Engineering Angiogenesis by the Extracellular Matrix

这个项目集成了先进的显微镜和一种新型的生物反应器，用于阐明分子、细胞和细胞外基质的相互作用，这些相互作用指导3D组织模型中的血管生成形态发生。尽管有生物动机，但这个项目隐含着对超短光脉冲诱导的非线性光学现象的进一步表征，其数量比通常用于多光子显微镜的要短一个数量级，并展示了其在活细胞NLOM中用于复杂生物系统定量表征的独特优势。开发的双轴生物反应器将能够精确控制培养3D血管生成模型的机械环境。它的优势包括控制基质密度、硬度和取向的能力。结合活体内NLOM，它将为破译培养中动态的细胞-基质相互作用提供强有力的手段，并对促进或抑制血管生成的机制获得新的见解。

1033660YehThis project integrates advanced microscopy with a novel bioreactor for elucidating molecular, cellular and extracellular matrix interactions that guide angiogenic morphogenesis within a 3D tissue model. Though biologically motivated, implicit in this project is further characterization of nonlinear optical phenomena induced by ultrashort optical pulses an order of magnitude shorter than what is typically used in multiphoton microscopy and demonstration of its distinct advantages in live cell NLOM for the quantitative characterization of complex biological systems. The developed biaxial bioreactor will enable precise control of the mechanical environment in which 3D models of angiogenesis are cultured. Its strengths include the ability to control matrix density, stiffness and orientation. Combined with intravital NLOM, it will provide a powerful means to decipher dynamic cell-matrix interactions in culture and to gain new insight into mechanisms that enhance or inhibit angiogenesis.