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Current potential research project
Surface gradients for controlling the response of biological cells
- Supervisors: Dr Krasimir Vasilev and Prof Rob Short
- Area: Nano technology, mechanical Engineering
- Abstract: Recently, there has been a tremendous interest in the scientific community for technologies suitable for development of surface gradients of various properties. This is because many essential biological processes are mediated by gradients of biological molecules. For example, chemotaxis plays a role in diverse physiological processes, such as the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of infection, trafficking of lymphocytes throughout the human body, and patterning of neuronal cells in the developing nervous system. Gradients of cytokines play a role in the ability of our body to resist invading pathogenic microorganisms by providing immune cells with the directional cues they need to rapidly migrate to the infection site. In embryonic development, gradients induce proliferation, differentiation, or migration in other cells. In cancer metastasis, migrating tumor cells escape the original tumour, invade new tissues, and recruit endothelial cells to create blood vessels to feed the new tumour site. In order to fully understand these processes there is a need for laboratory generated surface gradient suitable for studding complex physiological phenomena. In this project various surface gradients will be created via a technique uniquely available at Mawson Institute. The adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and mobility of various cell types including stem cells will be studied.
- Related references: Not provided
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