Collaborative Research: Long Term Spatiotemporal Control to Investigate Dynamics in Xenopus Laevis Embryonic Development

这个合作研究项目将开发一个研究胚胎发育的系统。具体地说，该团队将开发一种系统，用于控制几乎微小(约1/20英寸)的胚胎组织样本的化学环境，例如生物学家经常使用的非洲爪蛙非洲爪蛙。通过控制暴露在不同化学物质中的组织区域和暴露时间，研究小组可以对胚胎发育过程获得前所未有的洞察。我们的系统将采用先进的独立控制五个入口，供应三种不同的射流。该系统将在工程组织复杂的化学环境中得到广泛的应用。成果包括(1)能够调节复杂2D和3D流动模式的微流体系统和控制系统的开发；(2)用于处理不确定动态的新的控制算法设计方法；(3)用于评估对胚胎组织微流体环境的控制的荧光生物传感器工具。该项目将为组织工程师提供精确控制化学刺激的工具，这些刺激可能有助于为未来的长期临床应用创造新的组织。这项工作将结合以前在磁盘驱动器的微制造和自动控制中成功实施的技术。这些工具可能被用来创造复杂的化学刺激模式，以生长细胞，以制造工程组织。我们成果的传播还将带来新的设备，具有更高的准确性、可靠性和功能，用于商业和基础科学应用。此外，该项目将培养本科生和研究生成为跨学科领域的科学和工业领导者，包括动态系统/控制、生物学、微技术和工程学。该小组还将接触到学业困难社区中代表不足的K-12学生，以建立他们对STEM的知识和兴趣。

This collaborative research project will develop a system for investigating embryonic development. Specifically the team will develop a system for controlling the chemical environment of nearly microscopic (~1/20th of an inch) samples of embryonic tissues, such as from the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, frequently used by biologists. By controlling the region of the tissue that is exposed to different chemicals, and the time for which it is exposed, the research team can gain unprecedented insight into the embryonic development process. Our system will employ sophisticated independent control of five inlet-ports supplying three different fluidic streams. This system will have a wide range of applications for manipulation of the complex chemical environment of engineered tissues. Deliverables include (1) the development of micro-fluidic systems and control systems capable of regulating complex 2D and 3D flow patterns, (2) a novel control algorithm design methodology for dealing with uncertain dynamics, and (3) fluorescent biosensor tools for evaluating control over the microfluidic environment of embryonic tissues. This project will provide tools for tissue engineers to precisely control chemical stimulation that may be useful for creating new tissues for long term future clinical application. The work will combine techniques that previously have been successfully implemented in microfabrication and automatic control of disk drives. These tools may be used to create complex patterns of chemical stimulation to growing cells for manufacturing of engineered tissues. Dissemination of our results will also lead to new devices with increased accuracies, reliability, and functionality for commercial and basic science applications. In addition, this project will train undergraduate and graduate students to become leaders in science and industry in transdisciplinary fields including dynamic systems/controls, biology, microtechnology, and engineering. The team will also reach out to underrepresented K-12 students in academically challenged neighborhoods to build their knowledge and their interest in STEM.