The fate of the stem cells, beside the biochemical cues, highly depends on the mechanical signals received from its environment. In the present project, we try to reveal correlation between cell morphology (shape, circularity, etc.) and measured mechanical properties of the cell (Dynamic Traction Force Microscopy(DTFM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)). Furthermore, we aim to define morphology dependent differentiation of the stem cells.
The project is composed of theoretical, experimental and computational work:
**Theoretical work:**
- Gathering information from the literature regarding existing correlation between cell morphology and mechanical properties of the cell.
**Experimental work:**
- Measurement of cell mechanical properties using different substrate stiffness and extra cellular matrix protein with TFM and AFM.
- Evaluation of cell morphology through immunostaining techniques
**Computational work:**
- Image/data analysis to collect quantitative information from the cell mechanical properties and its morphology
- Interpretation and evaluation of the acquired different experimental results using different correlation and statistical methods.
The fate of the stem cells, beside the biochemical cues, highly depends on the mechanical signals received from its environment. In the present project, we try to reveal correlation between cell morphology (shape, circularity, etc.) and measured mechanical properties of the cell (Dynamic Traction Force Microscopy(DTFM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)). Furthermore, we aim to define morphology dependent differentiation of the stem cells.
The project is composed of theoretical, experimental and computational work:
**Theoretical work:**
- Gathering information from the literature regarding existing correlation between cell morphology and mechanical properties of the cell.
**Experimental work:**
- Measurement of cell mechanical properties using different substrate stiffness and extra cellular matrix protein with TFM and AFM. - Evaluation of cell morphology through immunostaining techniques
**Computational work:**
- Image/data analysis to collect quantitative information from the cell mechanical properties and its morphology - Interpretation and evaluation of the acquired different experimental results using different correlation and statistical methods.
**SO WHAT CAN YOU LEARN?**
- Different imaging and mechanical characterisation techniques: fluorescent microscopy, atomic force microscopy
- Special knowledge about cell culture and wet lab techniques.
- Image and data analysis methods
**SO WHAT CAN YOU LEARN?**
- Different imaging and mechanical characterisation techniques: fluorescent microscopy, atomic force microscopy - Special knowledge about cell culture and wet lab techniques. - Image and data analysis methods
Áron Horváth PhD student E-mail: aron.horvath@hest.ethz.ch Telephone: (+41) 44 510 73 20
Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich, Professorship Jess Snedeker