3D Multicellular Mechanics in Angiogenesis

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，以研究3D系统中血管生成的机制。 血管生成是在发育和受伤的组织内形成血管，是血液和代谢活性细胞之间进行氧、营养物和废物交换的重要过程。 在该奖项下进行的研究将应用动态光和X射线散射以及延时成像来测量在3D支架内生长的内皮细胞网络的形态、运动和力的产生。 将研究培养支架材料的性质和化学功能，以确定它们在血管生成中的作用。 同时，将采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价和血管生成标志物表达的免疫组织化学评价。 如果成功，这些研究将大大增加该领域？的力学血管生成的理解，并代表一个集成的时间推移表征工具，支架工程，和分子生物学的三维细胞力学研究。 从这些努力中获得的知识将加强该领域？研究其他3D组织结构中的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通常发现的大型多细胞系统提供了一套工具，并推动了这些领域的技术发展。 教育计划的重点是在K-12科学课上使用数字成像和分析工具，并与合作学校的教育工作者一起举办年度研讨会，在研讨会上开发教学模块并分发给参与的科学教师。 这一举措将涉及广泛分享分析软件，并讨论如何有效地采用当代成像和分析工具，以改善没有这些工具就难以掌握或难以观察的科学概念的传播。

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.