Developing Anchoring Methods to Generate and Mature 3D-Engineered Tissues
Mentors
Project Description
The field of tissue engineering commonly employs post-like 3D mechanical boundaries as a useful way to give cues to the cells for compacting and remodeling the extracellular matrix. These boundaries and anchoring play a key role since they define the shape of the tissue and report forces tissues generate through their deformations. However, these tissues tend to fail over time due to a lack of adhesion of the tissues to the boundaries, extreme levels of intratissue tension, or high tissue contractility. The overall goal of the project is to develop a scalable anchoring method to generate durable freestanding 3Dengineered tissues, increasing the throughput and longevity.
Research Goals
- Design, model, and fabricate potentially well-plate compatible tissue culture wells and 3D anchors for tissue generation, using 3D printing and PDMS molding techniques
- Perform basic cell culture
- Monitor and analyze tissue remodeling and potential failures over time
- Understand which parameters (e.g. anchoring design, tissue size/shape, boundary stiffness) are the most successful.
Learning Goals
- Learning the basics of computer-aided design, and finite element modeling
- Learning 3D printing and PDMS microfabrication techniques
- Learning mammalian cell culture
- Learning how to do data analysis through ImageJ and MATLAB-Develop effective scientific communication skills through written reports, research presentations, and discussions.
Timeline
Week 1-2: Lab and lab safety training, software setup and training, literature review
Week 2-5: Working on the designs, learning 3D printing, PDMS microfabrication and cell culture basics
Week 6-8: Start testing tissue generation and monitoring tissue remodeling/failure over time, adjust modify the designs if needed,
Week 9-10: Finalize experiments, data analysis/visualization, poster preparation/presentation.