A5053528558- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Tendon Structure and Treatment
- Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
- Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Heat shock proteins research
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Automotive and Human Injury Biomechanics
University of Colorado Boulder
2016-2025
University of Colorado System
2025
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
2020-2024
Center for Systems Biology Dresden
2020-2021
Center for Systems Biology
2021
Technische Universität Dresden
2021
Purdue University West Lafayette
2016
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology
2013
Abstract The use of optical tweezers to measure forces acting upon microscopic particles has revolutionised fields from material science cell biology. However, despite control capabilities, this technology is highly constrained by the properties probe, and its may be limited due concerns about effect on biological processes. Here we present a novel, optically controlled trapping method based light-induced hydrodynamic flows. Specifically, leverage capabilities convert translationally...
The nucleus is highly organized to facilitate coordinated gene transcription. Measuring the rheological properties of and its sub-compartments will be crucial understand principles underlying nuclear organization. Here, we show that strongly localized temperature gradients (approaching 1°C/µm) can lead substantial intra-nuclear chromatin displacements (>1 µm), while area lamina shape remain unaffected. Using particle image velocimetry (PIV), displacement fields calculated converted into...
Structural heterogeneity is a hallmark of living cells that drives local mechanical properties and dynamic cellular responses. However, the robust quantification intracellular mechanics lacking from conventional methods. Here, we describe development deformation microscopy, which leverages imaging an automated hyperelastic warping algorithm to investigate strain history, dynamics, changes in structural within interior cell nuclei. Using found partial or complete disruption LINC complexes...
Biological tissues and biomaterials are often defined by unique spatial gradients in physical properties that impart specialized function over hierarchical scales. The structure organization of these materials forms continuous transitional discrete local microenvironments between adjacent (or within) tissues, across matrix-cell boundaries, which can be difficult to replicate with common scaffold systems. Here, we studied the matrix densification collagen leading density, mechanical...
Chromatin of the eukaryotic cell nucleus comprises microscopically dense heterochromatin and loose euchromatin domains, each with distinct transcriptional ability roles in cellular mechanotransduction. While recent methods are developed to characterize mechanics nucleus, measurement intranuclear remains largely unknown. Here, development "nuclear elastography," which combines microscopic imaging computational modeling quantify relative elasticity is described. Using contracting murine...
<title>Abstract</title> The dynamics of nuclear envelope rupture and wound repair are critical biological processes that play essential roles in cell homeostasis. Previous studies on have mainly focused small ruptures induced by low-throughput tools such as laser ablation atomic force microscopy. Recent findings also suggest can aid the gene delivery process. We present a device deterministically porates membrane high throughput, with applications single-cell statistical assessments...
Current use of decellularized articular cartilage as a regenerative platform suffers from limited implant diffusion characteristics and cellular infiltration. Attempts to address this concern using microparticles allow for customized shape, tailored porosity, improved cell However, these developments utilize severe crosslinking agents that adversely affect differentiation, fail attain clinically relevant mechanical properties required the survival. These issues have been overcome through...
Cardiac fibrosis is a disease state characterized by excessive collagenous matrix accumulation within the myocardium that can lead to ventricular dilation and systolic failure. Current treatment options are severely lacking due in part poor understanding of complexity molecular pathways involved cardiac fibrosis. To close this gap, vitro model systems recapitulate defining features fibrotic cellular environment need. Type I collagen, major extracellular protein component depositions, an...
The ability to control the position of micron-size particles with high precision using tools such as optical tweezers has led major advances in fields biology, physics and material science. In this paper, we present a novel strategy confine solution spatial feedback-controlled thermoviscous flows. We show that technique allows be positioned confined subdiffraction (24 nm), effectively suppressing their diffusion. Due its physical characteristics, our approach might particular attractive...
ABSTRACT Environmental mechanical cues are critical to guide cell fate. Forces transmit the nucleus through Linker of Nucleo- and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex thought influence organization chromatin that is related differentiation; however, underlying mechanisms unclear. Here, we investigated reorganization during murine cardiac development found cardiomyocytes establish a distinct architecture characterized by relocation H3K9me3-modified from nuclear interior periphery co-localization...
ABSTRACT The nucleus is highly organized to facilitate coordinated gene transcription. Measuring the rheological properties of and its sub-compartments will be crucial understand principles underlying nuclear organization. Here, we show that strongly localized temperature gradients (approaching 1°C /μm) can lead substantial intra-nuclear chromatin displacements (>1 μm), while area lamina shape remain unaffected. Using particle image velocimetry (PIV), displacement fields calculated...
Abstract Structural heterogeneity is a hallmark of living cells and nuclei that drives local mechanical properties dynamic cellular responses, including adhesion, gene expression, differentiation. However, robust quantification intracellular or intranuclear mechanics are lacking from conventional methods. Here, we describe new development deformation microscopy leverages imaging an automated hyperelastic warping algorithm to investigate strain history, dynamics, changes in structural within...
Transparency is widespread in nature, ranging from transparent insect wings to ocular tissues that enable you read this text, and marine vertebrates. And yet, cells tissue models biology are usually strongly light scattering optically opaque, precluding deep optical microscopy. Here we describe the directed evolution of cultured mammalian toward increased transparency. We find mutations greatly diversify phenotype Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, a cell line. Furthermore, only three rounds...
ABSTRACT Understanding how cells remember previous mechanical environments to influence their fate, or memory, informs the design of biomaterials and therapies in medicine. Current regeneration require two-dimensional (2D) cell expansion processes achieve large populations critical for repair damaged (e.g. connective musculoskeletal) tissues. However, memory on fate following is unknown, mechanisms defining physical therapeutic potential remain poorly understood. Here, we show that...
ABSTRACT Chromatin of the eukaryotic cell nucleus comprises microscopically dense heterochromatin and loosely packed euchromatin domains, each with distinct transcriptional ability roles in cellular mechanotransduction. While recent methods have been developed to characterize nucleus, measurement intranuclear mechanics remains largely unknown. Here, we describe development nuclear elastography , which combines microscopic imaging computational modeling quantify relative elasticity domains....
ABSTRACT Dedifferentiation of chondrocytes during in vitro passaging before implantation, and post implantation vivo , is a critical limitation cartilage tissue engineering. Several biophysical features define the dedifferentiated state including flattened cell morphology increased stress fiber formation. However, how dedifferentiation influences nuclear mechanics, possible long-term implications this state, are unknown. In study, we investigated chondrocyte affects mechanics chromatin...
Biomaterials often have characteristic spatial gradients in physical properties that lead to specialized function. On page 2617, C. P. Neu and co-workers form gradient matrices of natural biopolymers using a densification process exudes fluid from the structure, leading reproducible reorganization collagen embedded cells. High-density regions show increased fibril packing, mechanical properties, thickness, on par with values observed native tissues like articular cartilage.
On page 5427, C. P. Neu and co-workers report on successfully combining the benefits of native tissue biochemistry/structure with tunability reconstituted biomaterials for formation clinically relevant composites. Native articular cartilage type I collagen form a moldable ‘cartilage clay’ that can be custom designed to meet mechanical, biochemical, geometric needs clinical implant; showing capability locally differentiate progenitor cells.