Collaborative Research: Electromagnet-integrated optical microscope stage with biocompatible magnetogel for investigating mechanobiology in 2D and 3D

南加州大学与布朗大学合作开发了一种仪器，可用于研究机械力如何控制或影响生物系统。通过研究活动，该奖项将为本科生，博士生和博士后学者提供培训。值得注意的是，与新成立的位于帕萨迪纳城市学院的国家科学基金会先进技术教育中心合作，将使两名本科社区学院学生能够接受，直接将本科生纳入研究活动。这些学生将由参与本研究工作的博士生和博士后学者指导。这一发现将通过免费访问的在线存储库（如NIH 3D Print Exchange和GitHub）以及学术出版物和会议报告进行传播。为了提高公众的科学素养，将利用社会媒体更广泛地传播研究成果和科学生活。众所周知，化学物质暴露可以改变生物系统，改变细胞和组织的行为。越来越多的证据表明，物理力量可以发挥类似的作用，在某些情况下，这些物理效应可以与化学刺激相结合，以放大或消除生物反应。与细胞和组织接触的表面的机械特性的变化也会调节生物活性。因此，了解机械力在生物过程中的作用是至关重要的。然而，只有少数工具可以在有限的设置中准确地研究这种复杂的行为。该奖项将支持开发和验证一种更广泛适用的工具，以克服这一交叉障碍。该技术将与标准荧光显微镜兼容，能够同时成像和操纵生物系统的物理特性。为实现这一目标，将开发两种新的协同技术。为了证明与当前和未来NSF生物理事会计划的相关性，将进行神经科学和细菌研究方面的一对概念验证测量。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award is made to the University of Southern California in collaboration with Brown University to develop an instrument that can be used to investigate how mechanical forces can control or influence biological systems. Through the research activities, the award will provide training to undergraduate students, PhD students, and post-doctoral scholars. Notably, collaborating with the newly started NSF Advanced Technological Education Center located at Pasadena City College, will enable the hosting of two undergraduate community college students, directly incorporating undergraduates into the research activities. These students will be mentored by the PhD students and post-doctoral scholar who will be involved in this research effort. The finding will be disseminated through freely accessible online repositories such as the NIH 3D Print Exchange and GitHub and through scholarly publications and conference presentations. To increase the scientific literacy of the general public, social media will be leveraged for broader dissemination of the research findings and scientific life.It is well-established that chemical exposure can modify a biological system, changing the behavior of cells and tissue. Evidence is emerging that physical forces can play a similar role, and in some cases, these physical effects can combine with chemical stimuli to amplify or to eliminate a biological response. Changes in the mechanical properties of surfaces in contact with cells and tissues also modulate biological activity. Therefore, it is critical to understand the role of mechanical forces in biological processes. However, only a few tools can accurately study this complex behavior in limited settings. This award will support the development and validation of a more broadly applicable instrument that will overcome this cross-cutting hurdle. The technology will be compatible with a standard fluorescence microscope, enabling simultaneous imaging and manipulation of the physical properties of the biological system. To accomplish this goal, two new synergistic technologies will be developed. To demonstrate relevance to current and future NSF BIO Directorate programs, a pair of proof-of-concept measurements in neuroscience and in bacterial research will be performed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.