Directing Stem Cell Fate by Tuning Matrix Stress Relaxation

Title:

Directing Stem Cell Fate by Tuning Matrix Stress Relaxation

  

Abstract:

Using biomaterials, especially hydrogels, as carriers for stem cell transplantation is a promising strategy to provide an optimal microenvironment to the transplanted cells. Previous studies have shown that the matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. However, natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and tissues are typically viscoelastic, exhibiting stress relaxation over a characteristic time-scale. The role of substrate viscoelastic properties such as stress relaxation in regulating the fate of stem cells is less understood. Here we developed hydrogels that mimic the stress relaxation properties of various tissues, and investigated the effects of matrix stress relaxation on the activity and fate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), both in vitro and in vivo.

  

个人简介：

       

   谷洛 (Ph.D.)，本科毕业于伟德国际1946官网严纯华课题组，之后在美国加州大学圣迭戈分校 (UCSD) 获得化学硕士和博士学位，现在哈佛大学工程与应用科学学院及 Wyss 生物工程研究所做博士后、助理研究员。谷洛博士目前的研究方向包括基于生物材料的癌症免疫疗法和组织工程。其中一个项目致力于研发能模拟生物组织的粘弹性生物材料，并利用这类生物材料的机械特性研究生物组织的粘弹性在细胞活性和组织再生中的作用。

        谷洛博士将于2017年秋季入职约翰·霍普金斯大学 (Johns Hopkins University) 材料科学与工程系，任助理教授、博士生导师，继续研究可用于再生医学和癌症免疫治疗的生物材料。