Manipulation of Cell Behavior in Three-Dimensional Culture

这个项目的目标是开发在三维凝胶中操纵细胞行为的方法。这将通过对分散在胶原凝胶中的人类白细胞和PC12细胞的细胞行为变化的系统研究来实现。具体来说，将检查不同水合作用的胶原凝胶中的细胞行为（即运动和神经突生长），添加细胞外基质（ECM）成分的胶原凝胶中的细胞行为，以及添加生物反应调节剂的凝胶中的细胞行为。通过使用控释聚合物作为生物活性剂（抗体、生长因子、趋化因子和ECM分子）的来源，也可以定量表征浓度梯度下的细胞行为。

The goal of this project is to develop methods for manipulating cell behavior in three-dimensional gels. This is to be achieved by a systematic study of changes in cell behavior for human leukocytes and PC12 cells dispersed within collagen gels. Specifically, cell behavior (i.e. motility and neurite outgrowth) in collagen gels with different hydration, cell behavior in collagen gels with added extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and cell behavior in gels with added biological response modifiers will be examined. By using controlled release polymers as sources of bioactive agents (antibodies, growth factors, chemotactic factors,and ECM molecules), cell behavior in well characterized concentration gradients is also to be quantified.