The IEEE San Fernando Valley Section
The IEEE Microwave Theory And Techniques Society (MTT-S)
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
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The IEEE San Fernando Valley Section The IEEE Microwave Theory And Techniques Society (MTT-S) California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
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Welcome you to the Presentation on
Synthetic Micro/Nanosystems
for Rapid Biomolecule Analysis and Stem Cell Research
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania Caltech Mixed-Signal, RF & Microwave Seminar Date: Friday, April 03, 2009 Place: Caltech, Moore Building Room 080.
Driving Directions: http://admissions.caltech.edu/visiting/getting-here RSVP: Please contact Frank Maiwald,
frank.w.maiwald@jpl.nasa.gov, 818-687-9487 Synthetic Micro/nanoscale systems are emerging as powerful high
throughput tools for quantitative analysis of molecular and cellular
functions. In this talk, I will present different examples of these
microfabricated micro/nanoscale systems, for either rapid analysis of
biomolecules (such as DNA and proteins) or directed differentiation of
adult human stem cells. Specifically, I will first describe a new class
of nanofluidic filter array devices and their implementations as
controllable molecular sieves for rapid analytical bioseparation. I will
also discuss the theoretical studies of molecular sieving process in the
context of periodic free-energy landscapes created by the patterned
nanofluidic filter arrays. We constructed a kinetic model based upon the
equilibrium partitioning theory and the Kramers rate theory that
properly describes the field-dependent sieving behavior of biomolecules
across the nanofluidic constrictions. This work represents notable
progress in our theoretical understanding of molecular sieving beyond
the existing equilibrium model for conventional gels. In addition, I
will introduce a microfabricated anisotropic sieving structure comprised
of a two-dimensional periodic nanofluidic filter array (anisotropic
nanofilter array, ANA). The designed structural anisotropy in the ANA
causes differently sized biomolecules to follow distinct migration
trajectories, leading to efficient continuous-flow separation. Finally,
I will conclude with an investigation of a novel set of microfabricated
extracellular matrices (ECM) that can uncouple changes in matrix
rigidity from other properties of the matrix (e.g. adhesive ligand,
adhesion area). Using this microfabricated synthetic ECM system, we have
implicated matrix rigidity as a critical mechanical signal that can
switch the differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)
between osteogenic and adipogenic fates. Mechanistic studies of pathways
involved in mechano-sensing have revealed a role for RhoA/ROCK signaling
in lineage specification of hMSCs by matrix rigidity. Program
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| Speaker Biography |
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Dr. Jianping Fu is currently an American Heart Association postdoctoral
fellow in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of
Pennsylvania. He received a B.S. degree (2000) from the University of
Science and Technology of China (USTC) and a M.S. degree (2002) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), both in Mechanical Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2007, with a major of biological engineering and a minor of micro/nanomechanics and engineering. Dr. Fu's current research interests focus on BioMEMS/NEMS, mechanobiology, stem cell biology, and applying microfabrication technology to illuminate biological systems, at both the molecular and cellular levels. For his doctoral research, Dr. Fu was awarded the Halen Carr Peake Research Prize for Bioengineering Research of Extraordinary Quality and the Senturia Prize for Best Thesis in MEMS/NEMS in 2007. |