Acoustic Shear Wave Biosensor for the Analysis of Cell Adhesion and Structure (ABACAS)

该奖项支持建造和测试生物传感器，该传感器旨在通过使用由压电式装置产生的声波剪切波来测量细胞与表面的黏附强度。该传感器将被称为用于细胞黏附和结构分析的声波剪切波生物传感器(ABACAS)，预计将测量纳克范围内的质量积累、约1 ppb的化学物种浓度以及从纯粘性到纯弹性介质的大范围材料的复弹性模数。将使用聚苯乙烯微球作为细胞模拟物、模拟细胞外基质蛋白的聚合物凝胶以及细胞的受控扩散的几个模型系统来校准ABACAS测量。对细胞黏附强度、内皮细胞黏附、铺展和对流反应的重排的标准测试将用于将ABACAS测量与生物功能相关联。目前，表征生物材料和细胞之间相互作用的动力学依赖于需要大量样本来对任何性质进行时间定义的技术。新的传感器预计将满足对用于表征这种相互作用的可靠、多用途和低成本微型仪器的需求，允许使用单一样本进行实时测量。Abacas项目在传感器设计和细胞力学方面的发展也将纳入该机构本科生和研究生的课程。由PI教授的关于生物传感器的本科生序列将使用ABACAS作为例子来说明课程主题和实验室练习。Abacas还将作为细胞生物力学研究生课程的一部分，以强调理论建模和实验设计之间的关系，以表征细胞行为的力学。此外，该项目将纳入生物传感器合作实验室，这是一个独特的在线环境，使合作者和教育合作伙伴能够进入实验室。该合作实验室促进了费城地区两年制大学和高中的外展工作。

This award supports construction and testing of a biosensor intended to measure the strength of adhesion of cells to surfaces through use of acoustic shear waves generated by a piezoelectric device. The sensor, to be called the Acoustic Shear Wave Biosensor for the Analysis of Cell Adhesion and Structure (ABACAS), is expected to measure mass accumulation in the nanogram range, chemical species concentration on the order of 1 ppb, and the complex elastic modulus for a large range of materials ranging from purely viscous to purely elastic media. Several model systems employing polystyrene microspheres as cell mimics, polymer gels simulating extracellular matrix proteins, and controlled spreading of cells will be used to calibrate the ABACAS measurements. Standard tests for cell adhesion strength, endothelial cell adhesion, spreading, and realignment in response to flow will be used to correlate ABACAS measurements with biological function. Currently, characterization of the dynamics of interactions between biomaterials and cells relies on techniques that require many samples for temporal definition of any property. The new sensor is expected to meet the need for reliable, multipurpose and low cost miniature instrumentation for characterization of such interactions, allowing real-time measurements using a single sample.Developments from the ABACAS project in both sensor design and cellular mechanics will also be incorporated into the institution's curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels. An undergraduate sequence on Biosensors taught by the PI will use ABACAS as both an example to illustrate lecture topics and a laboratory exercise. ABACAS will also be used as part of a a graduate course in Cellular Biomechanics to emphasize the relationship between theoretical modeling and experimental design in characterizing the mechanics of cell behavior. In addition, the project will be incorporated into the Biosensors Collaboratory, a unique on-line environment that gives access to the laboratory to collaborators and educational partners. This Collaboratory facilitates outreach efforts to 2-year colleges and high schools in the Philadelphia area.