Engineering cellular microenvironments for directed cell growth and migration

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Kapoor, Ashish

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kenis, Paul J.A.
• Rao, Christopher V.
• Wang, Fei
• Pack, Daniel W.

• Micropatterning
• neutrophil chemotaxis
• Mirofluidics
• tendon regeneration

Statement dc:rights

• 2011 Ashish Kapoor

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/24487