3D Multicellular Mechanics in Angiogenesis

血管生成中的 3D 多细胞力学

• 批准号: 1161967
• 负责人: Thomas Angelini
• 金额: $ 19.99万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-06-01 至 2015-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1161967&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: 3D; Multicellular; Mechanics; Angiogenesis

The research objective of this award is to develop scattering, imaging, and digital image analysis tools, combined with deformable tissue culture scaffolds, to investigate the mechanics of angiogenesis in 3D systems. Angiogenesis is formation of blood vessels within developing and wounded tissue, an essential process for oxygen, nutrient, and waste exchange between blood and metabolically active cells. Studies conducted under this award will apply dynamic light and x-ray scattering, and time-lapse imaging, to measure morphology, motion, and force generation in endothelial cell networks growing within 3D scaffolds. Culture scaffold material properties and chemical functionality the will be investigated to determine their role in angiogenesis. In parallel, molecular biology techniques will be employed to study the underlying molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, including genetic screens, histological evaluation of cell networks, and immunohistochemical evaluations of angiogenic marker expression. If successful, these studies would add significantly to the field?s understanding of mechanics in angiogenesis and represent an integration of time-lapse characterization tools, scaffold engineering, and molecular biology for 3D cell mechanics studies. The knowledge gained from these efforts will enhance the field?s ability to investigate collective cell mechanics in other 3D tissue constructs, providing a set of tools for the large multicellular systems typically found in tissue engineering, wound healing, and regenerative medicine studies, and advancing technology development within these areas. The educational plan focuses on digital imaging and analysis tools for use in K-12 science classes, and the creation of an annual workshop with educators at a partner school in which teaching modules will be developed and distributed to participating science teachers. The initiative will involve extensive sharing of analysis software and discussions of how to effectively incorporate contemporary imaging and analysis tools to improve the communication of scientific concepts that are difficult to grasp, or difficult to observe, without these tools.

该奖项的研究目标是开发散射、成像和数字图像分析工具，结合可变形的组织培养支架，研究3D系统中血管生成的机制。血管生成是在发育和损伤的组织中形成血管，是血液和具有代谢活性的细胞之间进行氧气、营养和废物交换的基本过程。根据该奖项进行的研究将应用动态光和X射线散射以及时间推移成像来测量在3D支架内生长的内皮细胞网络中的形态、运动和力的产生。将对培养支架的材料特性和化学功能进行调查，以确定它们在血管生成中的作用。同时，将利用分子生物学技术研究血管生成的潜在分子机制，包括遗传筛选、细胞网络的组织学评估和血管生成标记物表达的免疫组织化学评估。如果成功，这些研究将极大地增进S对血管生成力学的理解，并代表着将延时表征工具、支架工程和分子生物学集成到3D细胞力学研究中。从这些工作中获得的知识将增强S在其他3D组织结构中研究集体细胞力学的能力，为组织工程、伤口愈合和再生医学研究中常见的大型多细胞系统提供一套工具，并推动这些领域的技术开发。该教育计划的重点是K-12科学课程中使用的数字成像和分析工具，以及与合作学校的教育工作者一起创建一个年度讲习班，在讲习班上将开发教学模块并分发给参与其中的科学教师。该举措将涉及广泛分享分析软件，并讨论如何有效地纳入当代成像和分析工具，以改进没有这些工具难以掌握或难以观察的科学概念的交流。