility led to similar increases on tissue culture plastic. Substrate stiffness also appears to be a regulator of nesprin expression and localization, and contractility impacts which cytoskeletal element engages with nesprins. It could be that decreasing substrate stiffness increases nesprin expression to help anchor the cells to a softer environment and contractility regulates which cytoskeletal element participates in this cytoskeletal-nuclear mechanotransduction.
2018 UExB Alumni
Robert Brosnan
Robert is an undergraduate researcher in the Radhakrishnan Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Gabrielle Caponigro
Gabrielle is an undergraduate researcher in the Ostap Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Reid Chunn
Reid is an undergraduate researcher in the Genin Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2018.
Dominic Demma
Dominic is an undergraduate researcher in the Huh Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Nikolas DiCaprio
Nikolas is an undergraduate researcher in the Burdick Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Thomas Ellison
Thomas is an undergraduate researcher in the Strader Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2018.
Deidre Lee
Deidre is an undergraduate researcher in the Wells Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Jacob Maciel
Jacob is an undergraduate researcher in the Wells Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Pranav Maddula
Pranav is an undergraduate researcher in the Haswell Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2018.
Amanda Martinez
Amanda is an undergraduate researcher in the Assoian lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018
Thea Ornstein
Thea is an undergraduate researcher in the Mauck Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Whitney Schroeder
Whitney is an undergraduate researcher in the Prosser Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Alexis Scott
Alexis is an undergraduate researcher in the Dixit Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2018.
Sarah St. Pierre
Sarah is an undergraduate researcher in the Winkelstein Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Zachary Varley
Zachary is an undergraduate researcher in the Shenoy Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
Logan Verheyen
Logan is an undergraduate researcher in the Foston Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2018.
Grace Wu
Grace is an undergraduate researcher in the Holzbaur Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018
Kiera Yankson
Kiera is an undergraduate researcher in the Lakadamyali Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2018.
2017 UExB Alumni
Kimonni Driver
Kimonni was an undergraduate researcher in the Wells Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
John Durel
John was an undergraduate researcher in the Burdick Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Matt Geer
Matt was an undergraduate researcher in the Haswell and Foston Labs (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2017.
Brianna Hajek
Brianna was an undergraduate researcher in the Holzbaur Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Olivia Leavitt
Olivia was an undergraduate researcher in the Winkelstein Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Kristine Lister
Kristine was an undergraduate researcher in the Goldman Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Zhangao Liu
Zhangao was an undergraduate researcher in the Genin Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2017.
Aaman Mengis
Aaman was an undergraduate researcher in the Huh Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Victor Morales-Garcia
Victor was an undergraduate researcher in the Discher Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Simran Ohri
Simran was an undergraduate researcher in the Haswell Lab (Washington University) during the summer of 2017.
Richard Potter
Richard was an undergraduate researcher in the Rhoades Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Emily Stava
Emily was an undergraduate researcher in the Genin Lab (Washington University) during the summer of 2017.
Cassie Wang
Cassie was an undergraduate researcher in the Wells Lab (University of Pennsylvania) during the summer of 2017.
Melanie Yuen
Melanie was an undergraduate researcher in the Strader Lab (Washington University in St. Louis) during the summer of 2017.
Learn About the Multiple
Disciplines at CEMB
A diverse array of institutions and scientific backgrounds, all contributing to research answering mechanobiology questions.
Postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates who have found success in many fields, including academia and industry.
Team supports research, education, and diversity missions of the Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Washington University.
