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Tendon-on-a-Chip: Developing and characterizing a multi-channels microfluidic device for studying tendon biology
This goal of this project is to refine and characterize a novel approach in designing microfluidic networks that allow to host tendon-like micro-tissue structures for long-term culturing experiments under mechanical stimulation.
Tendon damages account for more than 30% of all musculoskeletal injuries in the world, which represent a significant clinical burden in increasingly aging societies. The progress in developing new treatment modalities for tendon repair, however, is hampered by limits on the fundamental understanding of the tendon cellular microenvironment, especially cell-cell interactions and paracrine signaling.
Three-dimensional (3D) cultivation of cells in a microfluidic system “Organ-On-Chip” has been receiving a lot of attention due to their benefits such as reduced reagent and sample volumes and capability to construct physiologically relevant in vitro microenvironment. Additionally, it offers the possibility of real-time monitoring of the cell-to-cell communications under dynamic mechanical stimulation for better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in tendon injury and repair.
This goal of this project is to refine and characterize a novel approach in designing microfluidic networks that allow to host tendon-like micro-tissue structures for long-term culturing experiments under mechanical stimulation.
Tasks consist of designing and fabrication of microfluidic devices using dedicated in-house rapid prototyping facilities, a thorough validation of the devices with 3D micro-tissues of different fluorescent bead densities. This includes micro-tissue loading, their immobilization at predefined sites, simulate the load transmission computationally with a numerical model (Finite Elements) of the load transmission using nonlinear material properties as well as validate the results experimentally using fluorescent beads tracking techniques and confocal microscopy.
The selected student will be trained in 3D cell culturing, rapid prototyping of microfluidics, Finite element analysis, and confocal microscopy techniques.
Details of the project and emphasis on different aspects can be set according to the expertise and interest of the candidate.
More details in the P
Tendon damages account for more than 30% of all musculoskeletal injuries in the world, which represent a significant clinical burden in increasingly aging societies. The progress in developing new treatment modalities for tendon repair, however, is hampered by limits on the fundamental understanding of the tendon cellular microenvironment, especially cell-cell interactions and paracrine signaling.
Three-dimensional (3D) cultivation of cells in a microfluidic system “Organ-On-Chip” has been receiving a lot of attention due to their benefits such as reduced reagent and sample volumes and capability to construct physiologically relevant in vitro microenvironment. Additionally, it offers the possibility of real-time monitoring of the cell-to-cell communications under dynamic mechanical stimulation for better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in tendon injury and repair.
This goal of this project is to refine and characterize a novel approach in designing microfluidic networks that allow to host tendon-like micro-tissue structures for long-term culturing experiments under mechanical stimulation.
Tasks consist of designing and fabrication of microfluidic devices using dedicated in-house rapid prototyping facilities, a thorough validation of the devices with 3D micro-tissues of different fluorescent bead densities. This includes micro-tissue loading, their immobilization at predefined sites, simulate the load transmission computationally with a numerical model (Finite Elements) of the load transmission using nonlinear material properties as well as validate the results experimentally using fluorescent beads tracking techniques and confocal microscopy.
The selected student will be trained in 3D cell culturing, rapid prototyping of microfluidics, Finite element analysis, and confocal microscopy techniques.
Details of the project and emphasis on different aspects can be set according to the expertise and interest of the candidate.
More details in the P
In general, the basic tasks are: 1. Literature review, particularly focusing on beads tracking algorithms (15%). 2. Protocol development and execution of experiments (50%). 3. Analyzing the data and producing figures (10%). 4. Writing and presenting the final report (Thesis) (25%).
We are looking for a Bachelor or Masters student/intern with good programming skills. The project demands a minimum of 20 hours of bench work per week, and would better suit students with an engineering and/or computer science background. Students with other but related background are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants from ETH Zurich (D-HEST and D-BIOL) and the University of Zurich are encouraged to apply. External students (Erasmus, IDEA League, ETH Partner universities, ..etc) are also invited to apply, provided that they can secure their own funding for living expenses. Please refer to the funding links in the PDF document (below).
In general, the basic tasks are: 1. Literature review, particularly focusing on beads tracking algorithms (15%). 2. Protocol development and execution of experiments (50%). 3. Analyzing the data and producing figures (10%). 4. Writing and presenting the final report (Thesis) (25%).
We are looking for a Bachelor or Masters student/intern with good programming skills. The project demands a minimum of 20 hours of bench work per week, and would better suit students with an engineering and/or computer science background. Students with other but related background are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants from ETH Zurich (D-HEST and D-BIOL) and the University of Zurich are encouraged to apply. External students (Erasmus, IDEA League, ETH Partner universities, ..etc) are also invited to apply, provided that they can secure their own funding for living expenses. Please refer to the funding links in the PDF document (below).
Contact: Amro Hussien, amro.hussien@hest.ethz.ch / Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich / Professorship Jess Snedeker
http://www.orthobiomech.ethz.ch/
Our laboratory is based in Balgrist Campus. Lengghalde 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
http://www.balgristcampus.ch/
Contact: Amro Hussien, amro.hussien@hest.ethz.ch / Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich / Professorship Jess Snedeker http://www.orthobiomech.ethz.ch/
Our laboratory is based in Balgrist Campus. Lengghalde 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland http://www.balgristcampus.ch/
Each year the IDEA League offers the students of its partner universities over 180 monthly grants for a short-term research exchange. In general, these grants are awarded based on academic merit. For more information visit http://idealeague.org/student-grant/