Alexander Bick
Project Pages: (Help)
agbick@gmail.com
Research Interests:
Microfluidics
Biomaterials
Experience & Skills:
Microfluidic networks
Biomaterial fabrication
Meeting Date: Jan 6, 2008
Summary:
Much of the basic science/engineering work on this project has already been accomplished...the key impediment to progress is currently making the figures presentable. Some demonstration of additional control over design parameters may be necesscary.
Action Plan:
Meet with Adam and others to find the appropriate full-time lab member to team up with to move this project forward
Improve figure quality...use confocal microscopy
Progress on issues from last meeting:
Able to successfully grow confluent layer of HUVECs inside channel using HA/Collagen IPN strategy
Ali's comments:
We need better figures.
Can someone else tag with Alex on this project
Talk to Prof. SangHoon Lee about cutting gels
Quantification and thorough analysis of figures is required.
Meeting Date: Oct 28 2008
Summary: HA channels.
HA thin layer + fibronectin (does not adsorb)
Literature Review?
Put in touch with Peter roughley.
Ali's notes - HA Channels, HUVEC adhesion, FN layer on HA, Growing endothelial cells on HA
Action Plan:Put in touch with Peter Roughley. proughley@shriners.mcgill.ca
To the best of my knowledge all cells do possess cell surface receptors for hyaluronan. The major receptor is the integral plasma membrane protein CD44, though there can also be others. It is unlikely that the cells that you are working with does not possess CD 44, and so absence of interaction with hyaluronan is most likely due to modification of the hyaluronan. The interaction with cells with hyaluronan can be diminished by several factors, including decrease in its chain length, chemical modification of its structure and crosslinking, and the presence of other molecules with hyaluronan-binding ability. It is also possible that the cells make their own hyaluronan coat as many cells possess hyaluonan synthases in their plasma membrane. Such a coat could prevent interaction with hyaluronan in the scaffold. I do not know enough about the system with which you are working to speculate on whether any of these scenarios is feasible.
I will be happy to talk further about this if you wish.
Best wishes, Peter.
PS I should mention that one of the worlds experts on hyaluronan, Bryan Toole, is in Boston at Tufts University School of Medicine, and he may be of greater help than me.