CAREER: An Integrated Approach to Neuron Mechanics: Deciphering the Functional, Mechanical, and Structural Interactions between Microtubules and Actin

该学院早期职业发展奖的研究目标是使用一套定制的成像和微尺度操作工具来研究神经元运动、黏附和运输的相互依赖。神经元是一种特殊的细胞，具有高度拉长的几何形状，形成机械连接的网络，使信号能够在神经系统中传输。健康神经网络的发展依赖于丝状细胞骨架结构的作用：肌动蛋白指导神经元的生长和黏附，而微管则作为蛋白质和细胞器在细胞内长距离运输的轨迹，这是维持细胞延伸突起所必需的。根据该奖项进行的研究将通过测量长途运输中的错误如何影响细胞黏附和运动性，以及调节黏附的化学和机械工程支架如何影响运输，来确定肌动蛋白和微管结构之间协调的程度和性质。突发性撞击损伤对单个神经元的力学、黏附和运输的影响也将被确定。如果成功，这项研究将为神经元的实验研究提供新的范式(-)。一种将不同的特征，如黏附或运输整合到一个全面的神经元功能模型中的模型。最终，这些结果将导致改进的神经装置和植入材料的设计，以及针对广泛的神经疾病和创伤性脑损伤(TBI)的新治疗策略。教育目标是让本科生参与所有方面的研究，并在新兴的神经元力学领域开发新的教材。将开发一个新的实习计划，即生物力学研究和神经技术(VERIANT)的退伍军人实习计划，将当地社区大学的退伍军人实习吸引到校园进行独立研究。将提供一对一的指导和专业发展机会，鼓励和增强老学生攻读理工科学位的能力。

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to use a suite of custom imaging and microscale manipulation tools to investigate the interdependence of motility, adhesion and transport in neurons. Neurons are specialized cells, with highly elongated geometries, that form mechanically connected networks to enable transmission of signals in the nervous system. The development of healthy neural networks depends on the action of filamentous cytoskeletal structures: actin guides neuron growth and adhesion, while microtubules serve as the tracks for the long-distance intracellular transport of proteins and organelles that is required to maintain the extended cell protrusions. Studies conducted under this award will determine the extent and nature of the coordination between the actin and microtubule structures by measuring how errors in long-distance transport affect cell adhesion and motility, and how chemically- and mechanically-engineered scaffolds that modulate adhesion affect transport. The effects of sudden impact injury on single neuron mechanics, adhesion and transport will also be determined. If successful, this research will provide a new paradigm for the experimental investigation of neurons (-). One that integrates distinct features such as adhesion or transport into one comprehensive model of neuron function. Ultimately, the results will lead to the design of improved neural devices and implantation materials, and novel treatment strategies for a wide range of neurological disorders and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The educational goals are to include undergraduate students in all aspects of research, and to develop new teaching material on the emerging field of neuron mechanics. A new internship program, Veteran-student Internships in Biomechanics Research and NeuroTechnology (VIBRANT) will be developed to bring veteran students from local community colleges to campus to pursue independent research. One-on-one mentoring and professional development opportunities will be provided to encourage and empower veteran students to pursue science and engineering degrees.