Kim:Research: Difference between revisions
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Our research focuses on investigating how the engineered microenvironments direct cell function and tissue regeneration. In particular, we are exploring extracellular matrix (topology, rigidity, dimensionality, etc) regulation of cell fate and function in developmental, physiological and pathological process. Several specific thrusts of the current research program include: microengineered platforms for cell-matrix mechanobiology, mechanical regulation of cancer cell invasion and collective cell migration | Our research focuses on investigating how the engineered microenvironments direct cell function and tissue regeneration. In particular, we are exploring extracellular matrix (topology, rigidity, dimensionality, etc) regulation of cell fate and function in developmental, physiological and pathological process. Several specific thrusts of the current research program include: microscale cardiovascular tissue engineering, BioMEMS for stem/progenitor cell niche engineering, microengineered platforms for cell-matrix mechanobiology, and mechanical regulation of cancer cell invasion and collective cell migration. Here is a summary of our current research projects. | ||
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Our current research focuses on engineering combinatorial cellular microenvironment through use of variable nano-patterns, and soluble and matrix-bound cell guidance cues in a single experiment, which better mimics the in vivo microenvironment under physiological conditions. For example, we are developing a microfluidics-based on chip assay integrated with complex nanoscale topographic features to enable the analysis of concerted cell responses to composite gradients of precisely generated and aligned surface-bound ECM molecules and diffusible guidance cues or topographic guidance cues. Using these tools, we strive to systematically characterize live cells to wide spectra of dynamically changing combination of mechanical and chemical stimuli (e.g. ECM proteins, topographic, growth factors and signal transduction pathway inhibitors). The proposed measurements are highly resolved in time and space, using a variety of live cell probes and highly defined extracellular conditions. | Our current research focuses on engineering combinatorial cellular microenvironment through use of variable nano-patterns, and soluble and matrix-bound cell guidance cues in a single experiment, which better mimics the in vivo microenvironment under physiological conditions. For example, we are developing a microfluidics-based on chip assay integrated with complex nanoscale topographic features to enable the analysis of concerted cell responses to composite gradients of precisely generated and aligned surface-bound ECM molecules and diffusible guidance cues or topographic guidance cues. Using these tools, we strive to systematically characterize live cells to wide spectra of dynamically changing combination of mechanical and chemical stimuli (e.g. ECM proteins, topographic, growth factors and signal transduction pathway inhibitors). The proposed measurements are highly resolved in time and space, using a variety of live cell probes and highly defined extracellular conditions. Using using UV-assisted nanomolding and 3D nanofabrication techniques, we are developing nanotopographically-defined cell culture models and biomaterial tissue scaffolds for cell biology and tissue engineering. For high-throughput quantitative analysis, we are also working to combine a large area nanopatterned substrate with a traditional multi-well tissue culture plate. We aim to use these tools to gain new mechanistic insights into cell signaling and function, to design new therapies or diagnostic tests for cancer progression and cardiovascular diseases, and to establish organizing principles for development of precisely defined scaffolds for advanced tissue engineering applications. | ||
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Revision as of 02:56, 11 January 2011
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