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

该奖项的研究目标是发展对纳米级表面形貌诱导的细胞排列的全面理解。表面形貌可以显著影响细胞的行为，包括形状、排列、扩散和分化，这是一种众所周知的现象，通常被称为接触引导。该研究将有助于理解力学与接触引导之间的相互作用，并为机械环境如何影响细胞行为提供见解。研究方法结合实验调查、理论发展和数值模拟。细胞排列将在精确工程的表面形貌上进行研究，在关键尺寸和几何形状上都有系统的变化；将建立理论模型来解释相应的实验观察；将发展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。这项研究还将与国家标准与技术研究院建立合作关系。可交付成果包括一套对接触引导机制的基本理解，实验建模和仿真工具，研究结果文档，高中和工程学生和K-12教师教育。如果成功，本研究结果将为纳米级表面形貌支架的设计和制造提供指导，以指导组织的生长。纳米级的表面形貌可以控制包括细胞核在内的细胞的方向，从而控制决定组织生长的基因表达。从这项研究中获得的基本认识将加快设计有效的支架，促进组织生长。结果将通过期刊出版物、国家会议和TeachEngineering数字图书馆传播。高中到研究生阶段的学生将参与这项研究。K-12教师将受益于TeachEngineering数字图书馆。

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.