Cell patterning technology for controlling the stem cell microenvironment

Embryonic stem cells serve as powerful models for the study of development and disease and hold enormous potential for future therapeutics. Yet, over two decades after mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were first isolated, there is still little known about the role of cell-cell signaling in self-renewal. Since traditional cell-culture techniques do not provide significant control of the stem cell microenvironment, the goal of this thesis was to develop a cell patterning technology that allows us to precisely control stem cell signaling and monitor cell proliferation over time. In the first aim of this thesis, we describe the development of our first cell patterning technology using dielectrophoresis (DEP). DEP uses nonuniform electric fields to trap cells on or between electrodes. We first used beads as model particles to validate the strength of our DEP square trap, and then demonstrated efficient cell patterning with multiple cell types. In the second aim of this thesis, we describe the development of a novel cell patterning technology that we created, called the Bio Flip Chip (BFC).

Department dc:contributor.department

Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Rosenthal, Adam D. (Adam David), 1978-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Joel Voldman.

• Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39007

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39007