| AVS 66th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces Division | Monday Sessions |
| Session BI+AS-MoA |
| Session: | Cutting Edge Bio: Bio-Nano, Bio-Energy, 3D Bio |
| Presenter: | Stephanie Allen, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, UK |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
There is considerable research activity directed towards understanding the basic biology of stem cells and controlling their mechanisms of self-renewal and differentiation into functional tissue types. Much of the current research involves genetic and/or biochemical approaches to control proliferation and differentiation. Over the last decade, studies using biophysical approaches, including our own, have begun to impact on this understanding, revealing that physical signals and cues elaborated by neighbouring cells and the surrounding extra-cellular matrix, are also fundamental to controlling stem cell fate (1-4). For many emerging approaches/applications, including those that aim to create functioning tissues through the 3D patterning of stem cells, an understanding of such physical cues is therefore vital.
Despite this importance relatively few studies have still attempted to investigate and quantify the physical interactions between stem cells and/or the effects of applied stimuli. This talk aims to provide an overview of our recent research in this area, that aims to address this knowledge gap by utilizing force measurement approaches (including optical tweezers and atomic force microscopy). The presentation will include results from a current project where we are employing AFM-based single molecule force measurement approaches to provide new insights into the role of cadherins on mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).
(1) Discher et al Science 324 :1673-1677 (2009 )
(2) Lanniel et alSoft Matter. 7, 6501-6514 (2011)
(3) Lanniel et alThin Solid Films 519, 2003-2010 (2011)
(4) Kirkham et alScientific Reports, 5, No. 8577 (2015)