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Area Engineering
biophotonics
Reference persons EMILIANO DESCROVI
Research Groups AA - Materials and Processes for Micro and Nano Technologies
Thesis type EXPERIMENTAL, IN LAB
Description Tuning cells behavior in response to topographic cues is an important goal in biology. The chemical and physical features of the surrounding microenvironment can affect different aspects of cell behavior like attachment, differentiation, and also cell fate. In this way Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM) plays an active role in directing signals and guiding cell behavior active structure, providing biochemical signals (fixed proteins or diffusible factors), mechanical stimuli, (hard/elastic, soft/compliant or gel-like tissues), topographic signals (fibrils, fibers, pores, meshes, protrusions).
In literature, different works highlight the evidence of material-induced cell response, with a particular emphasis on cell behavior control through material cues and surface patterning on 2D materials. Common techniques to fabricate substrates with topographic patterns relies on micro- and nanofabrication techniques, chiefly soft lithography, electron beam lithography, or focused ion beam lithography which allow very high resolution patterning but are time-consuming and are basically static systems in the sense that not reversible structures can be realized.
Here we propose the use of stimuli-responsive materials, in particular azobenzene based polymers, which can be structured by proper light radiation to obtain a versatile platform that can be used for cell growth. More specifically, we are focusing in light-responsive materials that can be modified, elongated, deformed in a reversible way upon laser irradiation. In these conditions, we can control cell growth or spatial arrangement by using proper laser irradiation on the substrate wherein cell are seeded. Such an opto-mechanical stimulus is compatible with the cell living conditions and minimally invasive giving the possibility to carry out a dynamic study in vivo to observe cell behavior upon mechanical stress in the substrate.
Required skills Control and DAQ systems, LabView, image analysis, MatLab, basics of optics, basics of micro-fabrication processes
Deadline 31/10/2017
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA