3D Multicellular Mechanics in Angiogenesis

该奖项的研究目标是开发散射、成像和数字图像分析工具，结合可变形组织培养支架，研究3D系统中血管生成的机制。血管生成是在发育和受伤组织中血管的形成，是血液和代谢活跃细胞之间交换氧气、营养物质和废物的重要过程。根据该奖项进行的研究将应用动态光和x射线散射，以及延时成像，来测量在3D支架内生长的内皮细胞网络的形态、运动和力产生。将研究培养支架材料的性能和化学功能，以确定它们在血管生成中的作用。同时，分子生物学技术将用于研究血管生成的潜在分子机制，包括基因筛选、细胞网络的组织学评估和血管生成标记表达的免疫组织化学评估。如果成功，这些研究将对该领域产生重大影响？我们对血管生成力学的理解，代表了三维细胞力学研究中延时表征工具、支架工程和分子生物学的集成。从这些努力中获得的知识将加强该领域？研究其他3D组织结构中的集体细胞力学的能力，为组织工程、伤口愈合和再生医学研究中常见的大型多细胞系统提供了一套工具，并推动了这些领域的技术发展。该教育计划的重点是在K-12科学课程中使用数字成像和分析工具，并与合作学校的教育工作者一起创建年度研讨会，其中将开发教学模块并分发给参与的科学教师。该计划将包括广泛分享分析软件，并讨论如何有效地结合当代成像和分析工具，以改善科学概念的交流，如果没有这些工具，这些概念很难掌握或难以观察。

The research objective of this award is to develop scattering, imaging, and digital image analysis tools, combined with deformable tissue culture scaffolds, to investigate the mechanics of angiogenesis in 3D systems. Angiogenesis is formation of blood vessels within developing and wounded tissue, an essential process for oxygen, nutrient, and waste exchange between blood and metabolically active cells. Studies conducted under this award will apply dynamic light and x-ray scattering, and time-lapse imaging, to measure morphology, motion, and force generation in endothelial cell networks growing within 3D scaffolds. Culture scaffold material properties and chemical functionality the will be investigated to determine their role in angiogenesis. In parallel, molecular biology techniques will be employed to study the underlying molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, including genetic screens, histological evaluation of cell networks, and immunohistochemical evaluations of angiogenic marker expression. If successful, these studies would add significantly to the field?s understanding of mechanics in angiogenesis and represent an integration of time-lapse characterization tools, scaffold engineering, and molecular biology for 3D cell mechanics studies. The knowledge gained from these efforts will enhance the field?s ability to investigate collective cell mechanics in other 3D tissue constructs, providing a set of tools for the large multicellular systems typically found in tissue engineering, wound healing, and regenerative medicine studies, and advancing technology development within these areas. The educational plan focuses on digital imaging and analysis tools for use in K-12 science classes, and the creation of an annual workshop with educators at a partner school in which teaching modules will be developed and distributed to participating science teachers. The initiative will involve extensive sharing of analysis software and discussions of how to effectively incorporate contemporary imaging and analysis tools to improve the communication of scientific concepts that are difficult to grasp, or difficult to observe, without these tools.