University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Engineering cellular microenvironments for directed cell growth and migration

Kapoor, Ashish

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Kapoor_Ashish.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/24487

Description

Title
Engineering cellular microenvironments for directed cell growth and migration
Author(s)
Kapoor, Ashish
Issue Date
2011-05-25T14:23:00Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Kenis, Paul J.A.
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Kenis, Paul J.A.
Committee Member(s)
  • Rao, Christopher V.
  • Wang, Fei
  • Pack, Daniel W.
Department of Study
Chemical & Biomolecular Engr
Discipline
Chemical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2011-05-25T14:23:00Z
Keyword(s)
  • Mirofluidics
  • Micropatterning
  • neutrophil chemotaxis
  • tendon regeneration
Abstract
Microscale systems have been finding increasing and important applications over the recent years in tissue engineering and biological studies. Recent advances in microfabrication technologies have enabled these systems to precisely control the cellular microenvironments and investigate cell behavior in vitro. This work aims at integration of advances in life sciences and microfabrication techniques to address fundamental biological questions underlying cellular behavior. We specifically focus on two applications related to human health (1) using micropatterned surfaces for tendon regeneration, and (2) using microfluidic platforms for neutrophil chemotaxis. Both of these applications are of crucial importance in modern biological and medical advancement. We have developed micropatterned platforms for systematic analysis of tenocyte behavior on topographical surfaces. These studies investigate the role of microtopographical features on the cytomorphology, alignment, proliferation, extra cellular matrix synthesis, and gene expression of tenocytes. We have also demonstrated microfluidic platforms as powerful tools for quantitative analysis of intracellular and extracellular events in neutrophil chemotaxis. Using fluorescence-labeled cells, these microfluidic platforms are used to investigate the localization of key regulatory molecules, Actin and PHAKT involved in signaling pathways during chemotaxis. Furthermore, we employ these platforms to understand macroscale neutrophil response to multiple chemoattractant gradients. The analysis of cell migration behavior in response to single and opposing gradients of chemoattractants have begun to elucidate how neutrophils integrate and prioritize multiple chemotactic cues. These results provide insight into complex cellular behavior and involved mechanisms and should aid in the design of novel therapeutic strategies to treat human health disorders.
Graduation Semester
2011-05
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24487
Copyright and License Information
2011 Ashish Kapoor

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Dissertations and Theses - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering