Mechanics of Cell Alignment due to Contact Guidance by Nanoscale Surface Topography

该奖项的研究目标是全面了解纳米级表面形貌引起的细胞排列。表面形貌可以显著影响细胞的行为，包括形状、排列、铺展和分化，这一众所周知的现象通常被称为接触引导。这项研究将有助于理解力学和接触指导之间的相互作用，并对机械环境如何影响细胞行为提供见解。研究方法采用实验研究、理论发展和数值模拟相结合的方法。将在临界尺寸和几何形状均有系统变化的精密工程表面上研究细胞排列；将建立理论模型来解释相应的实验观测；将开发数值方法来模拟接触制导过程，并与理论模型和实验进行比较。这项研究还将与美国国家标准与技术研究所建立合作关系。成果包括一套接触引导机制的基本理解，实验建模和模拟工具，研究结果的文档，高中和工程学生和K-12教师教育。如果成功，这项研究的结果将为设计和制造具有纳米级表面形貌的支架提供指导，以指导组织的生长。纳米尺度的表面形貌可以控制包括细胞核在内的细胞的取向，从而控制基因的表达，从而决定组织的生长。从这项研究中获得的基本认识将加速设计能够促进组织生长的高效支架。结果将通过期刊出版物、国家会议和TeachEngineering数字图书馆进行传播。从高中到研究生院的学生都将参与这项研究。K-12教师将通过TeachEngineering数字图书馆受益。

The research objective of this award is to develop a comprehensive understanding of cell alignment induced by nanoscale surface topography. Surface topography can significantly influence cell behaviors including shape, alignment, spreading, and differentiations, a well known phenomenon typically referred as contact guidance. The research will result in understanding on the interplay between mechanics and contact guidance and providing insights on how mechanical environment can influence cellular behaviors. The research approach combines experimental investigation, theoretical development, and numerical simulations. Cell alignments will be investigated on precisely engineered surface topography with systematic variations in both critical dimension and geometrical shapes; theoretical models will be established to account the corresponding experimental observations; numerical method will be developed to simulate the process of contact guidance and compare with theoretical models and experiments. This research will also establish collaboration with National Institute of Standard and Technology. Deliverables include a suite of fundamental understanding of contact guidance mechanism, experiment modeling and simulations tools, documentation of research results, high school and engineering student and K-12 teacher education.If successful, the results of this research will provide guidelines for designing and manufacturing scaffold with nanoscale surface topography to guide the growth of tissues. Nanoscale surface topography that can control the orientation of cells including the nuclei will lead to control of gene expression which determines the tissue growth. Fundamental understanding gained from this research will expedite the design of efficient scaffold that can promote tissue growth. The results will be disseminated through journal publications, national conferences, and TeachEngineering digital library. Students at the levels of high school to graduate school will be involved in this research. K-12 teachers will benefit through TeachEngineering digital library.