Designing a novel microfluidic device to mimic the cortical microarchitecture of the brain and image cell-cell interactions
Project Title: Designing a novel microfluidic device to mimic the cortical microarchitecture of the brain and image cell-cell interactions
Project Mentors:
- Primary Faculty Mentor: Lohitash Karumbaiah
Affiliation: University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center
Ph: 706-542-2017
Email: lohitash@uga.edu
Website: http://www.karumbaiahlab.org; http://www.rbc.uga.edu
- Secondary Faculty Mentors:
- Leidong Mao
Affiliation: University of Georgia, College of Engineering
Ph: 706-542-1871
Email: mao@uga.edu
Website: http://magnet.engr.uga.edu
- Peter Kner
Affiliation: University of Georgia, College of Engineering
706-542-8966
Email: kner@engr.uga.edu
Website: http://knerlab.engr.uga.edu/
- Graduate Student mentor: Min Kyoung Sun
Affiliation: University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center
Ph: 412-980-7919
Email: ms91136@uga.edu
Project Description:
The cerebral cortex is organized into six individual layers that are composed of distinct cellular populations, and which are responsible for regulating complex functions. The intricate microarchitecture of the cerebral cortex is often compromised after injury and disease leading to neuronal dysfunction and loss of function. In this project, we propose to design a microfluidic device that can be used to compartmentalize cell-laden hydrogel matrices into distinct layers, mimicking the layered microarchitecture of the cerebral cortex. The interaction between cellular components of the different layers with and without exposure to neurotoxic/excitotoxic agents will subsequently be measured using light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), which allows for the high-resolution imaging of cells encapsulated in thick (~100 µm) hydrogel matrices. This approach will help evaluate neuronal and glial response to neurotoxic/excitotoxic agents and serve as platform to screen potential neurotherapeutics.
REU Student Role and Responsibility:
The student will aid in the microfluidic device design and light-sheet imaging of hydrogel encapsulated cells. He/she will be responsible for maintaining neural stem cell cultures, hydrogel encapsulation, and immunohistochemical staining. The student will also have the opportunity to process/analyze obtained images.
Required skills or courses:
Prior experience in cell culture, microfluidic device design, and a basic understanding of microscopy are desired but not required.
Expected Outcome for REU student:
The student will be acknowledged in any resulting journal publications.
