Thierry Savin
Ph.D Candidate
Chemical Engineering, MIT
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Room E18-520
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-324-3100
savin[at]mit.edu
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Thierry Savin
Education:
B.S. Physics, Denis Diderot University, 1999
M.S. Biophysics, Ecole Normale Superieure, 2001
Research Interests:
Study of complex systems at the micron scale has become increasingly
important in fields like biophysics and rheology.
Among common techniques, the multiple particle tracking (MPT) is a very
simple method to evaluate micromechanical properties of a complex
heterogeneous system. We have studied the sources of error arising in
MPT and we have demonstrated how to significantly improve the
resolution of the average properties measured with this technique.
We apply this improved tool, as well as complementary AFM and quick-freeze
TEM experiments, in the study of a self-assembling peptide. Nearly a
decade ago Zhang and coworkers [1] discovered this new class of
biomaterials formed from the self-assembly of small self-complimentary
oligopeptides. One of the main applications of these gels is cell
culture
in the artificial extra-cellular matrix they form.
[1] S. Zhang, T. Holmes, C. Lockshin and A. Rich, PNAS, 90:3334-3338,
1993.
TEM micrograph of a sample
self-assembling peptide solution mixed with
100nm diameter particles. Scale bar is 1 micron.
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