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Summary of Research in the Kamm Laboratory Current research activities in the Kamm Laboratory can be grouped into three broad categories: Tissue engineering and microfluidics. Interest in developing vascular networks in vitro has led to new activities in the design and fabrication of novel microfluidic systems that provide an environment for growing three-dimensional vascular networks within a microfluidic platform that allows for simultaneous control over a wide range of biochemical factors and biophysical factors. Time-lapse imaging also provides the opportunity for real-time control of these factors to achieve a desired outcome. Computational models are also being developed to simulate the process of angiogenesis, and to couple with the experiments. Our laboratory also develops new scaffolds for tissue engineering comprised of self-assembling peptides. These scaffold have the advantage of having a filamentous structure similar to that of the extracellular matrix in terms of stiffness and fibril size and density. In addition, the peptides can be functionalized to present specific growth factors or cytokines required for specific tissue function. Current efforts are directed toward the development of microvascular networks, the major obstacle in the creation of vascularized organs. Multi-scale modeling is one of our goals in which we plan to couple cytoskeletal modeling with molecular dynamics simulation of cytoskeletal proteins, or proteins that link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (focal adhesions) or neighboring cells (adherens junctions). Molecular mechanics. Current projects include studies into the formation and structure of oligomers and protofibrils of amyloid-b protein using computational (molecular dynamics) and experimental approaches. These oligomers are of interest because of their central role in causing the cytotoxicity associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies are directed toward understanding the conformational changes that occur in certain intracellular proteins, and the changes in protein binding affinities and enzymatic activity that result from the changes in conformation. This process, known as mechanotransduction, is the fundamental mechanism by which cells sense mechanical force.Selected Publications Click here for a complete list of publications Jonas M, Huang H, Kamm RD, So PT. Fast Fluorescence Laser Tracking Microrheometry I: Instrument Development. Biophys J. 2008 Feb 15;94(4):1459-69. [PDF] Jonas M, Huang H, Kamm RD, So PT. Fast Fluorescence Laser Tracking Microrheometry II: Quantitative Studies of Cytoskeletal Mechanotransduction. Biophys J. 2008 Apr 18. [PDF] Sieminski AL, Semino CE, Gong H, Kamm RD. Primary sequence of ionic self-assembling peptide gels affects endothelial cell adhesion and capillary morphogenesis. Biomed Mater Res A. 2008 Jan 9; [Epub ahead of print] Hammond NA, Kamm RD. Elastic deformation and failure in protein filament bundles: Atomistic simulations and coarse-grained modeling. Biomaterials 2008 Jul;29(21):3152-60. [PDF] Lee SE, Chunsrivirot S, Kamm RD, Mofrad MR. Molecular Dynamics Study of Talin-Vinculin Binding. Biophys J. 2008 April 11. [PDF] Ferrer JM, Lee H, Chen J, Pelz B, Nakamura F, Kamm RD, Lang MJ. Measuring molecular rupture forces between single actin filaments and actin binding proteins, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 8;105(27):9221-6. [PDF] Vera RH, Genové E, Alvarez L, Borrós S, Kamm R, Lauffenburger D, Semino CE. Interstitial Fluid Flow Intensity Modulates Endothelial Sprouting in Restricted Src-Activated Cell Clusters During Capillary Morphogenesis. Tissue Eng Part A. 2008 Jul 17. [PDF] Kim T, Hwang W, Kamm RD. Computational analysis of a cross-linked actin-like network. Exptl Mech, (in press), 2008. [PDF] Kris AS, Kamm RD, Sieminski AL. VASP involvement in force-mediated adherens junction strengthening. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Aug 3. Vickerman V, Blundo J, Chung S, Kamm RD. Design, fabrication and implementation of a novel multi-parameter control microfluidic platform for three-dimensional cell culture and real-time imaging. Lab Chip, 2008, 8, 1468-1477. [PDF] Chung S, Lee JH, Moon M-W, Han J, Kamm R. Non-lithographic wrinkle nanochannels for protein preconcentration. Adv Mater. 2008, 20:3011-3016. [PDF] Das SK, Chung S, Zervantonakis I, Atnafu J, Kamm RD. A microfluidic platform for studying the effects of small temperature gradients in incubator environment. Biomicrofluidics, 2008, in press. [PDF] Chung S, Sudo S, Mack PJ, Wan C-R, Vickerman V, Kamm RD. Cell migration into scaffold under co-culture conditions in a microfluidic platform. Lab Chip, 2008, in press. [PDF] |
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