NBTC Collaborators: R. Austin, B. Baird, G. Banker, L. Bonassar, A. Boskey, T. Burr, N. Cady, H. Craighead, D. Erickson, L. Estroff, C. Fischbach-Teschl, E. Guignon, H. Hoch, I. Khan, B. Kirby, D. Lawrence, M. López, M. Lynes, F. Maxfield, A. Pilar, M. Shuler, C. Smart, A. Stroock

Program Objectives
How cells interact with their environmental substrata is the thrust of this program.  More specifically, the role of surface dimension, chemistry, and topography in regulating cellular behavior are explored in this Program.  A wide range of cell-types, including mammalian cells, higher plant cells, fungal cells, and bacteria have been studied.  The Program utilizes techniques directed at patterning topography and delicate biomolecules that are of greatest biological relevance and documenting their impact on cell growth and polarity, differentiation, and function.  Microcontact printing, lithographic and parylene lift-off patterning of chemical domains, patterning on streptavidin-conjugated acrylamide hydrogels, fabrication of pillared arrays, and incorporation of sensing junctions are some of the techniques used to address the research explorations of this program.  The discoveries made for the cellular processes examined in this program are important in providing insight and perspective for many of the other programs within the NBTC.

Projects:

1. Patterned Lipid Bilayers and Nanofabricated Structures to Investigate Immune Cell Signaling - CSI5
   B. Baird, H. Craighead
   
   
2. Colonization and Communication Among Plant-Associated Bacteria in Artificial Xylem Lumina - CSI6
   H. Hoch, D. Erickson, C. D. Smart*, and T. J. Burr*
   
   
3. Divalent Helical Rigid Rods to Engage Receptors and Control Cellular Responses - CSI10
   I. Khan and B. Baird
   
   
4. Imaging Axonal Growth and Axonal Organelle Transport Using Novel Devices that Integrate Microfluidics and Substrate Micropatterning - CSI11
   G. Banker and B. Kirby
   
   
5. 3-D Matrices for Modeling the Bone-Cartilage Interface & Controlling Chondrocyte Activity - CSI12
   L. Estroff, L. Bonassar, A. Boskey and A. Stroock
   
   
6. Recreating Three-Dimensional Cell Niches with Microfluidic Tumor Cells - CSI13
   C. Fischbach-Teschl, A. Stroock and L. Bonassar
   
   
7. The Lysosomal Synapse - CSI14
   F. Maxfield and B. Baird
   
   
8. Isolation and Characterization of Immune Cells: Structure and Function - CSI15
   D. Lawrence, R. Austin, M. Lynes*, E. Guignon* and A. Pilar*
   
   
9. Symmetric and Asymmetric Modulation of CD34+ Hematopoietic progenitor Cells by Modification of Cell Contacts - CSI16
   D. Lawrence, M. López*, N. Cady* and M. Shuler
   
   
10. Nano-scale Bone Mimetics to Study Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis - CSI17
    C. Fischbach-Teschl and L. Estroff

* indicates non-NBTC faculty member

Home    Program    Research Areas    Partners    Education    Members    Facilities