Canyon, Texas
March 10, 2024
March 10, 2024
March 12, 2024
Diversity
12
10.18260/1-2--45367
https://peer.asee.org/45367
86
Denise Pahang is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Cellular and Tissue Engineering alongside a minor in Computer Science. She is currently working under Dr. Gongchen Sun for research on neural stem cell differentiation and biological colloid characterization. Denise previously held a role as a Manufacturing Sciences and Technologies intern at Scorpius Biomanufacturing focusing on bacterial fermentation and protein purification. Pulling from experiences from academic research and industry, she strives to obtain a doctorate degree in biomedical engineering and continue work in neural engineering research. Passionate about advocating for underrepresented minorities in the field, Denise aspires to be a representative for the voices of the community.
Isabella Treviño is currently pursuing a major in Biomedical Engineering, with a concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, along with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice Law at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge gained from both industry and academia, she actively participated in the development of various medical devices, contributing to research in product development and manufacturing. Isabella's interest in the medical device field originates from her role as a medical assistant, where she observed the transformative impact of medical technologies on patient well-being. This firsthand encounter acts as a motivating force, inspiring her active involvement in the advancement of innovative healthcare solutions.
Jimena Alegria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering, with a concentration in Biomaterials, Cell, and Tissue Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is currently enrolled in her first year in the joint biomedical engineering master’s program offered by UTHealth San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her decision to pursue a career in biomedical engineering came from her love of healthcare and her love for innovative problem-solving. Upon receiving her Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Jimena hopes to work in the Biotechnology industry.
Brooke McGill is pursuing a Bachelor of Science, directed in Chemical Engineering, at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She wishes to specialize in biomedical and medical science within the Chemical Engineering field, which is why she takes her job as Dr. Nehal Abu-Lail's Research Assistant, very seriously. Passionate about the cause, she observes the cellular surface protein makeup and physiochemical properties of chondrocytes and other cells alike so her family members with Arthritis may be at ease one day.
Nehal I. Abu-Lail received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2004. She is an Assistant Professor at the
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). I obtained my BS in Microelectronics from Peking University in 2012, PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Notre Dame in 2017, and completed a postdoc training in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. My research field is in microfluidics, electrokinetics, systems bioengineering, and innovative engineering education.
The characterization and classification of neural stem cells (NSCs) is crucial for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative therapies. Understanding the biophysical properties of NSCs is important to enhance our understanding of cell properties and for advancing their therapeutic applications. Built upon Biomedical Engineering core courses in Biomaterials and Cellular Engineering, this undergraduate research project focuses on the characterization of neural stem cells with two unique physiochemical membrane properties, zeta potential and to quantify differences between live, dead, and differentiated NSC.
The research approach is to experimentally characterize NSCs using colloidal material characterization techniques. To study the difference between live and dead NSCs, cells from the ReNCell NVM line were cultured in their progenitor stage to a concentration of ~25,000 cells/well using proliferation media. A part of the cells were deprived of oxygen for 5 days to produce dead NSCs. To study the difference between differentiated NSCs, ReNCell were differentiated over a 10-day period. To assess the surface hydrophobicity of NSCs, cells were placed onto a single monolayer for measurement of the contact angle formed by the liquid meniscus with water, diiodo methane, and formamide using a goniometer. The Young–Dupré equation and its derivatives were used to interpret the contact angle measurement, providing insights into the equilibrium interfacial forces on the cell membrane. To assess the surface charge of intact cells, cells were placed into a suspension, and dynamic light scattering technique (DLS) were used on a Zetasizer Nano analyzer to quantify the electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of each cell type. Following all measurements, immunohistochemistry staining, and fluorescent imaging were conducted to verify the cell type and cell viability.
There is a clear, quantifiable difference in the hydrophobicity and zeta potential between live and dead neural stem cells. Complex differences between undifferentiated and differentiated neural cells were also observed. These observations suggest that changes in membrane integrity, composition, and surface protein expression occur and influence the surface charge and hydrophobicity of NSCs, providing a potential marker for cell viability and classification. Machine learning tools will be used in the future to categorize the differential potential of NSCs based on their complex surface physiochemical properties.
This research does not only enhance our understanding of cell properties but also opens new avenues for potential therapeutic medicines. The insights gained from studying the hydrophobic properties and surface potential of NSCs can also be extended to other cell lines and assist in the improvements in live classification and prediction of a cell’s differentiation potential. This project offers a bridge for biomedical engineering undergraduate students to connect knowledge from Cellular Engineering and material characterization techniques from Biomaterials.
Pahang, D. E., & Treviño, I., & Alegria, J. B., & McGill, B., & Abu-Lail, N. I., & Sun, G. (2024, March), Characterization of Physiochemical Surface Properties in Neural Cell Fates Paper presented at 2024 ASEE-GSW, Canyon, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--45367
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