Cells as an Intelligent Material: An integrated multiscale modeling approach based on coupled responses to chemical, electrical, and mechanical stimuli

细胞作为智能材料：基于对化学、电和机械刺激的耦合响应的集成多尺度建模方法

• 批准号: 1244014
• 负责人: Michael Philen
• 金额: $ 56.11万
• 依托单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-03-15 至 2017-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1244014&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Cells; Intelligent; Material; integrated; multiscale

Intellectual MeritThe research objective of this project is to provide a thorough methodology for the creation of advanced networks of cellular mimics. The natural world often exhibits elegant solutions to complex engineering problems, many of which are derived from phenomena exhibited at the cellular level. It is possible to recreate some of these desired behaviors and provide insight into how networks of individual cells can display collective behaviors by creating networks of cellular mimics in the laboratory. This multi-disciplinary project focuses on coupling experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches to aid in the development of a multiscale model for predicting the behavior of these artificial cellular networks, focusing on their unique transduction capabilities and responses to various stimuli. The approach will involve the creation of individual biomolecular unit cells, constructing a multiscale model for predicting the behavior of networks of these unit cells, validating the model through the experimental results, and applying the validated model towards more advanced systems demonstrating the potential in using cellular mimics as intelligent materials.Broader Impacts The benefits of this multi-disciplinary research include a more in-depth understanding of cellular networks through theoretical, computational, and experimental efforts. The findings will provide insight into how cells work in parallel to achieve collective goals, and illustrate the potential for biologically-inspired approaches in engineering research by demonstrating how cellular mechanics may be harnessed for tackling complex problems. These dual goals will aid in increasing collaboration between the biological and engineering worlds and may lead to further scientific discoveries through fresh perspectives. Cells demonstrate the same characteristics as many traditional intelligent materials, and properly tailored networks of cellular mimics may offer possibilities for the design of new devices such as microactuators and sensors. In addition, a new generation of biologically-minded engineers will be encouraged through high school and undergraduate seminars that highlight applications of biomimetic design.

本项目的研究目标是为创建先进的细胞模拟网络提供一种全面的方法。 自然界经常展示出复杂工程问题的优雅解决方案，其中许多来自细胞水平上的现象。 通过在实验室中创建细胞模拟物网络，可以重新创建其中一些所需的行为，并深入了解单个细胞网络如何显示集体行为。 这个多学科项目的重点是耦合实验，计算和理论方法，以帮助开发多尺度模型来预测这些人工细胞网络的行为，重点是它们独特的转导能力和对各种刺激的反应。 该方法将涉及创建单个生物分子单位细胞，构建用于预测这些单位细胞网络行为的多尺度模型，通过实验结果验证模型，并将验证的模型应用于更先进的系统，展示使用细胞模拟物作为智能材料的潜力。更广泛的影响这项多学科研究的好处包括：通过理论，计算和实验努力深入了解细胞网络。这些发现将深入了解细胞如何并行工作以实现集体目标，并通过展示细胞力学如何用于解决复杂问题来说明工程研究中生物启发方法的潜力。 这些双重目标将有助于增加生物和工程世界之间的合作，并可能通过新的视角带来进一步的科学发现。 细胞表现出与许多传统智能材料相同的特性，适当定制的细胞模拟网络可能为微执行器和传感器等新设备的设计提供可能性。 此外，将通过高中和本科生研讨会鼓励新一代具有生物思想的工程师，这些研讨会强调仿生设计的应用。