Hydrogel confinement systems for evaluating dynamic intra-and inter- species interactions

Understanding the role of microbes in tumor biology is important to our knowledge of the complex crosstalk between the host and the microbes. Strategies to evaluate the role of microbiome to augment therapeutic responses are warranted both from a basic and applied research perspective. How and why variations occur necessitates an understanding of the intricate crosstalk between cancer cells and the factors that influence both host and anti-tumor therapeutics. In this thesis, the major goal is not only to establish a robust co-culture platform for evaluating dynamic responses of a diverse group of microorganisms and cancer cells but also to demonstrate various applications in dynamic therapeutic responses at the intra- and inter- species level, which have the potential to find microbial markers and specific microbial mechanisms. Our approach represents the development of a hydrogel-based confinement system for dynamic co-culture studies at the intra- and inter- species level. (Chapter 2) We have shown an effective architecture for bacteria confinement, which hosts bacteria inside artificial habitats without disruption and strives to maintain it in a physiologically conducive environment. (Chapter 3) Bacteria colonization at high cell density inside the hydrogel capsules must also ensure longevity and functionality leading to effective production inside and transport of metabolites through diffusive hydrogel networks. (Chapter 4) Based on the confinement system, we demonstrate the hydrogel system for microorganism confinement to serve as tunable platforms not only for long-term physiological evaluation of confined bacteria but also for a range of applications to study host-microbe interactions in a dynamic format. In addition, we have developed a facile approach to evaluate chemotherapeutic intervention (drug inactivation in Chapter 5 and drug activation in Chapter 6, as a proof-of-concept) by fabricating bacteria-based functional architectures.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Bioengineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Jeong, Yoon

Contributors dc:contributor

• Irudayaraj, Joseph
• Ridlon, Jason
• Underhill, Gregory
• Sirk, Shannon

• Biomaterials
• Hydrogel
• Dynamic Co-culture
• Cell Interaction.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Yoon Jeong

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120533

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120533